Essay Love Is An Intense Feeling Of Deep Affection

Love is defined as, “an intense feeling of deep affection.” By this definition, love is characterized as a feeling, however, others believe love is more of a choice. In society, people are obsessed with the idea of love or possibly for some the idea of no love. In the novel Catcher in the Rye love is deemed impossible, but forever desired. Throughout the novel, Holden desires the affection of a multitude of things including Jane Gallagher, Allie, and his sister, but is never able to obtain them due to his trapped mental state, highlighting in society people’s yearn for love that is not feasible because people always desire something when they are in a mindset that makes it unattainable.
Jane Gallagher is a continual object of Holden’s affection throughout the novel that represents the romantic love people desire but cannot have. Jane is a girl Holden spent a lot of time with one summer at their neighboring summer houses in Maine. Although the relationship does not go any farther than holding hands, Holden develops romantic feelings for her. He is unable to stop his mind from travelling to thoughts about her, claiming at one point, “I got old Jane Gallagher on the brain again”. This quote exemplifies his desire for her and her romantic affection because she is continuously on his mind however she goes on a date with someone else in the novel and Holden never speaks to her after the summer. He goes on debating whether he should pursue her, but he never does. Often in society…