In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, Gatsby is a man who can be compared to Holden Caulfield from J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye. Jay Gatsby and Holden Caulfield are both caught up in their unattainable dreams and first love and as a result struggle with an obsession of their past.

It is a natural tendency for all men and women to dream but sometimes these dreams may be unattainable. In J.D Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield has a desire to preserve the innocence of children and save them from adulthood. He is a victim of the “Peter Pan Syndrome,” a condition that aspires to remain young. The experiences that Holden has had leads him to believe that the adult world is dangerous, full of phonies and perverts.
Love is one of the strongest emotions that can be felt and first love can leave a lasting imprint. Another one of Holden Caulfield’s quest is the search for love. Although Holden is scared to love someone, he is affectionate towards Jane and genuinely loves her. Jane is the only female that Holden seems to really care for because “All [he] knew was [he] was happy” when he was with her. When they’re together, they hold hands and sit together and it’s a natural feeling that creates a close relationship. Holden aspires to keep his first love with Jane Gallagher and “Couldn't get her off [his] mind.” Holden remembers the little things that attracts him to Jane from years ago, like how she keeps her kings in the game of checkers in the back row and her nervous dances. Holden believes that “You don't always have to get too sexy to get to know a girl” and remembers Jane as a sweet, innocent girl. They are childhood friends and Jane symbolizes the innocence that Holden reminisces and lacks in the adult world. Jane is the one girl that he felt connected too and thought that they had something special. Even though Holden is in love with Jane he won’t openly admit it and years later when his friend Stradlater takes her out, Holden is possessive and is concerned whether he

“gave her the time” in the car. Before the date, Holden had the perfect opportunity to speak with Jane and repetitively said that he was going to but in the end he never took the chance. Although