Page 2: Jenny's Background and Relationships

This page delves deeper into Jenny's character, providing more context about her background and relationships with other characters in "The Shape of Things".

Jenny's engagement to Phillip is a significant aspect of her character:

Quote: "We're going to get married underwater" (p.20)

This statement reveals Jenny's romantic involvement and hints at her aspirations for the future.

The page also highlights Jenny's connection to Adam, mentioning that they had a class together. This establishes a pre-existing relationship between these characters, which becomes important as the play progresses.

Highlight: Jenny comes from a disciplined and inhibited household.

This background information helps explain Jenny's reserved nature and her reactions to more provocative discussions or situations throughout the play.

Quote: "Can we stop, now, please?! You guys" (p.25)

This quote further emphasizes Jenny's discomfort with certain topics and her desire to maintain peace within the group.

Page 3: Jenny's Concerns and Artistic Perspective

This page focuses on Jenny's growing concerns about her relationship with Phillip and her differing views on art compared to Evelyn in "The Shape of Things".

Jenny's insecurity about her relationship becomes apparent:

Quote: "That sense there's someone else" (p.32)

This quote reveals Jenny's fear that Phillip might be interested in another person, possibly named Jenny as well. This insecurity plays a crucial role in the development of Jenny's character and her subsequent actions.

The page also highlights the contrast between Jenny's and Evelyn's perspectives on art:

Quote: "It was pornography" (p.23)

This statement, likely referring to Evelyn's work, shows Jenny's more conservative view of art. In contrast, Jenny's appreciation for art is described in simpler terms:

Quote: "I love the arts" (p.54) / "going to the movies and stuff"

This difference in artistic perspectives creates tension between the characters and influences their interactions throughout the play.

Page 4: Jenny's Character Evolution

This page details the evolution of Jenny's character throughout "The Shape of Things", focusing on her changing feelings and relationships.

At the beginning of the play, Jenny is described as being in a happy relationship with Phillip, her fiancé. However, as the story progresses, Jenny's insecurities about their relationship grow:

Quote: "Now, I love him and all, I do, you know that, but that's not the way I'd describe him to people. 'Sweet'. Would you?" / "And that's what's bugging me" (p.31/32)

This quote reveals Jenny's doubts about her feelings for Phillip and her growing dissatisfaction with their relationship.

Jenny's insecurity extends to comparisons with Evelyn:

Quote: "So...sorry I'm not an artsy person or cool enough or, you know, I'm not super smart, sorry about that" (p.61)

This self-deprecating statement shows Jenny's feelings of inadequacy when compared to Evelyn, whom she perceives as more sophisticated and interesting.

A significant turning point in Jenny's character development is her growing fascination with Adam's transformation and her eventual infidelity:

Highlight: Jenny is fascinated about all the changes Adam is going through.

This fascination leads to a pivotal moment in the play:

Highlight: Cheats on her fiancé with Adam (they kiss).

This act of infidelity marks a crucial change in Jenny's character and sets in motion a series of events that affect all the relationships in the play.

Page 5: Consequences of Jenny's Actions

This page explores the aftermath of Jenny's actions and the final stages of her character development in "The Shape of Things".

The most significant consequence of Jenny's actions is the end of her relationship with Phillip:

Quote: P: "She came over one day, after seeing you, guys, and that was it." (p.65)

This quote reveals that Jenny broke up with Phillip shortly after her encounter with Adam and Evelyn, indicating a dramatic shift in her feelings and priorities.

Jenny's attitude towards Phillip also changes significantly:

Quote: "You never change... That's what." (p.66)

This statement highlights Jenny's newfound dissatisfaction with Phillip's static nature, especially when compared to Adam's transformation.

Quote: "He's...Phil. Six 'things' away from being amazing..." (p.55)

This quote further emphasizes Jenny's changed perspective on Phillip, suggesting that she now sees him as lacking in some way.

The page ends with an open question about Jenny's future:

Highlight: Open ending: relationship between Jenny and Adam or unrequited love?

This unresolved aspect of Jenny's story adds depth to her character arc and leaves room for interpretation in the play's conclusion.

Page 6: The Park Scene - Evelyn's Manipulation

This page focuses on a crucial scene in the park, where Evelyn manipulates the situation to her advantage in "The Shape of Things".

The scene reveals the extent of Evelyn's control over Adam:

Quote: "So, tell me what to do and I'll do it...I just, I just don't wanna lose you." (p.64)

This quote demonstrates Adam's complete submission to Evelyn, highlighting the power dynamics in their relationship.

Evelyn's manipulative nature is further revealed in her response to the kiss between Adam and Jenny:

Quote: "...I'm sorry, I've confused you. I meant about my kiss. With Phillip.…..." (p.60)

By kissing Phillip in retaliation, Evelyn escalates the situation and exerts her control over both Adam and Jenny.

Quote: "...That's getting even." (p.60)

This statement underscores Evelyn's calculated approach to relationships and her willingness to use others' emotions to her advantage.

The park scene serves as a pivotal moment in the play, bringing the tensions between all four characters to a head and setting the stage for the final resolution of their intertwined relationships.

Page 7: The Park Scene - Phillip's Reaction

This page examines Phillip's response to the events in the park scene of "The Shape of Things", revealing how Jenny's actions indirectly affect his character development.

Phillip's initial reaction to Jenny and Adam's kiss is anger:

Quote: "I was pissed off, but, I mean...No call for that 'eye for an eye' shit" (p.65)

This quote shows Phillip's disapproval of Evelyn's retaliatory kiss, suggesting a more mature approach to the situation than might be expected.

The kiss between Jenny and Adam leads Phillip to reevaluate his readiness for marriage:

Quote: "You did me a favor, really... Too young to get hitched" (p.65)

This statement reveals that Phillip sees the incident as a catalyst for positive change in his life, allowing him to avoid a potentially premature marriage.

Highlight: The kiss is his way out of the marriage.

This insight suggests that Phillip may have been looking for an excuse to end his engagement to Jenny, adding complexity to their relationship dynamic in the play.

Page 8: The Park Scene - Jenny's Transformation

The final page focuses on Jenny's transformation during the park scene in "The Shape of Things", highlighting how her actions and realizations lead to significant changes in her character and relationships.

The kiss between Jenny and Adam serves as a turning point for Jenny's character:

Quote: "Right. I've wanted to do that for a long time...Three years..."

This confession reveals that Jenny has harbored feelings for Adam for an extended period, adding depth to her character and explaining her fascination with his transformation.

Highlight: She recognizes her feelings for Adam through the kiss.

This realization marks a significant shift in Jenny's character arc, as she acknowledges her true emotions and acts on them despite the potential consequences.

The page emphasizes that Jenny's attraction to Adam is linked to his personal changes:

Highlight: She changes because she falls for him --> because he has changed; and became lovely.

This connection between Adam's transformation and Jenny's feelings for him underscores the play's themes of personal change and the malleability of identity.

The park scene serves as the climax of Jenny's character development in "The Shape of Things", bringing her internal conflicts and desires to the forefront and setting the stage for the resolution of her relationships with both Phillip and Adam.

Page 1: Introduction to Jenny's Character

This page introduces Jenny, a character in Neil LaBute's play "The Shape of Things". Jenny is portrayed as a complex individual with various traits that shape her interactions throughout the story.

Highlight: Jenny is characterized as inhibited, strict, and easily uncomfortable.

Jenny's personality is further described as simple-minded, which influences her reactions to various situations in the play. Her character serves as a contrast to some of the more outspoken or provocative figures in the story.

Example: Jenny's discomfort is evident when she whispers the word "penis" during a conversation (p.20), demonstrating her reserved nature.

The page also mentions that Jenny tries to calm others down and avoid confrontations, suggesting a defensive or peace-keeping role within the group dynamics.