2017 Wrap-Up - Jennifer
Here are some year end thoughts regarding the female characters in the story, staring with Jennifer. Part of this discussion will revolve around the observed themes: (1) Love conquers Fear; (2) Love transcends Societal Prejudice: (3) Coming of Age; and (4) Family.
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Jennifer shares with MCFemale the state of virginity. The steps taken with MCFemale can be played out with Jennifer, but with brilliant differences. This was nicely done in the last update. Where MCFemale is shy and hesitant, Jennifer is full of Elena and internet driven plans. Both stumble along - one knocks hesitantly on the door; the other enters the room without knocking.
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(1) Coming of Age: As the only other virgin, this theme can be strong with Jennifer. Here path could be “First Teen Love” and the ups and downs that come from that, ending, possibly, in a more mature and adult Jennifer by the end of the story.
The first love can be intense and immersive, blocking out the mundane in the world, and either transforming the world into a place of wonder, or crippling one with doubt and second guesses of the other’s true affections (or both...and sometimes within the same hour). Young love can be the stuff fairy tales and dreams are made of; or the thing of insecurities that drive one to distraction.
So what is at stake for Jennifer? Will her relationship with MCMale be healthy or harmful? Will it grow into a longer term healthy relationship with him? Part of her path might be to take the overwhelming emotions she has now, and mold it into a sustainable loving and lasting relationship.
Here is Jennifer now:
Fresh off of an intimate night with MCMale, her body is filled with excitement and adrenaline. It is surprising she did not pester MCMale with social media texts and pictures on the last update, but that is not likely to last. Young love, especially first love, is intense. So intense, it can be quite scary. This intensity will make the love seem stronger than it really is.
In this early stage, Jennifer is likely to everything else in her life slide as she obsesses on this new relationship. Family obligations, work, friends - all seem so much less important. Every love song ever written now applies to Jennifer. She’s “walking on sunshine” because she’s in a “teenage love affair.”
Assume, in this Visual Novel, there are successes and failures - good paths and bad paths to be taken. Passion and love, especially young love, go hand in hand. This passion will ultimately be Jennifer’s greatest success or failure, depending how she uses it (or if it uses her).
Ultimately, is she going to gain self confidence and maturity through this relationship, or will it take an unhealthy spiral. With her immaturity,Maher young love won’t be picture perfect. There might be jealousy, anger, and hurt along the way. The relationship might have intoxicating highs, and conversely, devastating lows.
Will MCMale’s relationship with Jennifer, and his opinion of Jennifer’s intelligence, talents, and her future give her the boost she needs to take her from a teen to and adult and bring about her understanding of her own value as a person?
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(2) Family: It is interesting that Jennifer is the only character whose core family is still intact (Father-Mother-Daughter). Would Jennifer then bring insights to this theme? Does she bring expectations to the story that other characters don’t have?
Arguably, Jennifer comes into the intimate relationship scene with the least experience, and the greatest immaturity. Does the intact family relationship then give her strength in her weakness? When emotions run high, and fears of relationship rise, does she look toward the relationship her parents have and calm down, modeling how they deal with relationship strife?
Alternately, Jennifer’s familial experience could also cause barriers in her relationship with MC Male. Seeing how relationships must be (like her parents), Jennifer might layer expectations into her relationship with MCMale as she expects their path to move toward a commitment ... and marriage.
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(3-4) Love conquers Fear and Societal Prejudices: As discussed above, Jennifer’s individual fears could come from those caused by the uncertainty of young love. In addition, if she is going to have a long term relationship with MCMale, there will be the issues of fear and jealousy if MCMale continues to have an open relationship with any of the other characters.
As for Societal Prejudices, for Jennifer there are several. Society (and perhaps her family) frowns on a May-September Romance. If other women stay in the picture, Society frowns upon a polyamorous relationships. If MCFemale is in the picture, Society frowns on that.
It could be that Jennifer’s young love runs so strong, that this alone overcomes for her these prejudices. On the other hand, there might have to be several scenes where we see the step-by-step resolution and acceptance of these issues. (Interestingly, this “resolution and acceptance” in this VN might be the greatest obstacle if the VN is slowly moving toward a polyamory or harem ending possibility).
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However this plays out, I do expect that after one day, Jennifer is itching to text, talk, or Skype with MCMale - and MCMale may or may not be prepared for what emotions and adoration Jennifer is going to unleash upon him. (“Okay, Jennifer, going to hang up now.” “No, wait wait wait, I have something else to tell you.” —— “Okay, Jennifer, got to go.” “No, wait wait wait, Do you miss me? ... Never mind ... No, yes, a little?”)