NPR: Your Turn: Jenny Fields

Your Turn: Jenny Fields

From The World According To Garp by John Irving
Movie directed by George Roy Hill
Nominated by Eric Orner

I wrestled with my sexuality throughout college during in the 1980s. As a Jew, I worried about the moral repercussions of my gay orientation---about not doing everything I could to procreate. And, as an American I worried about the material consequences of coming out. Would I be denied happiness? Jobs? Physical security? When I read Irving's book, my eyes were opened wide by his depiction of a character who was uncompromising in her attitude towards sex and sexuality.

What was right for others wasn't right for Nurse Jenny. She recognized this, and didn't let it stop her from building a good and successful life. Within the novel, Jenny writes her own book called "A Sexual Suspect" which gave other characters in Garp, (and outside in the real world like me) the courage to live their lives on their own terms. I'm grateful to her for it.

Tags: Independent Women | Literature | Movies

10:15 PM ET | 01-30-2008 | permalink

Send a Comment

Comments are reviewed and edited by NPR prior to display. All comments will be read, but not all will be posted.

NPR reserves the right to read on the air and/or publish on its Web site or in any medium now known or unknown the e-mails and letters that we receive. We may edit them for clarity or brevity and identify authors by name and location. For additional information, please consult our Terms of Use.

E-mail this Page

Recipient's e-mail address:	» Up to twelve addresses, separated by commas.
Your e-mail address:
Your name:
Personal message (optional, 600 characters max):
Your NPR member station:
Are you a member of your local NPR station?	Yes No
Would you like to receive information from your local NPR member station? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No
May we contact you with information about NPR programming and services? (see NPR's privacy policy)	Yes No

(Information collected by NPR will be used solely for internal NPR or NPR member station purposes and only if you selected 'yes' above. See NPR's privacy policy for more information.)

Elizabeth Blair

blogger

Trey Graham

blogger

Who Moves You?

Join the In Character conversation: Tell us about the fictional characters who've told you something about yourself or your world. Your essay may appear here on the blog — or even on the air.

Search 'The 'In Character' Blog'

What is 'In Character'?

The classic bad girl. The mad scientist. The wise-cracking sidekick. In Character is an NPR series exploring famous American fictional characters, from Atticus Finch to Ugly Betty. What do they say about society? About individual experience? About the comedy and complexity of who we are? Join us, online and on the air, as we ask what makes them tick — and what that means for us.

For more details on this project, read our FAQ and Discussion Guidelines. Or just go ahead and submit your own In Character essay.

Private Comments

You can contact the In Character team privately if you have comments or questions you do not want posted.

Browse Topics

Services

Programs

Text-only

Your Turn: Jenny Fields

Send a Comment

E-mail this Page

Elizabeth Blair

blogger

Trey Graham

blogger

Who Moves You?

Search 'The 'In Character' Blog'

Recent Comments

Recent Entries

Categories

Archives

What is 'In Character'?

Private Comments

Related News Feeds

Browse Topics

Services

Programs