After being in a schlump for a few days, I finally caught "The Addams Family Values" on television, and that instantly improved my mood. Gomez and Morticia with their silly accents, Wednesday and Pugsley experimenting with different torture techniques, and Uncle Fester just being Uncle Fester. What caught my attention about the movie this time was Debbie Jellinsky: the nanny who marries Uncle Fester and turns out to be the Black Widow murderess. That was it. I was going to be Debbie Jellinsky for Halloween. As any other just-out-of-college kid would do, I changed my Facebook picture to one of Debbie. I thought it was funny. My friend Westley sees the picture and asks me "what the lady with the gun represents" to me.
Then I started thinking about why I was drawn to her. What was it about Debbie Jellinsky that I could relate to? This is what I came up with.
She's smart.
Debbie knew what she was doing when she applied for the nanny position in the Addams household. She had done her research and knew that she had to convince Uncle Fester to marry her. She knew that he was awkward and juvenile, and used that to her advantage in achieving what she wanted. She didn't waltz up to the Addams mansion, and immediately expect Uncle Fester to fall in love with her. Oh no. She observed him and his habits, learned his style, and adjusted her tactics accordingly. That's smart.
Determination.
Debbie knew what she wanted and she went for it. She didn't take no for an answer. While her methods are unconventional and illegal, that does not change the fact that she was a determined woman who did whatever it took for her to reach her goals. While the thought of marrying Uncle Fester repulsed her, Debbie was determined to marry him for his fortune. She overcame the ridiculous obstacle in front of her so that she could complete her objective.
Independence.
Anyone who knows me is aware that I am independent. It makes sense that I am drawn to people who are also independent. She has spent her entire life moving from one family to another, but it has always been on her terms. She didn't wait for someone to push her aside or decide that she wasn't worth their time. No. She left the situations when they no longer suited her needs, and she moved on according to what she wanted, not what other people wanted for her.
"Malibu Barbie? Are you kidding? That's not who I was. I wanted Ballerina Barbie. I was a ballerina!"
She's Strong.
Debbie Jellinsky can totally take care of herself.While she is physically strong (i.e. being able to wield an axe, dealing with the kick of a shotgun, maneuvering all of those electric chairs), she also shows her strength as a person. She doesn't need a man to take care of her (she just needs the man's money), she has self-confidence and doesn't care what other people think about her, and she is not afraid to be herself. She may have used unconventional methods, and she was more than likely clinically insane, but Debbie Jellinsky was definitely her own woman, and I respect her for that.
"You're mad. Absolutely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret....all the best people are!"
Debbie knew what she was doing when she applied for the nanny position in the Addams household. She had done her research and knew that she had to convince Uncle Fester to marry her. She knew that he was awkward and juvenile, and used that to her advantage in achieving what she wanted. She didn't waltz up to the Addams mansion, and immediately expect Uncle Fester to fall in love with her. Oh no. She observed him and his habits, learned his style, and adjusted her tactics accordingly. That's smart.
Determination.
Debbie knew what she wanted and she went for it. She didn't take no for an answer. While her methods are unconventional and illegal, that does not change the fact that she was a determined woman who did whatever it took for her to reach her goals. While the thought of marrying Uncle Fester repulsed her, Debbie was determined to marry him for his fortune. She overcame the ridiculous obstacle in front of her so that she could complete her objective.
Independence.
Anyone who knows me is aware that I am independent. It makes sense that I am drawn to people who are also independent. She has spent her entire life moving from one family to another, but it has always been on her terms. She didn't wait for someone to push her aside or decide that she wasn't worth their time. No. She left the situations when they no longer suited her needs, and she moved on according to what she wanted, not what other people wanted for her.
"Malibu Barbie? Are you kidding? That's not who I was. I wanted Ballerina Barbie. I was a ballerina!"
She's Strong.
Debbie Jellinsky can totally take care of herself.While she is physically strong (i.e. being able to wield an axe, dealing with the kick of a shotgun, maneuvering all of those electric chairs), she also shows her strength as a person. She doesn't need a man to take care of her (she just needs the man's money), she has self-confidence and doesn't care what other people think about her, and she is not afraid to be herself. She may have used unconventional methods, and she was more than likely clinically insane, but Debbie Jellinsky was definitely her own woman, and I respect her for that.
"You're mad. Absolutely bonkers. But I'll tell you a secret....all the best people are!"
So, there it is. Debbie Jellinsky may have been crazy, but I thought she had spunk. What do you think? Am I stretching by finding these positive qualities in a murderess? Am I a little crazy for thinking so much of the Black Widow? As always, I can't wait to hear what you have to say....Happy Halloween!
I love it. :) Good post!
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