61 pages • 2 hours read
Abby JimenezThe Friend Zone
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2019A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Stuntman Mike
Kristen’s small dog, Stuntman Mike, plays an important role in the development of Josh and Kristen’s relationship. When Kristen first introduces Josh to her dog at the fire station, he immediately recognizes that the dog’s name is a reference to a character in the 2007 Quentin Tarantino film, Death Proof. Stuntman Mike is tiny but fierce, and he is picky about the people he spends time with, just like Kristen herself.
When Josh starts spending time at Kristen’s house, both as a carpenter and as a roommate, Kristen realizes that Stuntman Mike likes Josh more than he likes most people, including her Tyler and her mother. Stuntman Mike’s affection for Josh makes Kristen feel more affection for Josh as well, and she begins to realize that he would fit into her life better than Tyler ever could.
Josh’s gentle treatment of Stuntman Mike also indicates that Josh would be a very good father. She catches him bathing the dog in the sink one day and realizes that he would be equally gentle and caring with a child, and she is devastated by her belief that they will never get to be parents together. Thus, throughout the novel, Stuntman Mike acts as a litmus test to help Kristen judge the quality of the various people in her life.
Building Stairs
While Josh’s primary occupation is fireman and paramedic, he also takes a carpentry job for Kristen’s business, building miniature sets of stairs so that small dogs can climb up to their owners’ beds. This becomes a motif in the text. Josh thoughtfully builds the stairs so that they will match the materials and patterns of the existing bed frame, blending seamlessly into the design as a whole. This act of care signifies that he will attend to every aspect of his life with equal thoughtfulness, and just as he carefully builds the stairs, he also works to build a solid, authentic relationship with Kristen. Just as providing stairs gives small dogs a way to access more areas, Josh also gives Kristen the support she needs without diminishing her dignity and independence.
Quentin Tarantino Movies
Kristen and Josh love watching TV and movies together, and they are both particular fans of movies directed by Quentin Tarantino, a significant motif in the text. As the novel progresses, making references to Tarantino’s films becomes a unique love language between them. When they first meet, Josh recognizes the name of Kristen’s dog as a reference to a character in Death Proof. This is one of Tarantino’s lesser-known movies, so Kristen is impressed that he knows the significance of the name. Throughout the novel, the pair’s frequent use of these film references becomes a motif that illustrates how well-matched they really are.
These references become more prominent and meaningful as the narrative progresses. In one scene, Kristen points out a pawn shop in LA in which a famous scene in Pulp Fiction was filmed, and later, when they are stuck in Sloan’s car waiting for a tow truck, Josh contemplates a quote from Pulp Fiction in which where Mia Wallace says, “That’s when you know you’ve found somebody really special. When you can just shut the fuck up for a minute and comfortably share silence” (101). Significantly, Kristen admits to thinking the same thing. In this moment, not only are they thinking of the same movie quote, but they are also thinking the same thing about each other, and this level of synchronicity is designed to act as proof of their compatibility despite Kristen’s unexpressed inhibitions.
When they get engaged at the end of the novel, Kristen suggests that they obtain their wedding rings from that same pawn shop. This brings their special connection over movies full circle, and it is clear that such rings will serve them far better than brand-new, expensive rings from a conventional jewelry store. As the frequent recurrence of Tarantino references indicates, Kristen and Josh are happy to be unconventional as long as they are together.
Related Titles
By Abby Jimenez
