My Answers to Two Questions From a Reader

Two days ago, a reader asked in a comment:

Hey I was wondering if you could write a post analyzing two things:

1.) When Baby is trying on wigs, she tells Penny she envied her. I was wondering if you could analyze that moment and compare it to all their other moments.

2.) Why did Johnny even ask Baby to dance? Why couldn't he just leave her with his cousin? Also, are there any signs that he was attracted to baby like more subtle cues?

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Why did Baby envy Penny?

Baby admired Penny's femininity, which captivated handsome Johnny Castle.

See my article Baby Houseman's Inner Conflict About Femininity -- Part 7, which includes the following passages:

... in the employees' bunkhouse ... the comparison is between the two women. Johnny dances first with Penny and then with Baby. Both women are feminine, but Penny is much more feminine than Baby.

Penny dances confidently in her femininity. Her movements are natural and supple. She displays her female body, even flipping her dress up to reveal her panties.

Baby dances in an embarrassed, deliberate, inhibited manner. Her movements are awkward and clumsy. She does not flaunt her female body and sexuality. She does not flirt with Johnny. When the music stops, she dances away in a goofy manner by herself instead of enticing him to dance with her longer. ...

Baby watches and admires both Penny and Johnny. Like the movie audience, Baby is impressed not only by Penny and Johnny individually but also by the extraordinary sexual contrast between Penny and Johnny.

In the following scenes, Baby displays a special interest in Penny.

* When Baby sees that Penny is demonstrating wigs, Baby goes to try on wigs.

* There, Baby engages Penny in conversation and expresses her curiosity and admiration.

* When Baby sees Penny crying in the kitchen, she takes action to help her.

* Baby goes to talk with Penny's recent lover Robbie Gould.

* When Baby learns that Penny is pregnant, she asks questions to clarify the situation.

* Baby obtains $250 and presents it to Penny for an abortion.

Up to this point in the story, Baby has demonstrated much less interest in Johnny. After Baby saw Johnny kissing a woman in the woods, Baby did follow Johnny to the employees' bunkhouse, where the "dirty dancing" party was taking place. However, Baby is not shown conversing with Johnny until she is leading him to the kitchen where Penny is crying.

I am not implying that Baby is attracted to Penny sexually. I am saying rather that Baby is fascinated by Penny's femininity so much that she involves herself personally with Penny. Baby informs herself about Penny's personal history and relationships. Baby engages herself in Penny's sexual problems. ...

Baby wants to learn from Penny how to develop an intimate relationship with a masculine man like Johnny.

My series about Baby's inner conflict about femininity begins at Part 1.

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Why did Johnny ask Baby to dance?

Johnny was already looking for someone to substitute for Penny in the Sheldrake performance. He wanted to see how well Baby danced.

See my article Penny's Loss of Hope About Robbie, which includes the following passages.

Johnny Considers Baby as a Replacement Dancer

Later that Sunday night, Johnny and Penny went together to a "dirty dancing" party in the employees' bunkhouse.

By that time, Johnny had talked with Janet and Maria and had found out that neither of them would be able to replace Penny in the Sheldrake performance. Johnny considered that Penny would have to dance with him and therefore would not be able to get an abortion on that day -- if she did agree to get an abortion.

As Johnny was dancing at the party, he noticed Baby in the bunkhouse -- a place she did not belong. Johnny expressed his displeasure at Baby's presence and then resumed dancing with Penny.

Suddenly Johnny had a new idea. Perhaps Baby could dance well enough to learn to replace Penny at the Sheldrake. Johnny decided to test Baby's dancing skills.

Johnny invites Baby to dance with him in the bunkhouse.

Johnny sees that Baby has no dancing skills.

Johnny quickly saw that Baby had no dancing experience and no natural talent. Baby would not be able to learn the Sheldrake dance adequately in the available days.

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I welcome other answers to your two questions.

I welcome more questions.