Symbolism and Foreshadowing in Baby's Opening Monologue

The movie Dirty Dancing begins with Baby's monologue, as she is riding in a car on August 18, 1963.

That was the summer of 1963, when everybody called me "Baby" and it didn't occur to me to mind.

That was before President Kennedy was shot, before the Beatles came, when I couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps, and I thought I'd never find a guy as great as my Dad.

Baby's monologue provides this sequence of events:

1) During the summer of 1963, Baby was called "Baby" by everyone.

2) During the summer of 1963, Baby couldn't wait to join the Peace Corps.

3) During the summer of 1963, Baby thought she never would find a guy as great as her Dad.

4) After the summer -- after September 23, 1963 -- Baby no longer was called "Baby" by everyone.

5) On November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was shot.

6) On February 7, 1964, The Beatles came to America.

7) On August 21, 1987, movie audiences heard Baby's monologue for the first time.

In the summer of 1987, Frances (formerly "Baby") Houseman is telling movie audiences about her experiences during and shortly after the summer of 1963 -- 23 years ago.

During that 1963 summer, she 1) was called Baby by everyone, 2) intended to join the Peace Corps and 3) hoped to find a guy like her Dad.

Shortly after that 1963 summer, 4) she no longer was called Baby by everyone, 5) President Kennedy was shot and 5) the Beatles arrived.

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Many Americans consider Labor Day -- September 2 in 1963 -- to be the end of summer, because most schools begin their fall term immediately afterwards. However, Mount Holyoke College, which Baby would attend, began its fall term on or shortly after September 23, 1963.

When Baby moves away from home and begins to attend Mount Holyoke, she henceforth will be called Frances (not "Baby") by practically everyone. Her father no longer will be the strongest influence on her life.

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Baby's monologue includes the following symbols:

* The name "Baby" symbolizes her apparent immaturity.

* President Kennedy symbolizes Baby's father Jack Houseman.

* The Beatles symbolize the Kellerman's dancers who influenced Baby.

* The Peace Corps symbolizes Baby's idealistic aspirations.

These symbols in Baby's opening monologue foreshadow the movie's story.

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The name "Baby" symbolizes her apparent immaturity.

During the story, the people around Baby will recognize that she no longer is immature.

Her parents and sister will learn that she has acted on her sexual desires and has lost her virginity.

In particular, her father will recognize that she can disagree with him and turn out to be right.

Johnny Castle will recognize that she can and does act independently from her father.

Everyone at Kellerman's will recognize that she can confidently excel in public performance.

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President Kennedy symbolizes Baby's father Jack Houseman.

During the story, Baby will lose much of her adoration toward her father.

Although her father will remain in her life, this perfect idol will be gone from her life.

She will begin to consider whether her life's romantic partner should be a different kind of man.

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The Beatles symbolize the Kellerman's dancers who influence Baby.

A group of young, fun-loving, talented artists will make a huge impact on Baby.

Baby will transfer much of her adoration from her father to these artists.

She will select her "favorite Beatle" (Johnny Castle) as a special object of infatuation.

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The Peace Corps symbolizes Baby's idealistic aspirations.

The story will portray Baby as idealistic -- as living her life to help others.

The story will portray Baby as dealing with complex consequences of her idealism.

Despite such consequences, Baby will remain true to her idealism at the story's end.

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Looking back from the summer of 1987, Frances ("Baby") Houseman knows the story that she intends to tell the movie audience about her summer of 1963. In this opening monologue, she foreshadows the story that the movie audience is about to watch.