In Mona Simpson’s “Lawns”, Jenny, the narrator of the story, steals in order to fill a void in her life. At an early age, her innocence was taken from her against her will, so she steals things out of mail packages to make up for what she has lost. She is also filling the void she feels when Glenn, her boyfriend, doesn’t reward her materially for their sexual relationship. Jenny steals things like cash, cookies and presents in mail packages sent to other college students. Throughout the story, Jenny begins to reveal the reason behind her theft problem which is an ongoing sexual relationship with her father that started when she was a small child. Her father has essentially stolen her innocence and continues to manipulate her through her
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This is the first time she feels “[she’s] been in love” so she worries because “he thinks he loves [her] so [she’s] got to keep him from finding out about [her]” (447). She cares deeply for Glenn so much that she chooses not to open his mail but instead she “[kisses] all four corners where his fingers will touch, opening it, before [she] puts it in his box” (449). As Jenny and Glenn become closer, she struggles to open up to him about her set of circumstances. She is used to lying but knows “[she] has to keep track of each lie [she’s] told Glenn” (451) in order to keep things the way they are. Her feelings continue to grow stronger though Glenn does not support her with material things. When he does pay for her “Happy Burger” it is a great feeling for her as “it was the best goddamn hamburger [she] had ever eaten” (451). The intimate relationship between Glenn and Jenny is hard for her because sex was never an act of passion in her life. She is almost lifeless during the act as she describes her position “in that crack, breathing the air between the bed and the wall. Cold and dusty” (452). The sexual encounters with her father has her confused so she has “to remind [herself]” that “this is just Glenn”
This is the first time she feels “[she’s] been in love” so she worries because “he thinks he loves [her] so [she’s] got to keep him from finding out about [her]” (447). She cares deeply for Glenn so much that she chooses not to open his mail but instead she “[kisses] all four corners where his fingers will touch, opening it, before [she] puts it in his box” (449). As Jenny and Glenn become closer, she struggles to open up to him about her set of circumstances. She is used to lying but knows “[she] has to keep track of each lie [she’s] told Glenn” (451) in order to keep things the way they are. Her feelings continue to grow stronger though Glenn does not support her with material things. When he does pay for her “Happy Burger” it is a great feeling for her as “it was the best goddamn hamburger [she] had ever eaten” (451). The intimate relationship between Glenn and Jenny is hard for her because sex was never an act of passion in her life. She is almost lifeless during the act as she describes her position “in that crack, breathing the air between the bed and the wall. Cold and dusty” (452). The sexual encounters with her father has her confused so she has “to remind [herself]” that “this is just Glenn”