CliffNotes: ‘Jersey Shore’ 2.2 – Abstract Symbolism, Structure, and Ronnie’s Literal ‘Phone Book’

Introduction to the Text:

A group of eight people live in a house in Florida: Their names are JWOWW, “The Situation,” Snooki, Paulie D., Angelina, Ronnie, Sammi, and Vinny. (See: Symbolism in Names: Chapter 3.2) Their home is in Miami, where the group has migrated after winter winds have forced them South from their native ‘Jersey Shore.’ Tensions have arisen since Angelina, a Staten Island girl was aspirations of one day being famous enough to have that surgery to pop her eyes all the way back into her skull, has arrived after being exiled from the shore last season. While the men remain ambivalent, the women of the house become increasingly and overtly hostile towards the young Angelina. This leads to an exclamation of events where Snooki faces down Angelina over some purported comments about Snooki’s boyfriend, who Angelina may have called a “f******* m*****.” (See: Chapter 5.6 “Codes and riddles, unresolved”)

Meanwhile Sammi D. and Ronnie have tentatively resumed their relationship, although she is unaware that Ronnie had spent the previous night making out with two grenades (See: Dramatic Irony, Chapter 4.1). Sammi does however, find Ronnie’s “phone book” where he has written down the name and number of an ex-girlfriend (See: Chapter 8.6 for an explanation of Chekov’s Gun, as well as “unrealistic and archaic prop contrivances”) and becomes angry.

They make up, though Sammi now knows about the women from the night before, although not that Ronnie was boasting about his conquests and his ability to come home from ‘creepin’ to lie in bed with his ex-girlfriend and snuggle. The Situation almost tells Sammi, but Vinny stops him. (See: Chapter 3 for a more in-depth character development and relationships, including previous altercations between The Situatin and Vinnie over who is the bigger bitch.) Ronnie later gets a tattoo (See: Chapter 8.6, previously) and the duo holds hands. All is well between the couple.

The group is informed that they are to be working in gelato shop, under the watchful gaze of a cranky but entertaining foreign man who warns them not to put too many scoops in the cup, lest they be forced to charge customers double. (See Chapter 11: Foreshadowing)

Angelina has taken her anger and aggression at the house and channeled into dancing with some ladies at the club (Chapter 3, “Attention Seeking Behaviors in the house: Male v Female, gender relations), then goes home to yell at Paulie D. for getting a lady’s number. A Saved By the Bell reference is made (Chapter 4.8: Non Sequitur pop-culture references and minimal self-awareness, breaking 4th wall). Angelina slaps Ronnie, then tells him that she loves him. She also loves The Situation. In the cliff-hanger climax of this act, Paulie D. shows us a heretofore undeveloped “angry voice.” It is brought to Angelina’s attention that her alliances are running low, and despite personal animosity/love towards both The Situation and Paulie D., she must remain on good terms with them.