Uta Hagen's Nine Questions

1.) Who Am I?
My character is Gretchen Wieners. She is probably about sixteen or seventeen years old and a high school student. She has a medium build with big hair and she has two parents. She goes to a public high school called North Shore High School and her father is the inventor of toaster strudels. She is also Jewish. She enjoys shopping and gossiping with her friends. Although she is mean and popular, she does not like the way her "best friend" Regina George treats her. She is part of the group that some others call “The Plastics” and enjoys her status. She tries her best to be liked and be Regina’s send hand but she always seems to fall short and is used as a punching bag. She knows a lot of information about everybody and that's how she finds superiority over others. She fears being disliked by Regina and having the new girl Cady take her place.

2.) What Time is It?

It is still during the school year, maybe in the fall time. This song is sung after she confesses to Cady that her unhealthy friendship with Regina has made her lose all confidence in herself. The significance of the time is that this is the start of the turning point of her character.

 3.) Where Am I?
She lives in America and in Evanston, Illinois. She is in Regina George's house and most likely in the corner of the room after talking to Cady.

4.) What Surrounds Me?

She and her friends are all inside Regina’s room so there is a large mirror and a large closet. There are pictures of herself and Regina on the walls and outside the weather is cloudy. She is in a neighborhood with large houses and a perfect lawns.

5.) What are the Given Circumstances?

In the past, she was satisfied with her friendship to Regina, because she was popular and knew everybody’s secrets. However, Regina constantly trashed Gretchen and was mean to her no matter hard Gretchen tried to get Regina to like her more. In the present, the new girl, Cady Heron, has joined their tight knit group and thinks that Regina likes her more. Although part of is that Cady is secretly plotting the downfall of Regina, this makes Gretchen start to really question why she remains friends with her. Her confidence is lost but she feels stuck because it is easier to live in Regina’s orbit than out. Gretchen wonders what is so wrong with her that Regina would always dismiss her and does not know what to do with herself.

6.) What are My Relationships?

Her relationships to objects like mirrors and clothings are not so great because of her lack of confidence. She only sees the things she lacks and wonders if that is why Regina dislikes her.  She lost her sense of self worth because she was constantly told that she was not enough by people who were supposed to her her friends. Her relationships are heavily based off what Regina says is acceptable. Her relationship with her mother is distant because she spends all her time trying to be cool and fit in. Her mother’s kind words can’t soothe her since in Gretchen’s mind, she is never beautiful. Her relationship with Regina is obviously toxic and although they both mutually despise one another, they stick around to keep the social status. Her friendship with Karen is fake and not super deep, since they are together because Regina said so. She feels threatened by new girl Cady because she fears that Cady will take her spot as Regina’s second in command. Gretchen does not have any real friendships or people she can count on, partly because others dislike her for her actions. Her relationship with any event is determined by what Regina says and Gretchen’s low self esteem.

7.) What Do I Want?
Gretchen just wants to be liked and loved by Regina. She long term wants to be seen as Regina’s equal and be loved. She also wants self love. She does not want to have to question every move she makes or every word that comes out of her mouth. 

8.) What is in My Way?

The biggest obstacle is herself. She hates Regina but hates the idea of living outside the circle more. The social position matters to her and since she had it for so long, she finds it extremely hard to let go. She lack of confidence in herself makes her think that she needs Regina and does not fully know if she or Regina is the problem. She also is afraid to leave because of the amount of social power Regina has. 

9.) What Do I Do To Get What I Want?

She does not yet fully know her way to accomplishing what she wants, but she thinks about cutting her friendship with Regina. She wonders if that will finally set her free, and starts to think about a life that is not completely dictated by someone else. She plots to be the next queen bee and take what was once Regina’s. She starts spilling secrets that Regina told her to Cady out of anger. She thinks about breaking away and taking Cady and Karen with her.