Jenny Kurtz/The Cheerleader Character Analysis

Jenny Kurtz is the 11th name on Hannah’s list. She first appears when she prints out the names on Hannah’s Valentine’s list, and Hannah thinks Jenny seems genuinely sweet and excited for her. This lines up with Clay’s perception of Jenny as a caring person after he witnesses her distress when she hears about Hannah’s death. But Jenny’s story is complicated: when driving Hannah home after a party, she loses control of her car and knocks over a stop sign. Hannah tries to stop her from driving any further, but Jenny drives off, leaving Hannah behind. During the few hours in which there’s no stop sign on that intersection, Clay witnesses a fatal car crash there, meaning that Jenny’s crash and her decision not to take responsibility for it leads to someone’s death. Jenny’s character reinforces the idea that though someone might not intend to cause serious harm, their lack of self-awareness and choice to avoid accountability can lead to often irreparable damage.