Rachel Green — A character analysis
“Friends” wouldn’t be “Friends” without Rachel Greene, played by Jennifer Aniston, who quickly became a household name while working on “Friends.”
Sure, Rachel grew up a little spoiled. Yes, she’s in an on-again-off-again relationship with Ross Geller. Character flaws aside, Rachel adds a lot of life and style into her friend group.
Before I commend Rachel’s character in the group dynamic, I have to address the obvious. Rachel Greene is often passed off to be some ditsy girl who likes fashion and always has a boyfriend, but she has more depth than those limitations allow for. When we’re introduced to Rachel, she is in a wedding dress because she left her fiance at the altar. Why? Because she didn’t love him. Rachel Greene is brave.
Getting out of a marriage has got to be one of the most terrifying things, especially considering how it would affect how your parents see you. Not only did Rachel leave a relationship that was loveless, but she became totally independent from her parents and she did it all in one day. She got a job for the first time in her life, and she started listening to herself instead of her parents. She actually had the gall to cut herself off (financially) from her rich father. For a spoiled shopaholic, that’s incredibly impressive.
Courage aside, Rachel Greene adds some serious style and character to the iconic group of friends. She has a passion for fashion (see what I did there) and works hard to get the jobs she wants. Rachel went from being a waitress at Central Perk to an assistant at Fortunata Fashions, and eventually gets a job at Bloomingdales, skyrocketing her career in fashion.
Rachel’s style is one of the highlights of the entire sitcom if I’m being completely honest. She can make anything look good. I’m talking overalls, plaid skirts, tank tops, cargo pants, blazers, pantsuits, sweatshirts and sweatpants. One of my favorite Rachel outfits features a yellow tank top, Greene capris and platform flip flops in “The One With Monica’s Thunder.” To top it all off, Rachel’s haircuts are nothing short of perfect. She emulates 90s and 2000s vibes better than anyone else ever has.
I couldn’t write about Rachel’s character without mentioning her complicated relationship with Ross Geller. While their whirlwind romance is worth obsessing over, I choose to obsess over the fact that Rachel has enough respect for herself to leave Ross (several times) because he was disrespectful and didn’t treat her like she deserved to be treated. This vicious cycle begins in “The One With the List,” when Ross writes a pros and cons list to decide between Rachel and Julie. Even though Ross decides to be with Rachel, she finds the list and ends the relationship before it begins. Rachel is someone who knows her worth and refuses to settle for anything less than what she deserves, even when it means not being with who she loves.
In the end, Rachel proves time and time again to be one of the most courageous and powerful friends on the show. She stands up for herself and works tirelessly to get what she wants, both in her career and in her personal life. She might not understand football, but she knows how to be true to herself and be stylish while doing so.
*graphic by Sadie Buhman.
Emily White is a junior studying English and broadcast journalism. She is currently serving as the senior writer for the Lifestyles section of the Statesman.
—emily.white@usu.edu