Down The Rabbit Hole

Beyond their physical appearance, what was Hefner implying about the models he sought when he described them as being like the “girl next door”?” What did Hefner mean when he touted Playboy as being “classy” when compared to other magazines that contained nude photos of women?

In exchange for extreme restrictions on their travels, schedules, relationships, and interaction with the media, what did the girlfriends who resided in the mansion receive? In general, were the girlfriends satisfied or dissatisfied with their living arrangements and Hefner’s rules for life inside the mansion?

What goals and dreams did Holly and the Mean Girls have in common? While she describes their actions, Holly does not describe these women’s feelings toward her, never details the Mean Girls’ motivations for acting as they did. What feelings did the Mean Girls have toward Holly and why?

What personal qualities did Holly possess that allowed her to persevere through three years of persecution from the Mean Girls, and seven years of emotionally abusive treatment from Hefner? What ambitions and dreams caused her to endure what she did?

What does Holly mean when she remarks that her feelings of devotion, protectiveness, and tenderness toward Hefner were “Stockholm Syndrome”? In what way does Stockholm Syndrome prevent individuals from grasping the nature of their circumstances? What was Holly enduring without fully realizing it? Are any of her other relationships characterized by Stockholm Syndrome?

The popularity of The Girls Next Door reveals that many people are curious about what happened inside the Playboy Mansion and about the lives of Hefner’s girlfriends. Would Holly say the program did a realistic job of portraying life within the mansion and the experiences of the girlfriends? Why was control over these women’s portrayal so important to Hefner and the E! network? To what extent were the girlfriends able to control how their own portrayal?

Marilyn Monroe is Holly’s idol and, while working in Las Vegas, Holly has the opportunity to model some of Marilyn’s clothing. What thoughts and questions occur to Holly as she wears Marilyn’s clothes? When she compares herself to Marilyn, what does she decide is the primary difference between them? Would Marilyn have been able to strike out in her own era and become as independently successful as Holly? Why or why not?

What, if anything, sets Holly apart from all the hopeful young people who move to Los Angeles seeking fame and adulation without achieving it? What, if anything, sets Holly apart from the other beautiful women who pursue nude modeling in the hopes of achieving personal wealth, fame, and adventure? Would you consider Holly a role model for youth hoping to achieve similar goals in life? Why or why not?