endangers Serena‘s reputation. The gossip is their miscomprehension about Serena. They do not think that their gossip is harmful for the one that is being
talked about, Serena. That is why this gossip can be classified as a destructive gossip Spacks, 1985: 4.
―Look, see how Serena‘s resting her hands on her stomach? She‘s probably pregnant,‖ Isabel Coates whispered to Rain Hoffstetter. ―You
only do that when you‘re pregnant.‖ ―She could have had an abortion this morning. Maybe that‘s why she‘s
late,‖ Rain whispered back. ―My father gives money to Phoenix House,‖ Kati told Laura Salmon. ―I‘m
going to find out if Serena‘s been there. I bet that‘s why she came back halfway through term. She‘s been in rehab.‖ p. 43,
The reason why they do not seem to thin k that it harms Serena‘s prestige is
because their gossip is also considered as friendship‘s function Foster, 2004: 82. Again, similar to the previous gossips, this one also brings Rain, Kati, and Isabel
keep being together to talk about Serena. Instead of gossiping with other people, they share each other what they know about the gossips while they are in school.
From the gossipers‘ point of view, they gossip to distinguish them from Serena as the outsider.
Serena used to be Constance‘s student, but now she is a new student. They do not gossip to other people that they rarely know, the way they tell each
other strengthen their friendship unconsciously.
4. Gossips among Chuck Bass, Roger Paine, and Jeffrey Prescott
This time, the gossip takes place on the corner if Seventy-seventh Street and West End Avenue. Chuck Bass with his seniors: Roger Paine and Jeffrey
Prescott have a gossip about Serena‘s return; the same gossip as the last two has been explained. They school in Riverside Preps altogether with Daniel Humphrey.
In this Gossip Girl, Ziegesar narrates the way the characters gossip similar to each
other. While in the previous explanation it is Blair who does not actually get involved within the gossips, in this part, Dan is put in the same situation as Blair
has. Here, although Daniel Humphrey does not join their conversation, he intentionally hears them gossiping because they talk about his idol, Serena.
Chuck, Roger, and Jeffrey speak to each other about Serena ‘s return:
―And she Serena was all over me. She‘s like, the sluttiest girl I‘ve ever met.‖ Chuck took another toke on his smoke.
―Really?‖ Jeffrey said. ―Yes, really. First of all, I just found out that she‘s been fucking Nate
Archibald since tenth grade. And she‘s definitely gotten an education at boarding school, if you know what I mean. They had to get rid of her,
she‘s so slutty.‖ ―No way,‖ Roger said. ―Come on, dude, you don‘t get kicked out for being
a slut.‖ ―You do if you keep a record of every boy you slept with and get them
hooked on the same drugs you‘re doing. Her parents had to go up there and get her. She was, like, taking over the school‖ Chuck was getting
really worked up. His face was turning red and he was spitting as he talked.
―I heard she‘s got diseases, too,‖ he added. ―Like, STDs. Someone saw her going into a clinic in the East Village. She was wearing a wig.‖ p. 51,
From the quotation above, it is explicit that Chuck is the one that try to
convince his friends to believe his gossips about S erena. Chuck‘s words are
overly foul. This gossip is destructive Spacks, 1985: 4. Serena‘s reputation is in jeopardy. Chuck, the gossiper, damages the gossipee through what he knows
which is a falsehood. Nevertheless, although that gossip is destructive for the one that being talked about, the gosipee, Serena, it can be classified differently from
Chuck‘s point of view. As Foster 2004: 85 developed, that kind of gossip belongs to function as influence. Considering the fact that Roger and Jeffrey are
Chu ck‘s seniors, it seems prominent for Chuck to get their appreciation. As
attention seeker, Chuck the teenager, feels the need to gather their attention to
maintain his existence among their friendship. Psychologically, it is common for juniors to attract their senior due to the importance of their presence. His influence
leads them what to do and what not to do toward Serena. This is very efficient to be social mechanism. In addition, here is another quotation that strengthens the
statement that Chuck is ve ry confident about himself to influence other‘s
attention. This happens when Chuck tries to convince Serena that she needs him. ――Well, I‘m all booked up for this month, but I can put you on the waiting list,‖
Chuck said huffily, trying to regain his compo sure.‖ p.19.
5. Gossips among Nate Archibald, Jeremy Scott Tompkinson, Anthony
Avuldsen, and Charlie Dern
Apart from Riverside Prep, there is another school called St. Jude‘s School for Boys where Nate Archibald, Jeremy Scott Tompkinson, Anthony Avuldsen,
and Charlie Dern go. The next gossip occurs in a private when they play a ball. The gossip is actually started by Nate‘s friends, Jeremy, Anthony, and Charlie,
who are curious about Serena‘s return. Almost the same as Blair, Nate who belongs within the conversation remains silent. His feeling toward Serena is the
reason why he does not reply his friends‘ gossip about her. It is Jeremy, Anthony, and Charlie who keeps gossiping although Nate does not show any responds.
Charlie cleared his throat and spit in the grass. ―What‘d she look like?‖ he
asked. ―I heard she got into all sorts of trouble up at Hanover.‖ ―Me too,‖ Anthony said, sucking on the roach. ―I heard she got kicked out
for having sex with this whole group of guys in her room. Her roommate ratted
her out.‖ He laughed. ―Like, couldn‘t she afford a hotel room?‖ Charlie laughed. ―I heard she has a kid. I‘m serious. She had it in France
and left it there. Her parents are paying to have it rised in some fancy French convent. It‘s like a fucking movie, man.‖ p. 78-79,
