7 Totally Continental Moments in Gilmore Girls

#1 Simone de Beauvoir is Everywhere

The many references to the French existentialist and feminist begin in the pilot, where a copy of “The Second Sex” can be seen on the floor of Stars Hallow High after Rory cleans out her locker.

simone de beauvoir gilmore girls
In another episode, Rory can be found reading “Memoirs of a Dutiful Daughter.”

memoirs of a dutiful daughter gilmore girls
Then, when Rory is packing for her trip to Europe after graduating High School, Lorelai makes the following comment about Rory’s sweater.

Simone de Beauvoir joke

#2. That Time Spinoza’s Ethics was Assigned in Class

At Yale, Professor Bell can be seen discussing Baruch Spinoza’s “Ethics.” In another episode, Bell, who is described as one of the foremost philosophers in the country, discusses the work of Joseph Campbell concerning Freud.

spinoza ethics gilmore girls
Rory can be seen with the book amongst her pile below.

Spinoza Ethics

#3 Rory is Pretty Much a Nietzsche Genius.

Rory’s grandfather singing praise for her to his wife.

rory nietzsche schopenhauer
In another episode, Rory  is reading “Basic Writings of Nietzsche,” according to Gilmore Girls library, but I’m not fully convinced. While the overall layout fits the book, the facial hair looks off.

Gilmore Girls Nietzsche
The day Lorelai graduates, Christopher delivers: a $25 dollar savings bond, a youth hostel card, “What Color is Your Parachute: A Practical Manual for Job Hunters,” a DVD of “The Graduate,” and…

nietzsche gift gilmore
Christopher also includes an application to joined the armed forces noting that “if your dreams don’t pan out and Nietzsche doesn’t help, it’s a viable option.”

#4 The Derrida and Chomsky Posters in Their Dorm

Rory and Paris’ dorm at Yale has an ever-presented Noam Chomsky poster, though a wall not often shown in the show harbors a Jacques Derrida poster.

Chomsky Poster
Janet Billings, their suite mate, gets confronted by Paris for having her boyfriend over too often. Billings accuses Paris of being bitter and lonely (little does she know about Asher Fleming).

chomsky poster gilmore 2derrida poster gilmore
#5 Hating on Ayn Rand

Rory  encourages Jess to read “The Fountainhead.” Jess can’t get through it, forever proving he’s better than Dean.

ayn rand gilmore girls
#6 Reading Gender Trouble

Rory needs to read Judith Butler’s “Gender Trouble,” which Paris has hidden in the travel section.

Gender Trouble Gilmore
#7 Paris Geller is Probably a Marxist

When Paris tells Rory she just had sex:paris geller marxism sex rant
In another episode, Paris laments having to reserve a table for a well-off patron who didn’t RSVP.

paris gelleer marxist rantDid we miss any other references? Let us know in the comments.