TOP GIRLS BLOG

TOP GIRLS

CHARACTER OF CHICE ‘MARLENE’

The narrative and themes of this play focuses on the many roles put on women in our realistic day-to-day societies and the inequalities they face when trying to make it in a man’s world; “woman’s double burden vs. the “glass ceiling”. The play accomplishes this by focusing the gist of the story on one of its character, Marlene, a woman employed at the 'Top Girls' employment agency. The focus placed on her family and the poor life she left behind to embrace success, but we also find out she left an illegitimate child behind as well for her sister to bear the burden.

Marlene while living her desire of a successful businesswoman she lacks a personal life, (consequences of inequality) all within the (80’) eighties. The play is set in Britain, and tries to condemn the values of Margaret Thatcher supporters especially the effect they had on feminism during the 80’s. Therefore, Marlene’s character comes off as a soulless woman who is judgmental of other women decisions to be married or who want to have kids but really is suppressing her own desire to have a family life. This play presents its dissatisfaction of women cornered into patriarchs and fights to impose feminism that is more socialist while still trying to get the audience to consider if it is possible for women in today’s society to be successful career women who juggle family and home.

One of the most important scenes in this play is centered on a party Marlene threw herself celebrating her existence and promotion at the agency she works at. She invites a bunch of her friends all of whom are historical, fictional or mythical woman who faced grave adversity and suffered bitterly to accomplish their goals.  Starting with a dreamlike opening to the play in which Marlene greets a number of pivotal women of both myth and history, such as Pope Joan a woman that disguised herself as a man. Thou thought to be a myth; the story goes that a female pope rose in power during 853 - 855 AD but during her period of anointment as pope she gave birth while riding a horse in front of the public, forever letting people know her true gender.

Then there is Isabella Bird  a real historical figure who found pleasure as a nineteenth-century English explorer, writer, and a natural historian; she was the first female explorer who conquered what was felt then as a man’s world, especially back then traveling alone by oneself as a female was lonely and at times dangerous.

Another supportive character was Dull Gret thought of as the harrower of hell, immortalized from Flemish folklore and depicted in a painting of Pieter Brueghel the elder; portraying a peasant woman (also known as Mad Meg) who leads an army of women to destroy hell.

Next we have the character of Lady Nijo a Japanese woman who’s farther when she turned age fourteen turned her over to the emperor to became the emperors second highest concubine of Go – Fukakusa. Nijo was eventually turned away by the emperor due to her indiscretion and the children she bore of such indiscretion, so she had to leave the palace therefore she traveled a lot that led to her discovery of Buddhism; she later committed her life to a Buddhist nun, her way of overcoming her many tribulations.

Finally, we have Patient Griselda, another figure taken from famous folklore whose name is well known for great patience and unquestionable obedience. It is said that Griselda married Gualtieri the Marquis of Saluzzo. Gualtieri decided to put his new wife trough a number of tests to see how true her devotion and love was. His first test was to declare that their first child (a girl) must be put to death and same to their second child (a boy) Griselda obeys her husband and turns the children over without question, but the truth was her husband secretly sends them away to be raised somewhere else. Then his last test was to renounce his marriage to his wife Griselda claiming he has gotten permission to divorce and remarry a better woman, he sends Griselda to live by her farther she again obeys. Many years later Gualtieri announces his desire to remarry and calls on Griselda to prepare his wedding as his servant.  He then introduces Griselda to his soon to be twelve year old bride, (she is actually Griselda daughter) Griselda wishes them both well at this point Gualtieri presents Griselda with the two children reveals the truth and restores her as his wife and mother of his kids because she has proven her love and obedience.

            The scene was important to show how Marlene needed support to confirm who she is and to register that her choices in life though difficult were the right choice. However, despite her confirmation it is in the last scene that she almost shows or struggles with her choices and argues with her sister who chose the opposite life. The scene takes place a year earlier in Marlene sister’s kitchen (Joyce), where Angie Marlene’s illegitimate daughter joins them. Angie who is very happy that her aunt (Marlene) is there, looks up to her aunt and thinks that she is amazing; impressed with her independence of being a businessperson. Angie hates Joyce the woman who has to hold four jobs to feed and clothe her without appreciation. Shortly before Angie goes to bed, Marlene pulls a bottle of whiskey out of her bag to drink with Joyce. As they drink, they discuss what is to become of Angie, using brutal honesty, Joyce tells Marlene that Angie is not bright or talented and cannot for see her being successful as her mother. Marlene tries to brush this off, saying that Joyce is just running Angie down, as this sober reality contradicts Marlene's conservative mentality. The scene ends with Angie possibly over hearing the conversation between Joyce and Marlene giving discovery that Marlene is her (Angie’s) mother.