How I Learned to Drive

Too Much Too Soon

The metaphor of learning how to drive in this play was extremely powerful and relevant to the chara cter Li’l Bit. This metaphor highlights Li’l Bit’s process of growing up. Each bolded title regarding driving, pertains to specific events in her life. The titles such as Shifting Forward from First to Second Gear, Idling in the Neutral Gear, and Vehicle Failure all represent different changes or phases Li’l Bit goes through.

I think that the most important of these titles was the one describing defensive driving. It ends with the phrase: Good defensive driving involves mental and physical preparation. Were you prepared? This pertains to how Li’l Bit was not properly prepared for the things that happened to her. At age 11 she was not ready for sexual activity to be thrust upon her by her uncle. At age 14 she was not ready for the bodily changes that she experienced. At age 18 she was not ready for college. Her entire life has consisted of growing up to fast and having to catch up to the things happening in her life. The interesting aspect of this is however, that much of the play consists of people trying to educate Li’l Bit. Much of the interaction between Li’l Bit and Peck is when he is teaching her how to drive or trying to prepare her for life situations. Similarly, much of her interaction with her mother and grandmother deals with them educating her about men and sex. You would think that with all of these people attempting to prepare her for life that she would be a little more ready for it when it happens to her. It seems as though this advice was just too little, too late or that her life experiences were too much, too soon.

Top Girls

Women in a Man's World

While reading the play Top Girls, I couldn't help but get caught up at first amidst the random characters and family drama. After allowing myself to process the play for a little while I realized that there is a lot more going on then just the random groups of people and conversations. The main theme of this play, as can be derived from simply the title, is women surviving in a man's world. All of the woman in Act I represent a different time period and therefore present different views and experiences on women's roles in their respective societies. Everything that they discuss about their successes and failures revolves around the men in their lives. I found it interesting when their attitudes did not blend together. When Griselda spoke of her relationship with her husband and how he tested her obedience by taking her children from her, none of them women understood her reasoning, apart from Nijo who was born as property of the emperor.

The different perspectives of these women lead up to the present time of Marlene and her recent promotion. Marlene has finally found success in the man’s world but it was not without immense sacrifice. The end of the play reveals that Marlene left her daughter behind when she moved away from home and it was because of this that she was able to find a job and be successful. This raises the issue of what is more important in women’s roles. Is career advancement more important than raising a child? If you asked Nijo, Griselda or even Gret who had ten children they would say that the women’s job is to raise the kids and serve their husbands. Marlene represents a changing of times but how much does change is too much?