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?
I liked your first comments about how the women from different time period have different relationships with men, yet they all have similarities. Your point on how as Nijo was property of an Emperor allows her to relate to Griselda was insightful.
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