Gregory’s Girl Essay Example

the play, was only becoming acceptable in the 1980's.

Throughout scenes 59 to 66 of the play, the central male character is dominated by the female characters who exhibit a greater sense of control. Gregory is easily led on by three female members of the cast, Carol, Margo and Susan, until he is caught in their trap. He expresses his confusion, unsure whether their behavior towards him is a joke or something else entirely.

. Is it a joke? The idea of husbands giving women allowances would not have been considered in the majority of pre-20th century plays. Shakespeare provides examples of arranged marriages and women's money being given to their husbands in works such as 'Merchant of Venice.' Yet, 'Gregory's Girl' is similar in that the female characters display intelligence, even outwitting their husbands and the devious antagonist to help a friend.

It seems that the author was recognizing women as more than just objects of attraction, and acknowledging their abilities to do anything that men can do. For example, Dorothy is skilled at football, and Steve is proficient in cooking, a traditionally female-dominated task.

In scene 9, Gregory showcases and utilizes various modern features of technology, including an electric toothbrush and coffee machine. This portrayal of expertise with modern technology highlights Gregory's ability to understand its complexity; however, he struggles with simple tasks like charming a girl or dressing for a date, common struggles faced by many in the audience. Throughout the play, there are several explicit statements emphasizing its modernity, with the overall message being that "It's modern, Andy, it's good."

The humor of Forsyth's play is derived from its role-reversals, which portray modern

boys and girls in a humorous light. While the play's depiction of gender roles may seem exaggerated, many viewers can easily relate to the situations that arise. Scene 36 is particularly amusing, as are the age-based role-reversals that occur throughout the play, like when the older and supposedly wiser Gregory advises the younger and more polite Richard to engage in destructive behavior. Forsyth may have sneaked his own opinion about the play into his writing, but nonetheless, the humor and relatability make it a tremendous piece of modern work.

'An amusing observation from Gregory is seen earlier, where he refers to his friend Steven, the cook, as 'unnatural' and a 'freak.' This serves as a reminder to the audience that Steven had unusual hobbies for the time. Additionally, throughout the play, there are several instances where Forsyth subtly mocks certain things, such as in scene 46 where the boys' toilets serve not only as a congregation area but also a shop for Steven's food. Despite being traditionally viewed as a female activity, the toilets are immaculately clean.'

Despite being a modern play, 'Gregory's Girl', set in a Scottish secondary school near a council estate, still features classic themes such as romance, young love, and parental authority, which have been frequently explored throughout history. Just like in Shakespeare's works where the peasants spoke in prose and the rich talked with poetry, in this play, all characters speak in Scottish slang dialect. Although every person in the audience knew that no toilets in such a school would be 'pristine', the language used is intentional, influenced by TV.

Without a doubt, a significant portion of the audience grew up watching

daytime soaps and dramas featuring characters who spoke in local dialects. If the actors in Gregory's Girl had spoken only in upper-class English, it would have been unbelievable and failed to extract genuine humor from the play. In contrast, during Shakespeare's era, his plays' audiences may not have been as familiar with various accents and dialects from different locations and countries where many of his plays were set, including Italy. Nevertheless, at that time, it did not seem to be an issue as they spoke in plain English with an unmistakable English accent.

Although I comprehend why this play was well-received during the 1980s, it is improbable that modern teenagers would find it appealing since they no longer recognize sexual stereotyping as ironic. However, I did find the age-based role reversals to be amusing. Despite this, the play still maintains its allure because it sheds light on truths that are more evident in present-day society. The play prompted the audience of the 1980s to contemplate how traditional roles can be interchangeable and lack fixed points.

Although the observations in the play may seem obvious and less significant to modern audiences, the character traits of the boys' clumsiness and the girls' boldness remain endearing and amusing. While it may not have the same refreshing impact as it did at the time, the play's insightful and witty script reflects on both the past and current dilemmas of young love. It serves as a reminder of how our country was and how certain universal themes will continue to be prominent in people's lives for years to come.