Essay about Top Girls 334 words

to defend herself, making the audience feel even more sympathy towards her.

In the scene, Marlene advises Jeanine not to discuss marriage during interviews. When Jeanine asks what to do if questioned, Marlene swiftly moves on to another topic. Some might view this as a display of Marlene's directness and make Jeanine appear inexperienced or weak. However, Marlene also offers Jeanine encouragement by telling her she looks great and to approach the interview with confidence. Some audience members may have varied opinions on this. Despite this, Marlene's repeated use of Jeanine's name in a patronizing tone may elicit sympathy for Jeanine.

Either 'Now Jeanine..' or '..' is possible.

During the interview, Marlene distances herself from Jeanine by speaking in a condescending and belittling tone. This reinforces her patronizing character to the audience. In addition, Marlene openly critiques Jeanine for her own good, revealing her direct and demeaning nature. For example, Marlene implies that Jeanine lacks experience and social confidence with statements such as "You haven't got the speeds anyway" and "but I think they're looking for something glossier." These comments may elicit sympathy for Jeanine's inability to secure a top job while also exposing more of Marlene's true character, thus increasing tension in the scene.

For those with a harsher mindset in the audience, Marlene's remark about 'something glossier' may be entertaining. Additionally, the discussion of the wedding ring and Marlene's quip; 'saves taking it off' could also be humorous. These moments serve to alleviate the mood, which is significant in preserving the audience's interest after more fast-paced and profound segments.
As the play progresses to an interview scenario, its theme of women navigating the workforce and the hindrance and

bias they encounter becomes increasingly prominent. Churchill employs Marlene's condescending personality and language to convey the idea that marriage immediately implies motherhood for women, limiting their opportunities in the job market; 'Does that mean you don't want a long-term job, Jeanine?'.

The use of Jeanine's name in this moment is significant. It highlights the distance between her and Marlene's character as it hasn't been used since the beginning of the scene. Additionally, after Marlene asks a presumptuous question, this use of her name emphasizes the problem of children interfering with work. Jeanine responds with a brief statement, allowing Marlene to continue questioning her about future prospects without having children. If Jeanine wants a job with prospects, it seems that delaying having children until later may be her only option. Marlene's thought process is shown through the implications of her initial question followed by two more questions, emphasizing the recurring theme throughout the play. To answer Marlene's inquiry, Jeanine says, "Oh no, not kids, not yet."

Churchill utilizes the deployment of three negatives that are tightly packed together to articulate Jeanine's belief that she needs to go through such lengths to demonstrate her seriousness about her prospects and prove that having children will not interfere with them. This tactic specifically harkens back to Act I, where a majority of the female characters have never engaged in any form of work since their primary function was to bear children during the time periods most characters inhabit. Additionally, Churchill highlights the recurring constraint placed on women as Jean has to disguise herself as a man to receive an education, which was only available for men to enhance their employability. The

theme of education arises once again in this interview with the questioning of Jeanine's number of 'Os' and 'As'.

Churchill employs the technique of overlapping dialogue to highlight Jeanine's emphasis on the large number of grades she has, while Marlene interjects to claim that she could have achieved some "As", citing the many "Os" that Jeanine received. This exchange is also juxtaposed with Isabella's statement about her father teaching her Latin despite being a girl. These contrasting quotes demonstrate the importance of education in the 1980s, as more and more women were achieving high grades and pushing themselves to their full potential to be successful. This theme of women striving for success is a recurring motif throughout the text.

Jeanine justifies her decision to go to work, highlighting the significance of appearing ambitious and hard-working in modern society. The conversation later revolves around aiming for high-level positions like personal assistant in a multinational corporation with an emphasis on planning ahead being crucial. Marlene's ambition is evident as she aims higher having already been promoted, while Jeanine responds weakly by stating that she may not be alive after ten years. This difference in ambition levels between the two characters is emphasized.

In the paragraph, Marlene highlights the issue of children and motherhood, which may lead to frustration for some due to the limited traditional label for women as "child-bearer." This theme is linked to the desire for power and control as a woman. Marlene takes control of the situation as an interviewer and ignores short responses from Jeanine while swiftly moving onto the next question.

As the interview progresses, Marlene lengthens her speeches, demonstrating her control and ambition. Her emphasis

on status and achieving a high position is evident when she says "then you'll be in at the top with the new girls coming in underneath you." In contrast, Jeanine, who seeks a job with better prospects and more money, highlights the ongoing struggle for women to attain power.

Jeanine frequently experiences difficulty expressing herself, as evidenced by her stuttering and struggles to convey her intended message. Her attempts to clarify her thoughts may include statements like "Yes, I understand" or "I don't really mean..."

According to the text, Marlene's new job is considered a great achievement in their society as it places her above a man. The play addresses several themes, including ambition, the pursuit of control and power, the desire to be a successful woman, and the challenges faced by working mothers.

The interview situation effectively covers the key theme, but with little reference to other important issues like men's rebellion against patriarchy, the historical mistreatment of women by men, and the media pressure to maintain a thin physique. Nonetheless, the coverage of the key theme is adequately detailed.