Caryl Churchill’s play Top Girls, particularly its first act, centers on various women from history, fiction, art and mythology who gather in a restaurant to celebrate the promotion of Marlene, the protagonist of the play. Above all, this dinner scene is
marked by a lack of understanding between the characters and the unability of each one to change into the others’ perspective. The juxtaposition of the figures finally ends up in a collaps of the conversation and a monologisation of their dialogues.
This lack of understanding is based on the different cultural backgrounds of each character. Everyone is part of a different society that is based on different norms and values which eliminates the possibility of a change of the character’s perspective.
The question, my term paper is based on, is how far feminist criticism is valid regarding the tension between culture and feminism. In this respect, it is necessary to examine the cultural backgrounds and the respective existence of a feminist’s
movement in the cultures of the characters.
A valid feministic judgement on the characters can only be given when they are analysed in the light of their culture and afterwards opposed to each other. Therefore, the literature I took into account focuses on historical information of the characters’ cultures, especially women’s cultural history. Furthermore, I analysed literature on Caryl Churchill as well as women dramatists in Britain and the feministic movement.
I examined how far each woman of the dinner scene can be valuated as a feminist or as having a feministic attitude and often, this feministic attitude is not a general characteristic but rather a characteristic which is connected to a certain domain of their culture. Hence, I extracted three areas in which this tension between the characters’ cultures and their feministic attitude are surfaced: their relation to men,their family and domestic life and their working life. Yet, instead of examining each character in each category, I concentrated on those characters that stood out in their
behaviour and opposed them to each other.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
2. FEMINISM VS. CULTURE: POSSIBLE AREAS OF TENSION
2.1 RELATION TO MEN
2.1.1 ROLE OF THE FATHER
2.1.2 LOVE AND MARRIAGE
2.1.3 CLOTHING
2.2 FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LIFE
2.2.1 DOMESTIC LIFE
2.2.2 MOTHERHOOD
2.3 WORKING LIFE
3. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the tension between feminist criticism and cultural background as portrayed in the first act of Caryl Churchill's play Top Girls, analyzing how historical, social, and patriarchal contexts influence the characters' perceived agency and emancipation.
- The influence of patriarchal structures and cultural norms on female identity across different historical periods.
- The role of the father and male authority in shaping women's life paths.
- The impact of domestic life and motherhood on women's aspirations and personal freedom.
- The symbolic use of clothing and masquerade as a response to male suppression.
- The professional challenges and contradictions faced by modern women within business environments.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1.1 Role of the father
All women in the group are very much affected by the relation to their fathers by some means or other. Looking at Lady Nijo, it is obvious, that she has been raised with the indoctrination of men being the superior beings whom a woman needs to obey. After all, it was her father who defined her whole path of life. He established the connection to the Emperor, made her being his concubine and even on his deathbed, he ordered her, that when she should fall out of the Emperor’s favour, she should become a nun: “Nijo: [...] Just before he died he said to me, ´Serve his Majesty, be respectful, if you lose his favour enter holy orders.´”
Regarding the culture of the Kamakura period in Japan, this education of women was a quite familiar practice. Notwithstanding, Nijo obeyed her father’s wishes, she also tried to concede room for herself as to her own wishes. For instance, she is asked if her father had not meant her to stay in a convent after having fallen out of the Emperor’s favour instead of wandering the country. She denies the question, yet she reveals that this way of “entering holy orders” was more common to priests than to nuns: “Nijo: Priest were often vagrants, so why not a nun? You think I shouldn’t?/ I still did what my father wanted.” Even though she did not rebel against the circumstances she lived in, this quote points out, that she at least tried to expand the patriarchal borders of her life. So, comparing feminism and culture of the Kamakura period, Nijo can very well be regarded as an emancipated woman, allthough she may not be a feminist.
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter outlines the play's dinner scene, identifying the primary research question concerning the validity of feminist criticism in the face of diverse cultural backgrounds.
2. FEMINISM VS. CULTURE: POSSIBLE AREAS OF TENSION: This section provides an overview of the characters' historical contexts and the general oppression they face under patriarchal structures.
2.1 RELATION TO MEN: This chapter analyzes how paternal influence, marital expectations, and clothing choices shape the characters' identities and their level of emancipation.
2.2 FAMILY AND DOMESTIC LIFE: This section explores the conflict between domestic duty and personal freedom, focusing on how motherhood and family commitments impact the protagonists.
2.3 WORKING LIFE: This chapter investigates Marlene's role in the business world, highlighting her adoption of male characteristics to achieve success and the resulting contradictions.
3. CONCLUSION: The final chapter summarizes that the characters are victims of their respective cultures, and explains why they cannot be regarded as universal feminist role models.
Keywords
Caryl Churchill, Top Girls, feminism, patriarchy, cultural background, emancipation, gender roles, domestic life, motherhood, working life, male suppression, identity, historical context, social norms, career.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
This paper examines how the characters in the first act of Caryl Churchill's play "Top Girls" are influenced by their respective cultural and historical backgrounds, specifically in relation to the tension between feminism and patriarchal structures.
What are the central themes discussed in the analysis?
The central themes include the influence of the father on a woman's path, the constraints of marriage, the significance of clothing as a social marker, the domestic role of women, and the pressures of career vs. family.
What is the core research question?
The core research question asks how far feminist criticism is valid when considering the specific cultural tensions and backgrounds of the individual characters in the play.
Which scientific methods are employed in this work?
The author uses a comparative analysis of historical and literary figures, evaluating their actions within their specific cultural contexts while applying feminist theoretical frameworks.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body breaks down the characters' experiences into three key domains: their relationships with men, their family and domestic life, and their working lives, contrasting their individual behaviors.
Which keywords characterize this publication?
Key terms include Caryl Churchill, Top Girls, feminism, patriarchy, cultural background, emancipation, gender roles, motherhood, and professional career.
How does the author characterize Lady Nijo in the context of her culture?
The author argues that while Nijo appears subservient, her attempt to expand her life's boundaries within the rigid Kamakura period justifies viewing her as an emancipated individual, even if she is not a modern feminist.
Why does Marlene represent a controversial figure in the play?
Marlene is controversial because she achieves professional success by adopting "male" features and distancing herself from domestic commitments, suggesting that she is a victim of a system she ultimately helps to sustain.
- Quote paper
- M. A. Alisa Westermann (Author), 2010, Caryl Churchill’s "Top Girls" - feminism vs. culture, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/173312
