Notes on 'Top Girls'

Introduction

• Churchill's 'Top Girls' presents a unique opening, starting in medias res.
• Characters are not formally introduced, creating initial confusion.
• Spectators gradually realize some characters are fictional or from different time periods.

Themes and Concepts

A Woman in a Man’s World

• Concept of a male-dominated world is central.
• Leadership, conflict, and achievements highlighted through a female prime minister’s story.
• Thatcher’s foreign policies, relationships with superpowers, and conservative ideology examined.
• Her polarizing impact on British society is discussed, particularly during the economic crisis and the Cold War era.

Feminism and Patriarchy

• The play discusses women's roles in society and their struggles against patriarchy.
• Examines how patriarchal expectations influence female characters.
• Women's experiences with patriarchal figures often reflect societal norms.

Motherhood

• Diverse experiences of motherhood among characters.
• Lady Nijo and Griselda lose their children, reflecting patriarchal control.
• Motherhood seen as a tool of control by patriarchal figures.

Sisterhood

• The play explores the theme of sisterhood; women supporting each other.
• Marlene’s toast symbolizes unity and shared struggles.

Act Summaries

Act 1

• Setting: Luxurious restaurant setting, different eras of women present.
• Characters: Lady Nijo, Pope Joan, Dull Gret, Isabella Bird, and Griselda.
• Each character represents different struggles with patriarchy and societal roles.

Act 2

• Scene 1: Gloomy, neglected setting highlighting class differences.
• Language reflects social class; informal and incorrect grammar.
• Scene 2: Office setting showcases contrasts with female characters’ ambitions in the workplace.
• Characters like Jeanine and Louise express different aspirations and challenges.

Act 3

• Focuses on family tensions between Marlene and Joyce.
• Setting reflects economic status; small, suffocating environment.
• Key discussions on politics and family reveal underlying tensions and differing ideologies.

Key Characters

• Marlene: Ambitious, embraces femininity, questions societal norms.
• Joyce: Represents traditional values, resentment towards Marlene’s choices.
• Lady Nijo: Represents traditional obedience to patriarchy.
• Pope Joan: A figure of subverted gender roles.
• Dull Gret: Represents the ignored lower class.

Critical Analysis

• The absence of men in 'Top Girls' emphasizes female voices and experiences.
• Examines how the play critiques societal norms and gender roles.
• The play questions the nature of success, questioning if women must relinquish traditional roles.

Conclusion

• 'Top Girls' highlights the intersection of gender, class, and societal expectations.
• Churchill uses the absence of men to open a space for women’s narratives.
• The play remains a poignant critique of societal structures and women’s roles within them.