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   appletrees Teacher
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   Generally speaking, the play takes a pessimistic view. On one level, Marlene is portrayed as an assertive and successful woman who has achieved a considerable level of competence in her job, She is independent and financially stable. However, she gave up her infant daughter to be raised by her sister, and it may be this decision that allowed her the freedom to pursue a business career. Her sister on the other hand remains in a lower social class and is an unhappy parent who resents Marlene's success and independence. Both of these characters represent a kind of pessimistic viewpoint since neither of these women feels fulfilled or happy; the suggestion is that despite outward appearances of success and happiness, contemporary women who choose either work or family (as opposed to both) feel something is missing from their lives. This is due to the ways in which society tend to judge both choices harshly, depending on whose persective is being offered.

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   Posted by appletrees on Sunday August 23, 2009 at 1:31 PM