Top Girls Group

Question:

sly1310
sly1310

Is there enough evidence to assume that the character Angie from Top Girls is actually retarded?

Because a reason for her unusual behaviour so far in what I've read makes her seem that she may not be exposed much, and at the same time suggest that her adopted mother could be right about her.

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Posted by sly1310 on Wednesday September 16, 2009 at 4:40 AM and tagged with angie, characters, top girls.

Answers:

  1. appletrees
    appletrees Teacher
    College - Junior

    eNotes Editor

    I think that there is some suggestion that Angie may be somewhat challenged in her social skills, and perhaps not as verbally adept as others her age. But I don't think the accusation of "retarded" that Joyce levels at her is accurate. Part of the motivation behind Joyce's words may have to do with her resentment at having to raise Angie as her own, when Angie is Marlene's child. Marlene says Joyce should be happy to have Angie because she couldn't have one of her own, "so you took mine," Marlene says. Then Joyce accuses Marlene of preventing her from having her own child, because she did manage to become pregnant, but says she lost it because she was so tired from looking after the baby Angie. Referring to Angie as retarded allows Joyce to express her anger and resentment about her sister's actions, as well as her resentment towards Angie.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/top-girls/characters

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    Posted by appletrees on Wednesday September 16, 2009 at 8:44 AM