Top Girls Summary
Top Girls is a play by Caryl Churchill in which Marlene throws a dinner party to celebrate her promotion at work. She invites women from art and history to join her.
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Marlene has just been promoted at the Top Girls' Employment Agency. She throws a big dinner party and invites women from history, literature, and art.
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Marlene listens to the womens' stories. Her guests include members of the clergy, courtesans, artists, and more.
- It's revealed that Marlene abandoned her daughter, Angie, in order to advance her own career. Marlene later hires Angie at Top Girls', but she privately states that Angie won't last.
Summary
In "Top Girls," Marlene holds a celebratory gathering at a London restaurant to mark her recent promotion at the Top Girls Employment Agency. She invites a unique array of female figures from history, literature, and mythology to share their narratives, resulting in a lively tapestry of overlapping stories. Through their tales, these women explore themes of ambition, sacrifice, and societal expectations that resonate across time.
A Historical Tapestry
Among the first to arrive are Isabella Bird and Lady Nijo, each bringing her own tale of challenges and resilience. Isabella Bird recounts her struggles with illness, which initially limited her life options as the daughter of a clergyman. The turning point in her life came with a proposal from Jim Nugent, a charismatic yet unsuitable mountain man, and later, the untimely death of her sister Hennie. Out of a sense of duty, Bird marries Hennie's doctor, caring for him during his final days before resuming her travels despite her recurring nervous illness.
Lady Nijo's Journey
Lady Nijo shares her experiences as a courtesan to the emperor, reveling in the luxury and status it brought her. However, her fortunes changed when she took lovers and consequently lost her daughter. After falling from grace, Nijo adopted the life of a Buddhist nun, wandering the countryside in search of purpose and peace.
Pope Joan's Rise and Fall
Pope Joan, arriving next, narrates how she defied societal norms by disguising herself as a boy to pursue theological studies alongside her male companion and lover. Her intelligence and ambition propelled her to the papacy. However, her clandestine pregnancy led to her public downfall and death, vividly illustrating the peril of a woman in a man’s world.
A Notorious Party
As the evening progresses and the wine flows, the women become increasingly jovial, particularly at the mention of the pierced chair, a testament to Joan's legacy. The mood shifts with the arrival of Patient Griselda, whose story of unwavering obedience to her husband captivates the group. Marlene describes Griselda’s marriage as a fairy tale without the initial magic, reminding the guests of the sacrifices she made for her family.
Griselda's Sacrifices
Griselda recounts her life of obedience, from surrendering her daughter to what she thought was certain death to relinquishing her son six years later. Her husband’s dubious test of loyalty culminated in her orchestrating his supposed new marriage, only to discover her children were alive and part of the ruse. Despite the emotional turmoil, Griselda forgives her husband, echoing themes of endurance and reconciliation.
Emotional Reactions
The tales elicit strong emotions among the guests. Lady Nijo reflects on the defiance of concubines during a fertility rite, while Pope Joan quotes Lucretius on the distant observation of others’ struggles. Dull Gret, typically silent, recounts her descent into hell and confrontation with devils, driven by the pain of her children’s loss. The evening concludes with a flurry of emotions: Nijo weeps, Joan becomes ill, and Isabella dreams of finding enduring joy.
The Dilemma of Modern Choices
Back at work on Monday, Marlene meets with a young woman seeking career advancement. She advises her on the complexities of balancing professional ambitions with family life, a choice Marlene made herself. The contrast between Marlene's career-focused life and her familial ties unfolds further when Angie, her niece, pays her an unexpected visit.
Family Dynamics
In a flashback to the previous Sunday, tensions simmer in Joyce's backyard. Angie, performing a power play with Kit, reflects her inner turmoil. She later shocks her mother by putting on a too-small dress, symbolically expressing a desire to "kill" her maternal constraints.
Office Politics and Personal...
(This entire section contains 744 words.)
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Struggles
Returning to the agency, Marlene's authority is challenged by Win, a colleague whose husband was passed over for Marlene's promotion. This professional rivalry, juxtaposed with Angie’s lack of direction, highlights Marlene’s pragmatic outlook. Marlene’s brutal honesty about Angie’s prospects underscores the harsh realities she navigates both at work and at home.
A Confrontational Reunion
A year earlier, in Joyce’s kitchen, a heated conversation reveals the family’s strained history. Marlene’s long absence from her family and her choice to prioritize her career over maternal responsibilities come to light, exacerbating tensions between her and Joyce. Angie’s plea for maternal recognition from Marlene is met with a distant correction, reflecting the emotional chasm between them. The encounter leaves Angie bewildered, her single word "frightening" lingering as a poignant commentary on her fractured family ties.