TOP GIRLS!

In Churchill’s Top Girls I found the relationship between the woman and their men in the beginning very interesting: all of the women are either historical, mythical, or fictional characters who suffered adversity to live the life she wanted. At the dinner table the conversation amongst the reveals instances of suffering and loss. Isabella's adventures hinder her from enjoying and forming close relationships though she experiences short periods of agony when she returns home between her travels. Nijo gave up three of her children because they were not the Emperor’s seed and was denied the privilege of seeing her father on his death bed. Gret lost children in a murderous invading army. Pope Joan pretended to be a man so long that she lost her female identity. She was stoned to death when a disastrous child birth was revealed. Griselda was forced to prove her loyalty to her husband by allowing her children killed and denying the privileges of her position. This scene points in the direction of where the play leads. I thought it was interesting how the author was able to incorporate the first scene with the theme of the entire plot.