historical figures

• p1 - in top girls, Churchill exposes the struggle women have faced combining motherhood and power throughout history. This is particularly evident in the character and story of pope joan
• p2- in top girls, the historical figures are used to emphasise the cost of success for women, shown through the lack of real friends who appear at the dinner party
• p1 - 'there was nothing in my life except my studies'
• p1 - ' one of the cardinals said the antichrist and fell over in a faint'
• p1- ' I don't think that could have been my fault do you?'
• p1 - ' stoned to death'
• p1 ' there was nothing in my life except my studies'. - highlights success of focused on one thing, personal power though being educated, isolating aspect as there is no time to develop other passions or relationships, dedicated to her success
• p1 ' one of the cardinals said the antichrist and fell over in a faint' - ultimate offence to religion, mirrors female hysteria but is ironic as it is a strong male, exclamative comedic effect, uses humour as a coping mechanism
• p1 ' I don't think that could have been my fault do you?' - punished for her gender as god knows she is pretending, wants reassurance for her guilt
• p1 ' stoned me to death' - violent verbs, shows the implications of motherhood on success, could not deny her physical biology, women had more to loose in the situation, monumental impact, eventually her secrets catches up to her.
• p2 ' I haven't got time for a holiday'
• p2 ' do you have a sister? yes in fact'
• p2 ' now who do you know?'
• p2 ' I haven't got time for a holiday' - toxicity of hyper productivity, no one to go with, can't take a break or else she will potentially loose her position, constantly others working harder
• p2 ' do you have a sister? yes in fact' - first insight into marlenes background/ personal life, audience wonders why she is not present at the party, no further description or detail about her sister, short sentence- blunt
• p2 ' now who do you know' - confirmation to the audience that these women are from different time periods, verfrumdungseffekt, again makes the audience wonder what the significance of these characters and is helpful in understanding the later acts of the play
• p1 context- link to all companies making sure mothers had a minimum of 14 weeks paid maternity leave in 1980's
• p2 genre- post modernist play, characters seem to have no connection to one another but are tied by themes of success and mother hood
• p2 ao5- 'women have and haven't escaped their circumstances' Benedict