Caryl Churchill

A map on feminist Thatcherism

Caryl Churchill : An Introduction

 Caryl Lesly Churchill born in 1938, September 3 is a British playwright known to sensationalize
abuses of power and presents them as portrayal in filmy theatre and art mediums while exploring
non-naturalistic techniques and feminist themes.

 During the second world war, her family migrated to Canada, Caryl later came back to London
to pursue a degree in English literature in 1960s after which she began her writing career.

 While raising a family of her own, from writing for BBC radios, Churchill’s work was far more
noticed with Cloud Nine (1979) set in a British colony. She explored realism with the addition of
expressing feminist themes in her next work with Top girls (1982) for which she has been
described as "one of Britain's greatest poets and innovators for the contemporary stage“.
Caryl Churchill through Top Girls (1982) : An
Example of Eternal Relevancy
 Caryl addresses feminist politics and portrays the advantages and disadvantages of the initiation of
this movement through a mirage of characters in this play.

 The play represents ordinary human emotions such as ego, greed and ambition. Caryl expresses her
concerns in a sudden shift from a socialist perspective Britain had to climbing the capitalist ladder
during Margaret Thatcher’s serve in the office, is revealed as an only remedy for post war blues.

 First produced in the Royal court in August 1982, with an all female cast, according to Michael
Billington “is the best British play ever from a woman dramatist” appraising the rise of women plays,
which were uncommon. The play tethered with the masses, as 20 years after it’s first production, it
premiered in the states at Biltmore theatre from 2007-08.

 In 2021, a Portuguese version of the play was presented in Queen Maria II National Theatre, Lisbon.
Plot Summary: Act 1
 The first scene seats us at a restaurant in London where the centre of the plot, a career
derived woman named Marlene is shown to be conducting a celebratory dinner for her
promotion to managing director at the agency, Top Girls.

 Act 1 is a complete metaphor, with women from different historical eras representing the
struggles Marlene faced in her workplace and in life, each showcasing a different form of
oppression. It follows the product of an original creative power.

 All these characters from ancient times throughout the centuries are arrested in a
conversation that marks their struggles as milestones and contrast them with the struggles
Marlene faced. It is eminent that all these women are in the table with Marlene as she
relates to all of them the most. Following are the characters mentioned:
 Plot Summary: Characters in Act 1
 Isabella Bird: One of the first guests to arrive at Marlene's celebration. In real life, Bird was an avid explorer. First
instructed by a doctor as an improvisation for her health, Isabella Bird took the advice and travelled to various countries. In
the end, Isabella married late.

 Patient Griselda: Patient is the last to arrive, she debuted in “The Clerk’s Tale”. She is to be wed to the patriarchal
dominance Marquis who under the very nose of the court, set up unrealistic rules in order to extract obedience from his soon
to be wife. At the dinner table with the rest of the guests, she is seen to defend his actions.

 Lady Nijo: A 13th century Japanese courtesan and after fulfilling her father’s command on courting the emperor, chose to
become a Buddhist nun.

 Dull Gret: The essence of a Brueghel painting who led an army of women unto hell to fight the devils, she represents all the
characteristics a male soldier would have during war times, and has very little dialogues in the play.

 Pope Joan: We see her establish an intellectual persona, but her life story reveals that she had to merge into male
characteristics in order to pursue her studies, for this very reason she was granted pope, she was stoned to death when it was
uncovered that she gave birth.
Plot Summary: Act 2 Scene 1
 Act 2 is set up at the Top Girls employment agency where Marlene is in the middle of an
interview with a newly introduced character Jeanine. Jeanine reveals that she wants to fulfil
her desires to travel freely around the world, and is more keen on settling down with a
family of her own. Through the offensive questions Marlene asks Jeanine, it is clear to
understand that Marlene frowns upon the common dream women are to have.

 This belief represents feminine oppression that is birthed by idealizing men and their roles in
patriarchy, followed by how successful it has been in their confidence. The duality of if it is
uncanny as Isabella Bird from act 1 is shown to have the same desires as Jeanine, with the
exception of marriage, The attitude Churchill managed to show through this scene that
freedom, in the modern world still remains to be influenced by actions oppressors portrayed.

 Lack of determined goals fuel capitalism, we see Marlene offering Jeanine two positions, at
a company that makes knitwear and the other that produces lampshades. Nevertheless,
Marlene ends the conversation by advising Jeanine to be more confident.
Plot Summary: Act 2 Scene 2
Plot Summary: Act 2 Scene 3
 Act 2, Scene 2 is set at Joyce’s backyard. Joyce is Marlene’s sister living just outside the city,
with her daughter Angie and Angie’s friend Kit. Angie is 16 years of age while Kit is 14,
both make plans to go see a movie later. This conversation is overheard by Joyce who makes
Angie clean her room before going, she wears an old dress that doesn’t fit her anymore and
secretly plans a peripatetic decision to live with her aunt (Marlene)in London.

 Act 2, Scene 3 takes us back to the employment agency office, where Marlene's colleagues
are made acquainted with. Win and Nell just arrived at the office followed by Marlene, the
two congratulate Marlene on her promotion and applaud her succeeding over her male
counterpart, Howard. In this scene, Nell seems to be envious of Marlene’s success. This
shows a clever portrayal of Churchill works, who does not shy away from pointing out that
individualism may have a hint of negative influence on individuals.
Plot Summary: Act 2 Scene 3 Contd..
 Later into the scene, we see Win interview Louise, a much older colleague at the agency. Louise is 46
years old and fears that her experience won’t be valued and taken into consideration when she is being
recruited. Both Win and Louise agree that a much younger generation of people might be favoured more,
preferably men as we live in a patriarchal dominant society.

 After a short break, Angie comes to visit Marlene and reveals her intentions of staying with her aunt for a
long time, as Angie is mostly inspired by Marlene and her drive for success, and is inspired by her job.
While they converse, a new character enters, the character is wife of Howard Kidd. She tells Marlene that
the statement of promotion has left Howard devastated and she requests Marlene to rethink her decision
and pass on the position to Howard, as he is a family man and will need it.

 The above scene represent pharisaic behaviour at it’s best, on how it is very valid for men in the patriarchal
society to desire personal success for a better private life, how important it is for Howard to succeed in his
job because he has a family to feed, with the most subsequent role played by the wife herself. This
signifies the theme of the play and the name itself, Top Girls. Mrs Howard Kidd best thought that if it were
her who requested, Marlene would reconsider taking the promotion. However we see Marlene denying and
Mrs Howard leaving the office and exclaiming she’ll end up “miserable and lonely”.
Plot Summary: Act 2 Contd..

 In response to Bourgeois feminism, Marlene’s opinion on Angie, who is later revealed as her
biological daughter Marlene gave birth to when she was 17 years of age is astonishing.
Marlene believes that the patriarchal calibre is the only scale worth measuring female value in
an economic world, while thinking on Angie she claims “She’s a bit thick- a bit funny. She’s
not going to make it.” (Top Girls)

 In the next scene, as we see women in the employment agency going about their daily work
lives, we are taken back to Nell, who is interviewing a character named Shona, Nell questions
about Shona’s interests and achievements to present a presentable information Infront of
potential employers, over here Shona fails to supress the need to wear another persona of aloof
experience and falsely claims she is 29 years old has a four year experience at her current sales
job to which Nell immediately understands is incorrect. She states the interview a “waste of
time”. (Top Girls)
Plot Summary: Act 3

 Act 3 is a flash from the past in Joyce’s backyard, It is the last visit Marlene does to Ipswich where her family
lives. Joyce’s mither is incomprehensible to Marlene as she confesses she was invited by Angie, who later
reveals was a secret plan and failed to inform her mother.

 This scene sheds more light upon the relationship Marlene and Joyce have, while Joyce claims it deemed very
difficult for her to take Angie in and take care of her as her daughter. Marlene debates that she concluded with
all the decisions of her life based on the fact that she doesn’t want to live a life her parents had.

 When the conversation lands into politics, both of them presented different views. Joyce uses Margaret
Thatcher’s influence on the working community to expand and emphasize various classes and asserts Marlene
as one of “them”, while Marlene, against this belief, a woman who has sacrificed a lot stands against this claim,
she “doesn’t believe in class” they can climb up the ladder if they “have what it takes”. The two disagree on it
and go to bed. A short conversation is introduced between Marlene and Angie, and the play ends.
 Top Girls: Theme Analysis
 It is undeniable that a women with a similar beliefs as Marlene’s is non-existing. As Miss Churchill
ultimately makes it opaque, Marlene represents of the 1970’s ‘Top Girl’ Prime Minister Margret
Thatcher.

 Margaret Thatcher was the longest serving British prime minister of the 20th century. She was the
first woman to hold that office in British History, her view wasn’t of a women in the office, it
always roamed around her being the appropriate member suitable for the office who happened to be
a woman.

 Similarly Marlene is favoured over the promotion over her male colleague. This entire storyline
gives a supporting role to characters like Nell and Win, and totally eliminates the role of a middle
aged individual and how it is common for them to achieve their life goals without being influenced
by controlling patriarchal society and accepting their individual selves. To add, in terms with these
said individuals, it becomes very common for women like Marlene to exploit for economical uses if
they see a one way male dominated road to success.
Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls: A Period Piece
 With that being said, Churchill takes us on what could have been an alternative journey for Marlene if she
believed in Radical feminism and believed that individualism will lead to success, albeit if material. The last
scene involves Marlene and Angie, Angie half woken up says “Mum?” to which Marlene’s first reply was
“Angie? What’s the matter?” to her second reply of the same question shows longing.. “Not, she’s gone to
bed. It’s Aunty Marlene.”

 Churchill explored beautifully with the above scene and when Mrs Howard was introduced on how in a
modern world, despite feminist and equality entry, it is almost impossible for a woman to pursue a career if
she isn’t ready to sacrifice what she holds for dear life. There has to be some sort of murder on self-identity
to avoid crises or thinking outside of the box. The play also shows what is the true meaning of sisterhood and
how important it is to support women on their believes, and enhance their personalities.

 20th century problems regarding women empowerment are as linked to capitalism as yesterday. “Our courage,
the way we’ve changed our lives and our extraordinary achievements.” (Top Girls) With the interaction
between Marlene and Jeanine it is eminent that it is difficult for the upcoming generation to follow the steps
laid out for them from their older peers and need to be firm on the fact that their desires and needs to grow in
this economic world will be fruitful, Thus making the play relevant for generations to come.
References

 New York times Dec 29. 1982 on Caryl Churchill’s Top Girls can be obtained from
https://www.nytimes.com/1982/12/29/theater/stage-caryl-churchill-s-top-girls-at-the-public
.html
 Caryl Churchill’s strange and brilliant play Top Girls is as relevant as ever by Helen Lewis
5 June 2019 can be obtained from
https://www.newstatesman.com/culture/music-theatre/2019/06/top-girls-national-theatre-ca
ryl-churchill-review
 Caryl Churchill, Top Girls.pdf can be obtained from
https://webcourses.ucf.edu/courses/1376818/files/84147221