Top Gilrs

In the play Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, Marlene decides to throw a dinner party for her promotion to managing director at her job. However, instead of inviting friends and family Marlene dines with five other companions that she does not know very well. Her companions are all women from different times and backgrounds. Isabella is an old woman who has spend much of her time traveling the world, and Lady Nijo used to be the concubine of a Japanese Emperor who, after her life in the palace, became a nun. Pope Joan was a woman who disguised as a man to go study and became Pope. But she was later removed as Pope because she had a baby and was a woman. Gret is a very unusual character. She does not say much, but when she does she is either using profanity or speaking the harsh truth. She also steals the wine and bread at the table. The last companion was Griselda who was a peasant who married Marquis Walter and did anything he told her too. These women, in a sense, all clashed with each other but they also were alike. They would talk over each other and debate with each other, but they also felt for each other at times. For instance, Nijo knew exactly what Griselda was going through in trying to please the man in their life because he was considered their life. Each woman has experienced some sort of failure or loss of love. The only one at the table who did not seem to relate was Marlene.

Marlene is very successful and got a promotion. She even expressed how she has never lost a lover. It was almost as if she was higher than the other women at the table in that since. But comparing to what the other ladies have seen, done, and experienced, Marlene is belittled. To me it seems that Marlene is does have many successes, but when it comes to dealing with people she is not the best. She does not know how to talk to some people, and she cannot relate to real people.