The importance of career in Caryl Churchill's play 'Topgirls'
...iskly states that she “never consider[s] people’s feelings”. In addition to this, both Nell and Shona agree that they are “not very nice”. This is clear evidence that feminine traits of placidness and mildness are seen as great weaknesses and shortcomings, and therefore need to be discarded. Furthermore, it seems that there is a tremendous imbalance in the opportunities given to women, as compared to those offered to men. It seems that there is a great dearth in the prospects for women and there are many limitations on women’s growth and development, particularly in the area of career. Women are seemingly put into a box, again shackled by the expectations set by society of male dominance, and are thus not allowed, despite ambition and talent, to obtain due recognition or opportunity. For example, in the second interview, Louise states that she has “seen young men who [she] trained go on, in [her] own company or elsewhere, to higher things”; she adds that “nobody notices” her and that she feels “stuck” as she has been in “middle management” for “twenty years”. It seems that the doors that are open to this woman are few, despite her “experience”. In addition to this, there seems to be an unwavering stereotype attached to women in the workforce, further exacerbating the conditions necessary for women to reap opportunities. Women are judged, as seen antecedently, to be the weaker sex; they are perceived to be “too nice”, as declared by Nell during her interview with Shona. This judgment is not just cast by men alone, rather it is a collective view held by both men and women. During the first interview, Marlene gives Jeanine little opportunity to express herself and instead, slots her into mediocre, mundane jobs –such as in the “lampshade” industry- thus greatly limiting her choices. In the second interview, Win again slots Louise into a category by telling her that there are “fields that are easier for a woman”, citing a “cosmetic company” as one such example. Clearly, there are deep-rooted stereotypes of women, which thus limit their options to grow and develop. It seems then that the only method out of this rut is for women to adopt masculine characteristics and to abandon feminine ones. Churchill seems to indicate that the working world is one that is dominated by men and although the women in Act Two, for example, seem to be staunchly independent and anti-men, it is still evident, through the stereotyping of women and through the adoption of masculine traits, that these women are in fact complying and cowering to a male-dominated system. Moreover, it seems that success is based on image –on one’s ability to be tough and masculine- rather than on merit. This is most plainly evident when one dissects Shona’s interview and compares it to the other two interviews. During the third interview, Shona comes across as being a brassy, young and unconstrained individual –characteristically a “tough bird”, as Win and Nell would proclaim. As the interview progresses, Nell visibly warms to the newcomer, even asking her if she would “fancy” working at the Top Girls office; clearly, Shona’s tough exterior and audacity have earned Nell’s respect and has helped her to open doors. Later in the interview, however, the audience learns that Shona is in fact all about the exterior. Her bristly, forthcoming exterior is merely a guise –a mask that hides her inexperience and callow youthfulness. The audience learns that Shona has “filled in the form with a pack of lies” and has not done any of the things that she espouses; in fact, we learn that she has not even worked. However, despite this inexperience, it is apparent that initially, Shona was given a much wider scope of opportunity, as compared to that offered to Jeanine and Louise, both of whom have had more experience and possess more wisdom. In Jeanine’s case, however, this development is slight, as she is seen to be naïve and tentative, albeit somewhat more experienced. Marlene completely obliterates Jeanine’s self-esteem, dismissing her as not having “got the speeds” and as being not exceedingly capable (“No As, all those Os you probably could have got an A. Speeds, not brilliant”). Marlene seems to exploit Jeanine’s meekness, slotting her into pedestrian jobs and discouraging her ambition -“You haven’t got the speeds anyway. So I’ll send you to these two shall I?” It seems that because Jeanine is not sufficiently aggressive, her abilities are dismissed and thus, her opportunities are considerably limited and stunted. In the interview with Louise, on the other hand, it is clear that Louise is a very competent, assiduous and experienced woman. She is also clearly dedicated and “loyal”, as evident from the fact that she has worked for “twenty-one years…in one place”. She has accomplished plenty, achieving “management status from the age of twenty-seven” and having “built a department” that “works extremely well”. She even goes so far as to say that her work “is perfect” and even imagines that she is an indispensable element of her workplace (“they will see when I’ve gone what I was doing for them”). Despite this, Win does not warm to her nor does she show any sign of respect for her abilities or achievements. Instead, she points out the fact that Louise’s older age is a “handicap” and that she would “be in competition with younger men”. Like Marlene, Win also slots Louise into a mediocre job, in “cosmetic company”. Despite her years of experience and expertise, Louise is not offered the plethora of opportunities that may be expected, instead she seems to be dealt an unfair hand of cards, given the fact that the new job Win offers her is not only restrictive but is also offering less money than her previous job (“It’s eight and a half”, as compared to the “nine thousand” she had received previously). It thus seems very odd that Shona would be deluged by a wealth of opportunity and a glut of respect, when she is in fact the least experienced of the three. Furthermore, later in the Act, Win reveals to Angie that “you don’t have to be as qualified as you might think” and that “men are awful bullshitters”, making jobs seem “harder than they are”. In addition, in the last Act, Marlene tells her sister that she has been successful not because she is “clever”, but because she is “pushy”. It is therefore very clear that spunk and toughness are traits that far outweigh credibility and credentials in the merciless working world. Quite evidently, the realm of career is one that is not only male-dominated, and which in turn, results in female discrimination, but is also one that is harsh and cruel, conditioning both men and women alike to adopt tough exteriors and a callousness to defend themselves from the ruthlessness of the dog-eat-dog world of career. Thus, the fulfillment that is fervently sought after through career is clearly not achievable, as the success and satisfaction drawn from work are ephemeral and fleeting. Also, it can be further argued that the power and status gained due to one’s career, especially in the case of women, are actually illusory -mere deceptions that lead one to believe that emancipation has taken place when in fact the backlash has been greater than any liberation. In addition, it seems that the sacrifices that need to be made to adapt to the brutal work environment has caused irreparable damage to society and to women, in particular. In the second interview, the notion of fulfillment through career is addressed and quickly dismissed. Louise informs Win that she “lived for that company”, having “given [her] life” to her work and abandoning a “social life”. Clearly, she has achieved great things, as antecedently cited, and she has worked diligently and conscientiously. However, despite her dedication to her work, she is unfulfilled and clearly bitter and resentful. She states that “everybody” takes her for “granted” and that she has had to “justify [her] existence every minute”. She also states wistfully that her co-workers and employer would be “sorry to lose [her]” and would realize “what [she] was doing for them” after she leaves the company. Unfortunately, Louise fails to recognize the pitilessness of the working world –how no one is indispensable and how everyone can be replaced, and can be replaced without difficulty. It is indeed a harsh reminder how the dedication of one person is easily forgotten and how, in the working world, a person is only a number, only used for a purpose and can be easily discarded, as an object can be. This is shockingly parallel to the whole concept of discrimination against women and how, in a male-dominated society, women are viewed as objects and are similarly expendable. Also, it seems that modern society has misled its people, particularly the youth, into believing that career is a gateway to independence, contentment and a life of opulence. This mindset, however, is gravely distorted, as it does not reflect on reality –the harsh reality of a vicious working world. This viewpoint is clearly evident in Churchill’s portrayal of Angie and Shona, two of the callow youth in the play. In Act Two, Angie appears to be completely enthralled by Marlene, and by her job and the office that she works in. She calls Marlene “wonderful”, and is in complete awe of her uncompromising attitude and stiff work ethic. She also soaks in the office environment, calling it “lovely”; she even decides to sit in the office while Marlene works, rather than to wander around London to “sightsee”. Similarly, Shona displays a comparable fascination with the life of a working woman and what she perceives the working world to be like. In the third interview, Shona fabricates an entire life story, narrating to Nell all the things that she supposedly owns and does. She tells Nell that she “owns a car…a Porsche” and that she frequently “burn[s] up the M1”; she apparently “stay[s] in various hotels”, where she has an “expense account” and she is recognized wherever she stays. She also frequents the bars in these hotels, drinking “gin and tonic”; she goes on to say that she enjoys eating “fillet steak and mushrooms”, “smoked salmon” and “green salad”. It becomes very obvious to both the audience and to Nell that these are flagrant lies, however, it is also clear that Shona is completely enamored by these images of a high-flying, posh, respected and renowned working woman. Evidently, this is the image of the working world that has been pumped into peoples’ minds –the notion that career is a highway to success, emancipation and improvement of livelihood. However, it is plain to see that people are often disillusioned soon after entering the working world, but by that time are already sucked into the whole cycle of accomplishment through the rising up along the hierarchy of power; this is evident when one examines Marlene’s life in deeper detail, as well as that of Win and Louise. This will be discussed later in this essay. As previously mentioned, the whole issue of sacrifice arises when one explores the concept of career, particularly in the case of women. There is obviously the all-important question of the choice between career and family, and as explored in this play, the question of the choice between career and humanity. These are issues that are extremely pertinent today and Churchill aptly weaves the two ideas into the tapestry of the feminist ideals found reverberating in the play. The choice between family or career, or a compromise between both, is a crucial issue that is explored explicitly in the play. Clearly, there is a huge sacrifice that needs to be made; either a woman can choose to marry and nurture a family, or she can pursue a successful career. By choosing one, she obviously forgoes the other; and if she chooses to strike a compromise between the two, then both sides will be left half-tended and sporadically neglected, thus compromising the success of either. Throughout the play, the audience witnesses women who have sacrificed family to pursue their careers and conversely, women who have sacrificed career to nurture their families. Unfortunately, it seems that in both situations, the woman emerges discontented and bitter, therefore leading the audience to believe that there is no positive alternative. Despite this negativity, I believe that Churchill is subtly revealing the deep-rooted problem that causes this disgruntlement, which is the shortcoming of the work ethic itself -the whole concept of finding fulfillment in career, and in gaining power through work and success, both aspirations being completely and utterly futile. In the case of Marlene and Nell, it is evident that they have both chosen to sacrifice and abandon family life and the relationships that encompass it; instead, they pursue their careers in an attempt to find satisfaction and purpose. In the case of Marlene, the effects of this choice are clearly detrimental. Although Marlene has achieved great successes and is described by her counterparts as being a “smashing bird”, she is visibly bitter and unfulfilled. As described by her sister, Joyce, in Act Three, Marlene had “left” the family behind and had “gone away”. Joyce declares that they “can do without” her and refers to her as “them”, creating a clear distinction separating Marlene from her loved ones. It seems then that Marlene is painfully isolated from a support network, as she seems to shun company and has brought this seclusion upon herself. She is seen to have rejected and abandoned her daughter, Angie, and is viewed to be completely unsympathetic and uncaring towards her own progeny. It appears that all this has been done in the name of success, and her pursuit of her ambition and establishment of a flourishing career. Despite these bold moves and her rigid exterior, it is evident that Marlene is a broken woman. In the last Act, she reveals that she has been on “the pill for so long” that she believes she is “sterile”; also she discloses that she has had “two abortions”. She seems to be damaged by this, hurt beyond what she would divulge, and soon the audience witnesses this “tough bird” break down in tears. She is seen to ...