In the play TOP GIRLS Carol Churchill throws light upon the life of different women who belong to different time and place. Marlene who lives in present and is a successful business woman is shown as a top girl by Carol Churchill. Nevertheless, the question that boggles in the mind of the reader is that, is Marlene really a top girl? Is there is some other character who can be emerged as a top girl? According to my personal understanding of the play and the character, Marlene cannot be seen as a top girl but her sister Joyce is actually a top girl. Joyce's character has all those traits that are required for being a top girl. If we compare and contrast both the sisters, we will come to know that Joyce's character has more qualities than Marlene does. Marlene is just a successful businessperson in man's world; she is nothing more than that. On the other hand, Joyce is not affluent like Marlene but she is rich in the sense that she is conscious about what she has lost in life, still, she is has a certain kind of attitude and she does not run after wealth unlike Marlene, she is confident of what she has though Marlene look down upon her sister for being a part of working class. Therefore, there are different things in Joyce's character, which makes her the top girl.
Some critics has pointed out that Marlene is dependent upon Joyce for two reasons, firstly, that Joyce takes care of Angie as a mother. Secondly, she seeks emotional support from Joyce. In the essay LABOUR AND CAPITAL the writer say,
"…Angie was born to Marlene but has been cared for by Joyce …The revelation also makes evident the fact that Marlene's rise to the top girl has been founded upon Joyce's willingness to take upon herself"
The above statement shows that Marlene is not actually a top girl. How can she be a top girl by being dependent on her sister who belongs to the working class? On the other hand, we see that Joyce is not dependent on anyone. She is self-sufficient. She let go of her husband and earns hr living by cleaning houses.
Moreover, Marlene has been shown as a self-centered woman who gives almost no importance to her family. She is completely indulged in her world of business and competence. According to the essay LABOUR AND CAPITAL,
"Marlene has increased her power by cutting off from her mother sister and daughter"
In contrast, Joyce mentions in act ll, scene ll, that she pays regular visits to her mother and she takes care of Angie. She also tells Marlene about her baby who had been miscarried while Joyce was taking care of Angie. This shows that Joyce cares for others unlike Marlene.
Furthermore, it is evident in act ll that Joyce does not seek financial help from her sister. She satisfied with what she has and by what means she earns her living. Though she belongs to working class, she does not think low of herself. Marlene being in favor of Thatcher and being a part of upper class looks down upon the working class. Probably Joyce does not want to think low of her because she knows that Marlene is dependent on her. Secondly, she is conscious about sacrifices she has made for Marlene and Angie. Thirdly, she might feel proud that she is able to feed Angie by cleaning the houses. All these reasons show that Joyce's character is stronger than Marlene's character.
We do suspect that Marlene is not a top girl because her social circle is almost absent from her life. She does not have acquaintance in the present time. In the dinner party scene, we come across to the women belonging to different ages. Marlene celebrates her success with the women of different ages because she does not enjoy a social circle in her present life.
Therefore, there are too many flaws in Marlene characters, which do not allow her to rise as atop girl. However, Joyce character has no such flaws she is complete woman, who is confident, self-sufficient, patient and a strong woman. Who takes up different roles effectively. The only thing, which she lacks in, is the financial conditions but she does not see this financial problem as huge trouble. She does not let her financial conditions to hinder her confidence and satisfaction. In contrast, Marlene has the only thing which Joyce does not have, that is money. Otherwise, Marlene has nothing, she does not have emotions, she does not give importance to relationships. All she has is money yet she could not have upper hand on Joyce because Joyce is self-reliant and does not seek financial help from Marlene but the irony is that Marlene does seek support from Joyce. So in my view it's Joyce who is a top girl in true sense. Despite the fact that she lives from hand to mouth she is strong enough to cope up with all the situations that comes in her way.
Sarah Sarhandi
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