- How does the language each character uses reflect their personality and the back story that they represent? Use evidence and analysis to support your interpretation.
Every character has their own story coming from very different points in history. Churchill is able to manipulate each character’s use of language in order to better contribute to their portrayal of the character as a whole. For example, Dull Gret is often seen to have a short and small periodic input. This contributes to her somewhat lower-class background. Churchill’s use of monosyllabic words through Gret such as “Soup” “Sad” “Big Cock” allows for a greater understanding of who this woman really was and what it is that she is representing. Churchill understands that the same degree of attention to these details is required among the other women in order to allow the audience to have a greater amount of engagement with the characters hopefully evoking more emotion and reflection.
- What is the effect of Churchill using interruptions and simultaneous speech in this Act?
The various interruptions allegedly contribute to the fact that these women seem to have nothing in common due to their different times in history. It actually does the opposite. The tricky conversations allow for emphasis on the times when these women find things they have in common, shedding a light on the similar issues they have faced in their own times.
- What is the effect on the reader of the way that the scene ends? Why do you think Churchill has ended the scene in this way?
Towards the end of Act 1, we notice that Pope Joan begins talking in a different language and it seems to be understood by these other women further contributing to the commonalities that these women actually have. Furthermore, Gret suddenly has a long monologue for the first time in this act. This could be interpreted as a character change, however, the language she uses still comes across as quite basic.
- What is interesting about the character of the Waitress in this Act? How is she presented? What do you think Churchill wants to show us by using this character?
Churchill’s use of the waitress could suggest the reality of women outside of this play. Although it may seem that these 6 women are thriving, the reality is that over time, not all women have progressed. The waitress is seen to be ignored in most of Act One thus contributing to the importance of recognition of all women in society.
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