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The Women, by Clare Booth Luce

ound today in similar situations, and so reflect a true reality. The rhetoric which flows between the characters at the beauty salon reflects the behavior of the characters towards one another.

The gossip mill is dominated by Sylvia, aided and abetted eagerly by the perennially pregnant Edith and the Countess DeLage, the core of the group (Murray, 2001). They weave a fascinating tapestry of betrayal, deception and it also includes an element of affection between the women involved. Another important factor is the interactions of Mary with her mother and daughter,. It is clear to see where Mary got her attitudes from, and what she will pass along to her daughter, who finds Crystal in the bath in her father's apartment.

Every scene in The Women takes place in a strictly female setting - the bridge table, the exercise studio, the hair salon, the changing room in a boutique, a boudoir, Crystal taking a bubble bath, and obstetrics ward, and a fancy nightclub's powder room (Liner, 2006). There are a couple of scenes in the kitchen with the hired help, also women, from whom we learn a little more about the main characters.

This emphasizes, the female emphasis of the story, is portrayed throughout, if it isn't already obvious from the cast of characters. The emphasis is strictly on female behavior, though we do get a glimpse of the amusement seen by the men in these carryings-on which women go through in their daily routine. A big factor at the salon is the Jungle Red nail polish worn by Mary, which Crystal wants for her nails, believing Stephen must like it if his wife wears it.

Mary is referred to almost always as Mrs Stephen Haines, to emphasize the relationship, and her position in opposition to that of Crystal, a girl he met at the perfume counter in Saks while buying perfume for Mary (Liner, 2006). The bridge sessions at Mary's are an opportunity to swap gossip - the girls there being Sylvia, the gossip maven,...

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The Women, by Clare Booth Luce. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 20:47, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1687406.html