Glengarry Glen Ross: Calling All Strong Women!

I believe there is no real presence of women in this play because they simply don't seem to be important. Not in the realm of sales and leads. We get a small glimpse of women who don't appear to be strong in character, other than Mr. Lingk's wife. He seems to be very afraid of her reaction to him not bringing back their check.In his lame attempts to retrieve his check he states numerous times " My Wife...My Wife wants the check back",never give me my damn check you crook! I thought it was interesting that although Mr. Lingk's wife to me, is the person in the marriage wearing the pants(because she sends her husband to do her dirty work)she does not take it upon herself to march down to the office and demand her check herself. It probably was a good decision on her part. I envision her coming to the office and not taken seriously, especially to Roma. I mean, look how easily he initially dismisses her when Lingk appears at the office. He states "It's a common reaction,Jim. I'll tell you what it is,and I know that that's why you married her. One of the reasons is prudence......It's also something women have".

Women are not placed in this play because we are claimed to be emotional beings.This play is not based on emotions.Throughout the play the men are stripped of any emotional connection. The play is harsh,cold, and cut throat...no place for a woman...yeah right!

Persepolis: Politics and Sentiment

Throughout the novel the Marjane is faced with attempting to be herself yet forced into conformity. She battles with trying to grasp at a better understanding of who she is during a political strain. Politics and sentiment are intertwined as those around her stress individuality while the government stresses conformity. On page 75, her mother insists "If anyone asks you what you do during the day say you pray, you understand?” This is great example of how sentiment actually overpowers politics. Her family also compromises their safety by going against rules in order to allow Marjane to enjoy her youth. When her parents take the chance on pg 129 to bring back a few posters of Kim Wilde, they prove that their feelings towards politics are overpowered by their feelings of identity.
Despite her fathers' statement, Marjane's whole experience proved that in some cases politics and sentiment do actually mix. Each family member expressed some sentiment towards the war, the regime, and the violence. Marjane I feel reacted off of the sentiments expressed from her family. She reacted to comments made by her father and mother as well has discussions she had with her grandmother. It seemed necessary for Marjane to react emotionally than politically to what she experienced.

The Search

It seemed to me that after Reading The Moviegoer, Binx has failed in his quest for meaning. He mentions at one point " My search has been abandoned"(pg.228). Although this is after the uncomfortable conversation with his aunt, where I feel if Binx had any inclination to the answer in his search, right there is when he should of proclaimed it. His aunt wanted nothing more to truly understand binx,for him to simply explain perhaps his thoughts on, life and family. It is clear the she doesn't belive he cares for anyone but himself. I don't think Binx even understands himself enough to describe to his aunt. He stands there speechless without so much as a explanation.
I further believe that Binx gave up on his search and opted to just give in. I don't believe he cared much of the search as much as the reader may have thought he did. The search was just something to do,perhaps a game he is playing with himself until something better came along, therefore Binx is still in the "aesthetic stage"of Kierkegaard's theory.

Like the movies he watches Binx chose to simply fit into a role. Marrying Kate is a great example, an action taken to keep his aunt pleased with him or maybe to keep himself happy. He entered into the marriage knowing Kate would listen to everything that he tells her, she would actually prefer it that way. She mentions in Chicago "I don't know whether I love you, but I believe in you and will do what you tell me"( pg.197) For Kate Marrying Binx is more like joining a religion. Binx becomes her God in a sense.

Becoming a doctor is another example of fitting into a role just because it may be expected of him. When Kate ask "Are you going to medical school" Binx answers " If she wants me too"(pg.233). What happened to doing what he wanted?,

The epilogue confirms for me that Binx is the same character in the end has he was in the beginning, if not worse. Perhaps he was afraid of what he may have found at the end of his search and settle for the next best thing...