Class Separation Flashcards
Isabella’s view of the east
Isabella - There are some barbaric practices in the east.
Nijo - Barbaric?
Isabella - Among the lower class.
Isabella’s perception of the Chinese
Isabella: ‘Such superstition… They thought the barbarians ate babies and put them under railway sleepers to make the tracks stead…’ p.26
Marlene’s capitalistic ways vs. Joyce’s socialist views
Marlene - ‘She’s a tough lady, Maggie. I’d give her a job.’
Joyce - ‘Well I think they’re filthy bastards.’
Marlene - ‘First woman prime minister. Terrifico. Aces. Right on. You must admit. Certainly gets my vote.’
Joyce - ‘What good’s first woman if it’s her? I suppose you’d have liked Hitler if he was a woman. Ms. Hitler. Got a lot done, Hitlerina. Great adventures.”
Marlene - Bosses still walking on the worker’s faces? Still daddy’s little parrot? Haven’t you learned to think for yourself? I believe in the individual. Look at me.’ p.95
Marlene believes in the conservative party’s emphasis on personal responsibility and hard work, as well as the idea that class does not truly exist as a barrier to self-advancement. Her position mirrors the public statement delivered by Margaret Thatcher that only “individuals and their families” exist, not class. It also shows that Marlene fully embraces the ideology of late capitalism.
Marlene’s view of the unions
Marlene - ‘Not a word about the slimy unions will cross my lips.’ p.95
Marlene’s view of the working class
Marlene - ‘I hate the working class…it means lazy and stupid. I don’t like the way they talk. I don’t like beer guts and football vomit and saucy tits…’
‘and I will not be pulled down to their level by a flying picket and I won’t be sent to Siberia or a lonny bin just because I’m original. ‘ p.97
Marlene apology and self contradiction about class
Marlene - ‘I don’t mean anything personal. I don’t believe in class.’ p.97
Us and them
Joyce - ‘Because nothing’s changed and it won’t with them in.’
Marlene - ‘Them, them. Us and them?’
Joyce - An you’re one of them.’ p.97
Marlene and Joyce at the end of their argument
Marlene - ‘I didn’t really mean all that.’
Joyce - ‘I did.’
At the end of their argument in Act 3, Marlene appears to want to reconcile with Joyce. She seems to regret some of her harsh criticism against unions, the working class, socialism and even Joyce herself. Joyce, however, holds firm to her position, recognizing that Marlene will always be dependent on her pro-capitalist ideals to advance her own financial standing. Joyce’s resolution implies her understanding of the deeply- seated class struggle in 1970s Britain, versus Marlene’s desire to attribute their disagreement to marginally important personal differences.
Joyce and RR
Joyce - “I spit when I see a Rolls Royce, scratch it with my ring… I hate the cows I work for and their dirty dishes with blanquette of fucking veau.”
Joyce - ‘No, you’ll be on a yacht, you’ll be head of Coca Cola and you wait, the eighties is going to be stupendous because we’ll get you of our backs.’
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Marlene’s support towards another capitalist
‘And I support..’
‘Regan. Even if he is a lousy movie star because the reds are swarming up his map and I want to be free in a free world.’ p.97
