A new historical approach to female figures in Caryl Churchill's Top Girls

This thesis studies Caryl Churchill's Top Girls with respect to new historicism and the subordinate nature of female characters. The play deals with historical woman figures and feminism, and discusses different subjects ranging from female subjection to the motivations of working females, the relationships of these females with their children, the rights of sexual preference for women in inter-racial relationships, and the perceptions of society in connection with these issues. This dissertation also examines how Churchill uses epic theatre as a method for offering a voice to her feminist interests involving sexual and class constraint, submission, enslavement, and inequality in her play Top Girls, regarding feminist politics and socialism. Through the play, Churchill raises doubt about the customary sexual roles and duties forced on females by the male-commanded principles. Initially, this thesis deals with a short historical background beginning from Victorian period and the issues like political, literary and social ones. This study is also characterized by women rights. In addition, using new historical approach as a fundamental scheme makes this study take a look at historical, political and social writings. The paper uncovers how perceived insurrection in women is often a catalyst for change, even though not always a positive one. It recommends that these women are unconventional in the way they perceive and conduct their lives and are not easily troubled by the observations society has of them.