Tiggy Entwhistle Character Analysis

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Joanna Murray-Smith explores just how complex a woman’s role in contemporary Australia culture can be. Through the Australian woman who are her characters, we discover that they all share various issues. One thing the characters all have in common is that they suffer fear and insecurity. Another theme demonstrated by the author is how society places unrealistic pressures on woman. Woman are raised to believe that the key to happiness rests in marriage. In their different roles, the characters are all disillusioned and disappointed. The fear and insecurities that the woman face throughout the monologues addresses the struggles throughout their lives. One character for example, Meryl, faces problems and hardships as she is unable to control…show more content…
Her devastated husband left her and also left her with a broken heart, leaving a profound negative impact on her life. She is an extremely intelligent and insight full woman, and metaphorically compares her life to a cacti. Tiggy has all the qualities of a plant, specifically a cactus, ranging from ordinariness, uniqueness and most of all, a survivor. The cactus is an example of both positive and negative experiences in her life. The cacti remind Tiggy of her failed relationship with her and her ex-husband. Tiggy Entwhistle, who has found comfort in her succulents, wishes her husband loved her half as much as the cacti do. “And in the midst of my personal troubles, of which quite a few of you are aware, I can only stress that my cacti have played an essential part in holding me together.” This quote demonstrates how much Tiggy relies on her cacti to keep her stable. To her, the cacti are just like pets, expect they don’t move or make any noise, and that is exactly why Tiggy has fallen in love with them. “We regard the cactus as a plant which struggles to survive in a hostile environment, and it is this notion of proud undaunted struggle which enhances its appeal. It refuses to give in. It simply refuses to bow to circumstances, and it is this resoluteness, which makes many of us proud to say: I LOVE CACTI”. Cacti are strong independent plants…show more content…
Brigid’s and is preparing to go onstage and perform, until she watches in horror as her arch nemesis performs the same song, and she now must improvise a new performance before she is called on stage. Mary has won her school talent shows in the past whish has lead her in becoming competitive and perceiving herself as the best. She attempts to hide all her flaws and insecurities, as it would “shatter” the image she has built up for herself of being the “best”, by pointing out the flaws of Angela McTerry. “No one can sing and dance like me. No one in the whole school. I am the Liza Minnelli of St. Brigid’s and nobody can say I’m not. I’ve got a batter voice than Angela McTerry. Much better. Her only claim to fame is that she has bigger breasts than her head, of which I am envious…not. And I can dance which Angela McTerry cannot do even though she thinks she can. She has not got the physique. Angela McTerry cannot do even though she thinks she can. Angela McTerry does not look attractive in a leotard and somebody who loves her should tell her so. She’s got calves the size of the Soviet Union just liker her sister Theresa McTerry.” This quote is a pure example of trying to reach perfection. Mary O’Donnell is unhappy with herself because she is not perfect, so she picks on the flaws of other girls to make herself feel better. There is something obviously wrong with this; society is
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