Questions:
- what’s going on in Act 2 scene 3 when Mrs. VB kisses Esther, calls her a coward
- why did she give the money?
- Is Mayme a prostitute?
- Did she end up with Mr. Marks?
- What about Esther’s belly? If she is pregnant, what is that doing for the story?
- what did you want to have happen?
Themes/issues:
- self esteem
- racism/bias
- fidelity/infidelity
- religion
- economic issues\
- social pressure
- class relations
- intimacy
- profession
- dream fulfillment
- truth and less truth
- literacy
Setting: in a boudoir=private, intimate, a space to be friends
Why this lesbian encounter?
Who was the coward? Esther for not giving in to emotions and desires? Mrs. VB because of how her husband treats her, doesn’t have her freedom, doesn’t fight against it. Also easier for her to take out her frustrations on Esther rather than dealing with her husband: Esther works for her, can’t fight back. Mrs. VB wrote the letters, so had the upper hand, literate, white, wealthy.
Where is the intimacy? with whom is Esther intimate?
With Mrs. Van Buren–not necessarily physically–emotionally, they confide in each other; costume also =intimacy when it’s underwear!
George: physical–on their wedding night, maybe after. Emotionally–trying to win him back? Or no, she’s intimate emotionally with the person she wrote to, not with the person who came.
Are Esther and Mr. Marks intimate? They share a passion for fabrics–that’s really important to both of them. A delicate man who is polite, like what she hoped George would be. Moment of intimacy: he lets her adjust the lapels of the gifted smoking jacket. forbidden intimacy.
With her child? if she is pregnant.
Why did Esther give him the money?
So he wouldn’t cheat
driven by love
wanted his affection
maybe she’s not strong enough to say no
to get rid of her past: it was a part of her life when she wanted a life with a husband and a beauty parlor, and now she wants a fresh start
she gave him a way out, to violate their relationship
a test to see if he would be true to his word or not
what was the money doing for her? she was saving it for her–it was a safety net, but she wouldn’t use it
