“Bold Girls” by Rona Munro Essay

In her drama Bold Girls, Rona Munro has created a relevant and inspiring legacy of war-torn Union Ireland. Her drama depicts the daily struggles and predicaments faced by four finical women, who seem to thrive on their fantasies and illusions all except Deirdre who is marked out as contrary from the dramas beginningDeirdre is not in this room, shes crouching on all fours on her own talkingout of darkness in which exactly her face is visible.Introduced as a surreal and somewhat eerie point of reference it is no surprise that Deirdre contrasts greatly with the ternion other women. It is her persistent search for the faithfulness that polarises her from the others and fronts her to be at odds with them as they shut out legality and cushion themselves with their idealistic dreams. This idea of fantasy versus reality is a main awe within the profligacy, and it is through monologues and represent direction that we are allowed a deeper understanding of each characters situation and of the plays themes.A particular monologue of Deirdres undoubtedly confirms that her search for truth will result in the hurt of others and possible confrontations and violent conflictsThe lights changeI need a knife a make believe make of my ownIt was the knife he was talkingabout. It was the truth. I thought Id like that. A wee bit of hard truthyou could hold in your hand and point where you liked.The lights changeI believe this monologue verifies Deirdres role as accelerator pedal. By this point we have been introduced to all four women and to their dreams and fantasies, which Deirdres wee blade of truth threatens to destroy. Deirdres yearning for the truth causes her to kill these dreams, bringing the three idealistic women crashing back to the harsh reality that surrounds them. Deirdres conflict is greatest with the central character, Marie. Compared with huisache and Noras materialistic dreams of redecorating her living room (Nora) and leaving capital of Northern Irel and (Cassie), Maries delusions of her late husbands heroic acts and credibility are not as empty as her friends.These dreams are instilled within objects in the womens homes for case Noras dream is symbolised by a peach polyester mix, Cassies by a wad of money hidden behind Michels photograph and Maries by a grainy blow up of her late husband, Michael. As the play progresses it becomes apparent that Deirdre is intent on destroying each characters dream, but I think it is also suggested that she is somewhat linked with Marie and her dream. Munro again makes use of symbolism to connect these two characters. For example, Deirdres mini dress is reminiscent of Maries wedding dressThen other times she looks like meyou remember that dress I wasmarried in, that wee white-hot mini-dress?She stands. And stares.I believe it is as though Munro is depicting Deirdre as a ghost of Maries past. This becomes relevant later in the play when Deirdre reveals to Marie that she is in fact Michaels daug hter.The simple observation of Deirdre standing alone at the bottom of the path reflects how she appears isolated from the others in her search for truth she longs to exploit the truth and become part of the family unit maintained by the three other womenIm wet, Im cold. I want to get at bottomI want to get inside. Cantkeep me out.This monologue has quite a threatening undertone , it is as though Deirdres closing off causes her distress. I believe also that the use of wet and cold highlight the harsh environment and the fact that Deirdre is unloved. I think all of these factors isolation and the appetite for truth cause Deirdre to act as catalyst. In taking on this role, Deirdre threatens to destroy the fellow womens dreams. Her first act as catalyst is when she steals Cassies money hence ruining her dream of escape and freedom. Deirdre makes obvious to the reader that Cassies materialistic dream is false and unobtainable in a short, eerie monologueThe whole towns a prison, smas h chunks off the wall causewere all in a prison.Cassies dream of escape is obviously unrealistic and false and I believe Deidres destruction of the dream validates this idea.Deirdre also appears to be in conflict with Nora, Cassies mother, a she goes on to use her wee blade of truth to shed Noras shiny peach polyester fabric and in the end her dreamDeirdrelooks at the broad, smooth stretch of material then startsto slash at it, ripping it, trampling it till shes breathless.Deirdres violent reactions I believe show what harsh and abusive situations she has been exposed to. She desires to know the truth so much, that she finds happiness in destroying the illusions and fantasies of others, forcing them to face their reality and embrace the truth.Although Cassie and Nora do avoid the truth that their materialistic hopes will always elude them, it is Maries complete glossing over of the truth that causes her to be most at odds with Deirdre. Her lullaby that she uses to calm her son for example, shows how dependant she is on her delusions about MichaelYour daddy was a good man and a brave manthats whatkeeps us all together, keeps me going, keeps me strongMarie finds comfort in her deluded memories of Michael. I believe this blanking of the truth angers Deirdre and causes her to react violently and destructively toward Marie and her dreamsDeirdre hurls the clothes at her. She snatches the knife outof the chair and waves the blade at Marie. She advances onher slowly.I want the truth out of you. I mean it.This I believe is symbolic in showing that Deirdre uses the truth as a harmful device and that Marie is threatened by its potential exposure. Maries reaction is shocking and uncharacteristic of her gentle, nurturing nature she takes Michaels picture and using Deirdres knife, destroys it. Marie in turn destroys Deirdres dream of knowing the truth about her father.These two characters, who are at the greatest point in their conflict draw through their actions the ma in concerns of the text reality versus illusion reality conquers over dreams and pointless fantasies. The unveiling of the truth brings these two closer together allowing them to reconcile. The conclusion of the play suggests hope and optimism for the recovery of these women. They share in a special, ritual feeding of the birds, their relationship to emulate that of a mother and daughterDid you ever feed the birds, Deirdre?NoI like the common wee birdsyoud need to be something specialto build a nest around the Falls. Someone should feed them. Deirdre and Maries conflict is resolved by Maries embracing of the truth that she has for so long avoided. The central idea of Bold Girls of reality versus dreams is made obvious by the characters actions, they cope by padding their harsh reality and cushioning themselves with fantasies and illusions. These qualities are instilled within the characters of the play, Marie, Cassie and Nora thrive on fantasies and dreams whereas Deirdre lives fo r the truth.The opposing forces I feel cause the characters to be in conflict with each other. Their compromising situations and contrasting ideas about reality create friction between the opposing characters of Deirdre and Marie. Munro expertly uses stage direction, soliloquy and the opposing forces of truth and fantasy to make apparent the concerns of the text and to heighten my personal appreciation of their importance in these womens lives.