Patient Griselda Character Analysis in Top Girls

Patient Griselda is a figure from European folklore, most famously featured in the tales of Boccaccio and Chaucer. A peasant of humble origins, Patient Griselda was selected to marry a handsome, wealthy, and powerful Marquis, who took her away from her family and introduced her to a life of luxury. Her new husband wanted to test her obedience, though, and so he took away both children she bore him—presumably to have them killed. In spite of this cruel treatment, Griselda stayed with her husband, and remained obedient to him. At last, he cast her out of the palace, naked and alone; Griselda bore this cruel humiliation, too, with grace. Eventually, her husband came back for her, and revealed that her children had been safe all along. Patient Griselda’ story—in the hands of male writers—was used through the ages as a parable about the virtues of patience and women’s obedience to their husbands; in Top Girls, Churchill points out the devastation, trauma, and pain Griselda suffered, all in service of a man and his riches.

Patient Griselda Quotes in Top Girls

The Top Girls quotes below are all either spoken by Patient Griselda or refer to Patient Griselda. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

MARLENE: Magnificent all of you. We need some more wine, please, two bottles I think, Griselda isn’t even here yet, and I want to drink a toast to you all.

ISABELLA: To yourself surely, we’re here to celebrate your success.

NIJO: Yes, Marlene.

JOAN: Yes, what is it exactly, Marlene?

MARLENE: Well it’s not Pope but it is managing director.

JOAN: And you find work for people.

MARLENE: Yes, an employment agency.

NIJO: Over all the women you work with. And the men.

ISABELLA: And very well deserved too. I’m sure it’s just the beginning of something extraordinary.

MARLENE: Well it’s worth a party.

ISABELLA: To Marlene.

MARLENE: And all of us.

JOAN: Marlene.

NIJO: Marlene.

GRET: Marlene.

MARLENE: We’ve all come a long way. To our courage and the way we changed our lives and our extraordinary achievements. (They laugh and drink a toast.)

Related Characters: Marlene (speaker), Isabella Bird (speaker), Lady Nijo (speaker), Dull Gret (speaker), Pope Joan (speaker), Patient Griselda

Related Symbols: Top Girls Employment Agency

Page Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

Patient Griselda Quotes in Top Girls

The Top Girls quotes below are all either spoken by Patient Griselda or refer to Patient Griselda. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

).

MARLENE: Magnificent all of you. We need some more wine, please, two bottles I think, Griselda isn’t even here yet, and I want to drink a toast to you all.

ISABELLA: To yourself surely, we’re here to celebrate your success.

NIJO: Yes, Marlene.

JOAN: Yes, what is it exactly, Marlene?

MARLENE: Well it’s not Pope but it is managing director.

JOAN: And you find work for people.

MARLENE: Yes, an employment agency.

NIJO: Over all the women you work with. And the men.

ISABELLA: And very well deserved too. I’m sure it’s just the beginning of something extraordinary.

MARLENE: Well it’s worth a party.

ISABELLA: To Marlene.

MARLENE: And all of us.

JOAN: Marlene.

NIJO: Marlene.

GRET: Marlene.

MARLENE: We’ve all come a long way. To our courage and the way we changed our lives and our extraordinary achievements. (They laugh and drink a toast.)

Related Characters: Marlene (speaker), Isabella Bird (speaker), Lady Nijo (speaker), Dull Gret (speaker), Pope Joan (speaker), Patient Griselda

Related Symbols: Top Girls Employment Agency

Page Number and Citation: 24

Explanation and Analysis:

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Patient Griselda Character Analysis

Patient Griselda Quotes in Top Girls

Patient Griselda Quotes in Top Girls

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