Cloud 9 Essay
“Write an essay on the character of Betty in both acts of Cloud Nine. Your answer should refer to cross-dressing, role doubling, and the themes of sexuality and identity."
Cloud Nine is a play which explores themes of sexuality and identity through cross-dressing and role doubling. Caryl Churchill uses these techniques in a way which is humorous to the audience, often due to the way characters are presented, but she also manages to achieve a serious and significant underlying meaning or message. The character Betty is one of the most important protagonists throughout the play, particularly in Act Two. The play illustrates Betty 's emotional journey from a fully dependent, rather pathetic character, to a much stronger, independent and opinionated woman. Through Betty, Churchill demonstrates the struggle from sexual repression and its effects, to a modern sexual revolution and a sense of liberation from the past.
The suggestion that the characters are hiding, or are even unsure about their sexual identity is immediately indicated to the audience through the cross-dressing of the cast. In Act One Betty is played by a male actor and this is not just due to the question of identity, but more so of sexual repression. Clive is obviously very conservative and traditional, and expects his wife Betty to follow her subservient roles as a woman. Betty is very aware of this and she strives to become what men desire, to such an extent that she ultimately becomes, quite literally, a man. She is very repressed by Clive and appears to be totally reliant on him. She feels he offers her too much security and comfort for her to fulfil her own personal desires, as we see when she talks with Harry. They discuss adventure but Betty believes she “will never go in person” (1.1.22-23) because of her duties. It is evident Betty wishes to be with Harry yet she runs away from him once admits his mutual attraction to her and tries to take her in his arms. However, in Act Two Betty appears
Cloud Nine is a play which explores themes of sexuality and identity through cross-dressing and role doubling. Caryl Churchill uses these techniques in a way which is humorous to the audience, often due to the way characters are presented, but she also manages to achieve a serious and significant underlying meaning or message. The character Betty is one of the most important protagonists throughout the play, particularly in Act Two. The play illustrates Betty 's emotional journey from a fully dependent, rather pathetic character, to a much stronger, independent and opinionated woman. Through Betty, Churchill demonstrates the struggle from sexual repression and its effects, to a modern sexual revolution and a sense of liberation from the past.
The suggestion that the characters are hiding, or are even unsure about their sexual identity is immediately indicated to the audience through the cross-dressing of the cast. In Act One Betty is played by a male actor and this is not just due to the question of identity, but more so of sexual repression. Clive is obviously very conservative and traditional, and expects his wife Betty to follow her subservient roles as a woman. Betty is very aware of this and she strives to become what men desire, to such an extent that she ultimately becomes, quite literally, a man. She is very repressed by Clive and appears to be totally reliant on him. She feels he offers her too much security and comfort for her to fulfil her own personal desires, as we see when she talks with Harry. They discuss adventure but Betty believes she “will never go in person” (1.1.22-23) because of her duties. It is evident Betty wishes to be with Harry yet she runs away from him once admits his mutual attraction to her and tries to take her in his arms. However, in Act Two Betty appears
Cited: Churchill, Caryl. Cloud Nine. London: Nick Hern Books Ltd, 1989. Print.