"G-String"

I like the evolution of the characters throughout the story. I think this story represents the evolution of the place of women in society. Before, women were only supposed to have kids and clean the house, they didn’t have any opportunities to study or work, and they were totally dependent of men. However, nowadays women have the same rights as men, the right to study, work and be independent, although this has not been fully accomplished in some countries.

We could compare the evolution of women in society with the evolution of Gillian in this story. At first, she is presented as a quiet character that lets Mr. Kip control her and bring her down. She doesn’t particularly stand out in her job, working for “a car-hire firm in Grays Thurrock”, whereas Mr. Kip’s insurance business is “small but flourishing”. She is very insecure and has no self-esteem because she is constantly compared to this perfect actress, Katharine Hepburn, who is “skinny and elegant and sparky and intelligent.” Gillian doesn’t like anything about herself; she doesn’t like her frizzy hair or her body, and tries constantly to fit in the “modern woman” stereotype. Also, Mr. Kip’s behavior doesn’t help her. He compares her to “the cone-shaped upstanding white napkins on the fancily made-up tables” when she is wearing her new white dress, and doesn’t introduce her to any of his friends. He even “tips ashes on her” while smoking his cigar.

However, “all of a sudden, wheeewwoing!”, the wipers of the car flew off as the character’s roles dramatically changed. Gillian finally stands out for her dignity. She proves that she can be clever, strong, independent, and that she has the right to be respected. She no longer calls him “Mr. Kip”, but she now calls him “Collin”, and finally, Collin ends up falling for her. As far as I am concerned, I think that the author created an evolution in character and situation which surprises the reader. I think this dramatic change is what makes the story stand out for itself in only 3 pages.

What do you think about the story beginning with a question: “Ever fallen out with somebody simply because they agreed with you?”, how does this question relate to the situation described in the story?