I read this for my Contemporary Women Playwrights course, and like most things I've read for this class so far, it's not a play I would seek out on my own. However, like most works I've read for this course, I also enjoyed it quite a bit.I thought the female characters were quite strong and quite unique. I absolutely love to read Matilde's dialogue and her monologues that are peppered throughout the piece. Even though Matilde is supposed to be the "funny" one, I think her deadpan "straightwoman" reactions make Lane and Virginia the real comedians, even though it is not supposed to be.Does using the idea of a clean home (the penultimate accomplishment of the traditional feminine gender role) as the chief symbol seem like a cheat in a play in which the female characters are constantly questioning their place in society and to the men in their life? Absolutely. But it's also pretty smart to do, because it is such a simple idea. Maybe I don't understand a crucial theme of this book, or maybe that fact that I was in a bad place when I read it tainted my view of it, but honestly I find it to be well meaning but incredible cruel-hearted. The book is about a woman who doesn't clean her house because she's a doctor and so she doesn't have much time. The fact that she doesn't clean her house indicates that she's close-minded (??). This somehow leads her husband (also a doctor) to have an affair with a more "open minded" woman who I assume cleans her own house. All of this is revealed in the first few pages of the book, from the perspective of the housemaid. Some issues: No mention is made to the fact that her husband could, perhaps, clean the house, or the fact that the couple could open up a dialogue to clean the house together. The doctor-woman who does not clean the house is seen as taking the blame and as having some sort of deficit (emotionally/symbolically) which leads her husband to "go elsewhere", or have an affair. This, of course, is quite sexist. The fact that a woman who has dedicated her life to helping others by being a doctor is seen as lacking emotionally because she does not clean the house is a bit much. There is also a bit of white-guilt condescension towards the housemaid. It's been a bit of time since I read the book but I believe the housemaid is Spanish and is seen as being wise in humor because of her country of origin. Though this of course can be good, the tone is pretty much the same as it is with the doctor-lady's cleanliness. It's something like, "life was simpler where I'm from so I can point out the humor of your sophistication." Implying that life is simpler somewhere else because it doesn't fit the same standards as another place is nonsensical (eg. apples and oranges). I've learned a lot about gender roles since I've read The Clean House and so I can comment on the sexism but I have to admit my limits when it comes to its depictions of race. I can't say exactly what's wrong, but I can say that it seems a bit fishy. Also, just as an aside and for a bit of context: The people who sang the praises of this book to me were young people who grew up with cleaning ladies and attended a 56,000$ a year liberal arts, make-your-own-major undergraduate college.
What do You think about The Clean House (2007)?
The emotional truths of the play - especially Virginia's - resonate with this reader.
—Amy
Had to read it more than once toReally appreciate this play!
—memmsi4
