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Jean Genet's play The Maids is based on the Papin sisters who murdered their employer and daughter in 1933.
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Summary
The play begins in Madame's bedroom with the maid Claire chastising her sister and fellow maid Solange for taking rubber gloves out of the kitchen. As Solange helps Claire dress they continue to reenact their roles with Claire as the employer and Solange as the maid, however the reenactment turns to fantasy as Solange insults Claire in a way she does not when she is the maid to Madame.Claire asks Solange to remember Madame's kindness, but Solange feels that she and Claire are treated as filth. As the tension between them mounts and fear of getting caught continues, Solange realizes that Claire does not respect her and insists it is her turn to play the employer and Claire's turn to play the maid. Solange pretends to murder Claire as Madame followed shortly afterwards by Claire's suicide by poisoned tea.
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Significance
The play caused a scandal in Paris when it was first performed for its harsh portrayal of conflicts between the upper and working classes, the questioning of femininity and the appropriate role of women proved almost as controversial. The sisters represent otherness or those who are different in opposition to the status quo which proved threatening to those who liked the status quo. -
Fast Facts
- Written by [http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Genet Jean Genet]
- First performed on April 17, 1947
- Originally written in French
- French title Les Bonnes
- First performance in Paris
- First published by Grove Press
- A one act play
- Based on the [http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papin_sisters Papin sisters]
- Set in 1930s
- Set in Madame's bedroom
- Major symbol is red velvet dress
- Film based on play stars [http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenda_Jackson Glenda Jackson], Susannah York, and Vivien Merchant
- Classified as both [http: //en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absurdism Absurdism] and Theatre of Cruelty
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The Mahalo Top 7
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SparkNotes: The Maids Study Guide
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The Guardian: The Maids murder mystery
arts.guardian.co.uk (May 03, 2007) -
Amazon.com: The Maids Merchandise
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DC Theatre Scene: The Maids
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Blog Post: The Maids
theatrenotes.blogspot.com (May 06, 2005) -
YouTube Video: The Maids Promo (Time: 1:05)
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Wikipedia: The Maids
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SparkNotes: The Maids Study Guide
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The Maids on Twitter Powered by Twitter
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At work...when the hell did i become merry maids ...jds.
@jds_lovemedead | November 10, 2009 11:26 PM -
THE MAIDS(R) Provides Tips For A Happy Holiday For Hosts http://bit.ly/3xetmM
@HomeCleaningOne | November 10, 2009 11:00 PM -
@NatashaVianna are u 4getting about my brazilen maids they're the best.
@chriswhitegold | November 10, 2009 10:56 PM -
i thought i was gonna have to go outside. and get one of the. goddamn. maids. to... do... it... - where's the quote from?
@tinyminds | November 10, 2009 10:56 PM -
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The Maids on Amazon | View All
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Old Maid's Puzzle: A Quilting Mystery (Quilting Mysteries) - $13.95
Thirty-year-old techie Dewey Pellicano is trying to make a go of Quilter Paradiso, the quilt shop she inherited from her mother. But she's facing a patchwork of problems—fierce competition, an uncooperative employee (who also happens to be ...
Amazon -
Strapless French Maid Mini Dress Sexy Adult Halloween Costume Skimpy Naughty Outfit - $110.00
Super Sexy Maid Outfit This Item Includes Mini Dress with Built-In Petticoat and Feather Duster!{{RomaSizes}}
Amazon -
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Maid in Manhattan - $14.94
Marisa Ventura (Jennifer Lopez) is a struggling single mom who works at a posh Manhattan hotel and dreams of a better life for her and her young son (Tyler Posey). One fateful day hotel guest and senatorial candidate Christopher Marshall (R...
Amazon -
OLD MAID CARD GAME by eeBoo - $7.95
GENERAL FEATURES: eeBoo has proudly commissioned artwork from the best children's book illustrators to make these wonderful versions of our favorite classic card games. Hours of fun await youngsters while they try to match up these kookie c...
Amazon
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Questions and Answers About The Maids | View All | Ask a Question
View All The Maids Questions (12) | Ask a QuestionWhat is a "bang maid," and where did this phrase originate? (2 Answers)Bang Maid: A woman who cooks and cleans up and will do everything you say. And you get to bang her too. Origin: FX comedy series "It's Always Sunny in ... read moreWhatever happened to Minute Maid Citrus Punch? (1 Answer)Here is the website for that product; http://www.minutemaid.com/products/Lemonades_and_Punches/CitrusPunch.jsp read more
Ask a Question about The Maids 140 characters
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Jean Genet's play The Maids is based on the Papin sisters who murdered their employer and daughter in 1933.
-
Summary
</small> The play begins in Madame's bedroom with the maid Claire chastising her sister and fellow maid Solange for taking rubber gloves out of the kitchen. As Solange helps Claire dress they continue to reenact their roles with Claire as the employer and Solange as the maid, however the reenactment turns to fantasy as Solange insults Claire in a way she does not when she is the maid to Madame.Claire asks Solange to remember Madame's kindness, but Solange feels that she and Claire are treated as filth. As the tension between them mounts and fear of getting caught continues, Solange realizes that Claire does not respect her and insists it is her turn to play the employer and Claire's turn to play the maid. Solange pretends to murder Claire as Madame followed shortly afterwards by Claire's suicide by poisoned tea.
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Significance
</small> The play caused a scandal in Paris when it was first performed for its harsh portrayal of conflicts between the upper and working classes, the questioning of femininity and the appropriate role of women proved almost as controversial. The sisters represent otherness or those who are different in opposition to the status quo which proved threatening to those who liked the status quo. -
Fast Facts
- Written by Jean Genet
- First performed on April 17, 1947
- Originally written in French
- French title Les Bonnes
- First performance in Paris
- First published by Grove Press
- A one act play
- Based on the Papin sisters
- Set in 1930s
- Set in Madame's bedroom
- Major symbol is red velvet dress
- Film based on play stars Glenda Jackson, Susannah York, and Vivien Merchant
- Classified as both Absurdism and Theatre of Cruelty
