Gladys Witham is introduced as the rich girl trying to prove herself, but she quickly proves to be the heart of “Bomb Girls.” We discuss Gladys’ relationships with her family, friends, and love interests.

Drink Special: Kir Royal

Champagne
Creme de Cassis

Our extremely astute friend Sally says:

[Gladys represents] class stratification during that time period. Before the war things were pretty rigid and the upper class didn’t mix much with the working class. As well, women had very strict roles that they were expected to fulfill and conform to – especially upper-class women. Gladys shows that when she is adept at hostessing a dinner party that her father needs her to attend – she sparkles, she makes conversation, puts the guests as ease, asks them about themselves – high society women were expected to help their families/husbands in business not by having business sense or intelligence, but by having social skills. Most business, after all, is based on personal connections and personal relationships.

The Rich Girl

• Comes from privilege, but doesn’t want it
• Non-idle rich – sets her at odds with both her family and her co-workers
• “You move well between worlds.” – Clifford Perry

Daughter

• Strained relationship with her mother (who has never recovered from the loss of her son, Lawrence)
• Her father says to her: “You’re an attractive girl with an equally attractive income for the man who marries you.”

Crusader

• Gladys is an idealist who keeps getting reality checks (but doesn’t let them stop her)
• Hat box for suggestions
• Collecting money for the Red Cross
• Arranges for Marco and his mother to see Marco’s father at Pedawawa
• Stands up for herself
• Stands up for her friends, as with Kate & Betty in 2.12

Romantic Relationships

We don’t understand Gladys’ romantic decisions.

• James Dunn – The only one of Gladys’ relationships that totally makes sense to us. He seemed to have a pretty progressive attitude, which is really the only way he’d be able to keep up with Gladys.
• Gene Corbett – Why?? Is it for the sense of adventure?
• Clifford Perry – Why???

Random Thoughts

• We want more Kai Low! That was the beginning of an interesting friendship.

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