Characters That Carry Over.

While reading Act 2 of Cloud 9 I was constantly relating the new characters to those from Act 1. For example, Gerry and Harry, and Eileen and Lin. Apart from the obvious similarities in name, the characters also represent similar relationships to the more central characters who are in both acts. Harry is a closeted gay man who has a close friendship/ slightly romantic relationship with Betty. He also is interested in Edward, who is a young boy in the first act. His counterpart, Gerry, is a homosexual man who is in a relationship with Edward. He develops a strictly friendly relationship with Betty. Harry and Gerry do have similar roles however it's interesting how Gerry's are more socially acceptable for his time period, 1979. Harry's relationships are much more confused and unacceptable, such as a relationship with a woman when he is gay and a relationship with a child who has no real way to consent. Gerry's relationships are consensual and seem to be more true to who the character is. It's as if the character evolved along with the time period. The same goes for Ellen and Lin. Ellen is the ignored governess in the first act who is in love with Betty. Lin is the openly lesbian divorced mother in the second act. Both of these characters serve as a form of care taker for Victoria. Ellen is the literal caretaker for the doll Victoria and Lin emotionally cares for Victoria when she is an adult. Also, Lin is a mother so she is taking care of a child like Ellen. Both of these women are Victoria's main caretaker, whether it be emotional or physical, depending on the act you're reading. It's interesting to think about what Churchill was intending by drawing these connections.