Page 16 - Big Idea

The Big Idea – Act 1

Now you must be wondering
How we women work our will
On such intractable stuff
As a man: it does take skill!

Remember: we can display
Fear and joy and depression;
While boys are shutting them off,
Girls improve their expression.

In this way, and privately,
Women influence their men:
Giving them a feeling of
If not what to do, then when.

Of course, this can be tricky—
Rubbing male pride the wrong way
Leads to abuse of women:
Yes, it happens every day.

WOMAN 4: I thought you were going to tell us about these three
different types of man.

WOMAN 1: I am, if you’d stop interrupting and give me a chance.

Among their other conceits,
Men think all women the same,
Guarding their own distinctions—
Even the family name.

(That delusion reminds me
Of another old man’s tale:
That women judge men only
By standards totally male.)

But by our situation,
We must weigh men according
To the amount of trouble
They are to us affording.

WOMAN 4: Now that makes a lot of sense!

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