Wherever you get rigid social codes about sex, you're bound to get a whole bunch of repression. In this instance, we're using the word "repression " to refer to people hiding their true feelings in order to avoid being shunned by the culture they live in. Harry Bagley, for example, is very careful to hide his true self from the world. Edward is another example of someone whose true desires put him in a precarious position, as he wants to please his father (in Act 1) and keep his job (in Act 2), but can't do either of these things without hiding his true identity as a transgendered, bisexual person.
But one thing that's good is that wherever there's repression, there's usually drama. And there's drama aplenty in Cloud 9.
Questions About Repression
- At what moments in this play does repression seem to be at its worst? When does it do the most damage to people? Use evidence from the text to support your answer.
- Who is the most repressive person in this text? In other words, who tends to make people feel bad about their true desires? Why?
- Who is the most repressed person in this text? In other words, who tends to feel the worst about his or her desires? Why?
Chew on This
In Cloud 9, Caryl Churchill shows us that no one should ever have to repress their desires. People should do what they want, whenever they want—as long as it doesn't hurt other people.
Cloud 9 is irresponsible for criticizing repression. Modern civilization is based on the idea that people have to hold back some of their urges.