Edna

What is the function of Edna in the narrative of Get Carter?

Edna is in some ways different from all the other females in the film Get Carter, however when a man is in place she reverts to traditions and falls right back into the male expectancy of a woman.

In the scene where Carter brings two men back to her house we see Edna stand up to him and try to assume control of her home but is quickly shot down by carter. Edna challenges the status quo of what men expected from women and this is probably the reason why they see her as less attractive and why she is living alone, however we can see that she is doing quite well for herself due to the liberation as she is running her own bed and breakfast and she holds her own against a man, but in this scene we see that her whole personality changed in the presence of an authoritarian man.

When Carter returns to the bed and breakfast with the two men Edna stands up to him and threatens to call the police, but the second Carter shoots her down and tells her to make a cup of tea and then she can join in she does exactly as he orders and returns moments later with a tray of cups and a tea pot, this signifies what she was an independent business women that seemed to have benefited from the liberation but when a man comes back into the the house she reverts to the life of the domestic and does as he tells her to suggesting the liberation hadn't fully taken effect. This also tells us that many men in 1970 believed that they were still superior to women and they had the control which is shown in this film. In addition to this is shows that even an independent business women is forced to adopt a domestic role once a man enters their home. Throughout the film Edna never leaves the home and when she does try to assert her authority she is over ridden by Carter, and we never see Edna again once Carter has had sex with her as she is no longer needed she has given pleasure and made him food and now she is of no use to him also demonstrating mens attitudes to women in the 70's.

Overall this indicates that the 70's created a culture where men were allowed to abuse women as they were not seen as equal and heir voices were never heard or taken seriously. This is one of the many reasons why women would not stand up to men as they were the dominant members of society and had all the power.