Get Carter - Edna

Edna
Edna is not unique within 'Get Carter'. Like the other female characters in the film, she serves little to no purpose in the narrative other than giving sexual pleasure to Jack Carter and serving Carter by giving him food, drink and a place to stay. Despite at first glance seeming to be a symbol of post-swinging 60s female liberation, it is clear that she still retains the traditional gender role of women; that being the domestic, sexual object that serves men and doesn't exist for themselves. Edna's independence in setting up a business and homestead is juxtaposed with her compliance with Carter's commands and orders - betraying the fact that female liberation of the 60s was in fact, a myth. The film is a microcosm of life in the British North for both men and women and it clearly tells us that the idea of female liberation was a complete lie.

In the scene wherein Carter interrogates Keith, we can clearly see the dominance that Jack (and all men for that matter) has over Edna (symbolic of all women). Despite initially resisting Jack and threatening to call the police, Jack pays little to no attention to her and dismisses her threats with the line "no you won't". There are numerous reasons for Edna's compliance - in my opinion, the foremost reason is the societal context of 'Get Carter'. As stated earlier, the film tells us that women were not liberated in a post-60s world - many women retained their traditional housekeeper/sexual object role within society and adhered to the commands of men (reflected by Edna's compliance). Edna, despite being an independent business owner, still complies with Jack for this reason. However, Edna has her own personal motivations for complying with Jack - the desire for a man and companionship in her life. It is inferred that the reason Edna complies is due to a desire for intimacy and companionship with a man. However, the newly 'liberated' and independent role of women in a post-60s society would not be seen as attractive to an archaic, traditional man - thus leading to a character whom feels a need to fulfil the role of the domestic, sexual object in order to keep Jack as a companion. It is clear throughout the scene that Jack has a complete and utter lack of respect for Edna and for any women in the film for that matter - he represents an archaic outdated view of the world that is at conflict with a newer post-60s mentality of female liberation, independence and sexual freedom. This conflict of ideologies is represented in the violence and control that he displays towards women (particularly represented in the bathtub scene with Anna).