The Gifted Dorothy Parker
In a day and age where women were still testing the waters of social independence, Dorothy Parker was already sailing her yacht. She was in her own time, and is to this day regarded as bold and edgy in her writing. Her cutting sarcasm and wit were among her most memorable characteristics, and her willingness to say what she thought about absolutely anything either endeared people to her instantly, or created quick enemies. She is a favorite among many female authors because she is a role model for women's independence, but writers of both sexes also admire her because of her talent. Dorothy Parker was intelligent, educated, experienced, and most importantly bold. Her writing is still popular today, and her words are still controversial! So what did she write that everyone was so up in arms about?
Dorothy Parker was born in 1893 and educated in young ladies preparatory and religious schools in her childhood, and perhaps some of her writings and attitudes came out of her experiences in those years. She married Edwin Pond Parker II at the age of 24, and 11 years later they were divorced, however she kept his name for the rest of years. She began her professional writing as a critic for Vogue and then Vanity Fair. She was later let go by Vanity Fair because of the boldness of her reviews. If Dorothy didn't like something, she was certainly going to tell you. Case in point, after seeing the play, "The House Beautiful," she was noted as saying "The House Beautiful is The Play Lousy." This was one of her nicer reviews.
In 1927 Parker took a job at The New Yorker, where she was known as the Constant Reader, under which title she did reviews for the magazine. During this time she also began to pick up speed in the literary circles of New York, where she became known as one of the best conversationalists in town. Her reputation grew to such a point, her quotes were often quoted elsewhere and the conversations she had with other writers such as James Thurber were events in and of themselves. Parker was not only at the center of much of New York's society, but one of its most honest commentators. Her opinions were, if not appreciated, at least certainly well known. She was brazen, and shocking to many. One of my favorite quotes of hers is one that I'm sure raised eyebrows then because I raised mine when I first read it, and we live in a much different time. She was once quoted as saying, "You can lead a
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