Audience reaction is crucial to Ensler’s overall project because of its ‘shock value’. The shock value brings attention and puts a spotlight on the project. Howard Stern, a popular radio jockey, revolutionized talk radio by introducing material that was controversial and unconventional. Through this approach he made quite the name for himself. Ensler is putting shock-valued spin on her own piece of work. Instead of using the shock value to gain recognition for herself, she uses it to draw attention to two different issues: (directly) how women are repressed in society and (indirectly) the atrocities committed against women throughout the world.
She works to push us out of our comfort zones because it’s the only way to break the chains repressing women in society. The monologues help women realize their own self-worth and beauty. It helps them understand that each woman has a unique and meaningful voice. There is nothing to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. With this new recognition they are further empowered to stick up for themselves, especially when basic human rights and/or needs are being violated.
“The Flood” represented an entire generation of older women. The general attitude of ‘their down-theres’ is one of awkwardness and embarrassment. It reads, “I can’t tell you this. I can’t do this, talk about down there,” which explains a lot. This generation of older women feels that after a certain age they can no longer express themselves sexually. They can’t even bring themselves to speak about ‘down-there.’ Ironically enough, however, in the final sentence, the older woman reveals the comfort she had taken in the conversation. Ensler also says in her intro “women secretly love to talk about their vaginas.” This makes me think about the repression of women in the past and present.
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