Not a poem - but still a relatively important discussion. Poetry is about having your thoughts voiced, and heard, so I intend to be analytically focused, and discuss something I think should be intellectually, objectively talked about…
In all honesty, it upsets me watching Cindy. I recently voiced this notion, and was met with the expected responses, it’s only acting, but there are people out there like Cindy. People view her as “selfish,” “reckless,” “inconsiderate,” and a terrible mother. And while I don’t necessarily disregard these assessments entirely, they are only built of what little we see, much like reality itself. We don’t get to see what goes on in Cindy’s head…
So I think something further exploring this would not only be helpful for the evolution of Cindy as a character, but also for people viewing this in recognising signs of mental illness. Because it’s blatantly obvious that the residents are oblivious and ignorant to Cindy’s struggling because of their unwillingness to see past her mistakes.
Between 1993 and 1996 people empathised with Cindy - Ian manipulated, controlled and belittled her. It was very much a toxic relationship, where Ian wanted a “trophy wife,” to control. He overworked her, and put immense pressure on her. She was objectified by him and others. It’s very obvious, rewatching, that Cindy felt trapped in this marriage, where her purpose was limited to only being a mum. I think that is what cause Cindy to stray into the arms of the lifeguard in 1994. Take a look back to 1988 - when Cindy was first introduced…
She was confident, cocky, the whole square loved her. Then you strip it back, and watch on further into her time on the show, she became clingy, miserable and not listened to. She was spoken down to all of the time. She wasn’t happy, so she had affairs, it made her feel special. In 1993 Tricky Dicky humiliated her in the Vic pub, when everyone, including Ian, believed she was having an affair with him, and was pregnant with his children, because that’s what he was telling everyone. He taunted her in the pub, humiliating her further…
Quite recently, this was reenacted, Cindy trying to speak up for herself, but nobody listened to her. She was judged, and thrown out. Very clearly struggling, spiralling further, but nobody cared, drinking herself silly, and again, nobody cared…
They just threw her out, isolating her further. I know it’s only acting, but there are people out there like Cindy. People who have made mistakes, but are not given a chance to grow. I’m going to be over-analytical here and suggest the lazily written characterisation of Cindy is to reflect the realism that change is not always possible for everyone… Anyway, you take a look comment sections today, they say the same thing: “get rid of her,” “she’s vile,” “she’s evil…”
I don’t necessarily agree wholeheartedly with these comments, in all honesty, I see a woman who’s struggling, but has no-one to confide in. What do you think?