The women's novel, The Forgotten Waltz, written by Anne Enright offers readers an insight into the role and importance of women in modern-day Ireland 'today. The protagonist, Gina Moynihan, embarks on an affair and, in doing so, must reevaluate her relationship with the women and girls around her. Joan, Fiona, Megan, Aileen, and Evie come under scrutiny from Gina, who does not have a significant mother-daughter relationship unlike the characters mentioned above. She must observe and criticize in order to mask the underlying feeling of jealousy and insecurity. Enright captures this by making Gina the opposite of society's ideal woman. Gina refuses to do anything in order to fulfill an obligation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Her marriage to Conner is described as “great fun” (Enright 15). Her affair with Sean continues with an absence of guilt. Gina's decision to use contraceptives and remain childless is contrasted by those of the women around her. Instead, she focuses on her career at Rathlin Communications and her personal desires, which makes her happy. This lack of family motivation leaves Gina herself open to criticism from readers. Enright does this deliberately to show the expectations of women that are still placed in today's deeply misogynistic society. Enright does this primarily by highlighting Gina's thoughts when she is in the presence of mothers and daughters. The novel depicts the mother-daughter relationship as deeply intrinsic to feminine duties and as an obligation meant to come before a woman's own identity. The first depiction of a mother-daughter relationship is presented by Fiona and Megan. Fiona has no identity during the first chapter of the novel. Instead, Fiona's introduction shows her carrying out her hospitality duties, handing out plates and drinks to guests. Gina considers Fiona “a beautiful mother/hostess in her beautiful new home” (Enright 8). Gina rarely sees Fiona as anything other than a mother throughout the novel. Fiona, for Gina, is lost in the title of motherhood which replaces any other or even just simply Fiona. Fiona is also presented as a true authority figure in front of her children. When Gina remembers Megan crying at the sight of a cigarette, Fiona's parenting style comes off as overprotective and overly cautious (Enright 8). Megan is sheltered from the world in Fiona's attempts to retain her youth and purity. Fiona is also always on top of her duties as a mother and this is shown at the beginning of the novel when everyone heads to the beach and Fiona is left behind, focusing on the needs of the children (Enright 24). This character is conveyed throughout the text and most intimately during Megan's 9th birthday party. Fiona sits while Megan painfully pushes her hair back. This contact that occurs between the two shows the concrete relationship they have. As Gina describes it, the relationship "wasn't exactly love, nor was it really war" (Enright 45). Their love is not deep, but Megan is no stranger to her mother. Another mother-daughter relationship that Enright enlightens readers with is that of Aileen and Evie. Gina describes Aileen as rigorous and uptight, which she supports by slandering Aileen's work as a college administrator (Enright 85). Aileen is further characterized as such throughout the novel in instances such as Sean being put in the "dog box" (Enright 136), bringing in a Polish woman to catch up on ironing.