Alec and Isa Flashcards
Isa; ‘If I’m behaving masel? Well, hauf the time, I’m no.’
Isa’s taunts about Peter Robb and her openness about her infidelity suggest he isn’t afraid of Alec and doesn’t care about hurting his feelings. She is openly unfaithful to him and this is a negative aspect of their relationship as it leaves Alec feeling insecure and jealous.
However, the way in which she talks about sex so freely and flippantly is an emphasis of her dominant position in their marriage and highlights the theme of women’s roles. Isa goes against the stereotypical ideas of how a wife should act and this is a positive aspect of their relationship as it portrays a woman who has the upper hand over the man in a relationship for a change.
Isa; ‘Why the hell did ye no pick on a toff?’
Isa has clearly gotten Alec involved in mugging people to support her lifestyle. Whilst Alec is getting worried for her safety and doesn’t want her getting caught with him, Isa is only interested in her wealth and expects Alec to mug richer people, no matter what the dangers are. This shows they are in the relationship for different reasons; Isa only sees Alec as a source of income and wouldn’t hesitate to leave him for a more well-off person, whereas Alec is wrapped around her finger and emotionally depends on their relationship as a staple to being happy.
Alec; ‘Did I hurt ye? I didnae mean tae hurt ye…’ following ‘I’ll kill ye!’
Alec switching from being frightened that he has hurt Isa to making death threats shows how emotionally unstable he is when Isa is angry at him and suggests he feels so intimidated by her that he doesn’t know how to act and loses control of himself. It also shows Alec can’t distinguish the difference between fear, anger and love when he feels intimidated by her. The intensity of the unhealthy effect she has on him is an emphasis of their toxic marriage.
Isa; ‘Love! Hee-haw!’
Isa’s response to Alec repeatedly declaring his love for her shows how her attitude towards love and relationships sharply contrasts with her husband’s. This bitter attitude may be a product of survival and their living conditions which highlights the theme of poverty (‘…there’s nae love. No roon aboot here, onyway.’). For Isa, love doesn’t exist and people only get into relationships for their own benefit – sex or money. This shows that nothing else about Alec matters to her, whereas Alec, on the other hand, sees Isa as his whole life.
Isa; ‘He’ll dae whit I tellt him’
Although Isa misuses her upper hand over Alec to get what she wants, Isa’s dominance over Alec is a positive aspect of their relationship as it breaks with the conventions of men being in control of women in relationships (like John is with Maggie). It shows Isa knows her place and doesn’t let being a woman bring her down. This ‘unconventional’ relationship dynamic is inspiring to the audience. Isa knows her place and she influences women like Jenny to make a stand in their life too, which then benefits Maggie and helps her take control of her life.
Alec; ‘She shoves me aff but she disna shove him (John) aff.’
Alec’s comment about Isa being more affectionate toward John than him is a foreshadow of Isa and John’s disloyalty further on in the play. It suggests Alec doesn’t trust Isa loves him enough to be faithful to him and is used to Isa having a promiscuous personality. It also shows that Alec feels his attempts to show his affection for Isa is often rejected, yet Isa is openly flirtatious with other people and this shows she doesn’t care about Alec’s feelings.
Isa; ‘He’s useless. I’m seeck fed up wi him.’
This suggests the feelings Isa had for Alec that made her marry him were short-lived and she regrets marrying him. Isa’s hostility and cruelty toward Alec make us feel sorry for Alec and see him as a pathetic character. The word choice ‘sick’ emphasises her disgust with Alec and shows her feelings of superiority towards Alec.
Isa; ‘Mammy’s big tumphy!’ G’on, ye big lump o dough!’
Isa infantilises Alec and this attitude towards Alec suggests she sees him as inferior to her. She thinks he is very emotional and sappy, which is why she does not see him as a man. This highlights the theme of gender roles as men were expected to have a serious, dominant, controlled emotional state and Alec does not meet these standards which leads to him facing a lot of discrimination from Isa.
