men should weep

Question 1

love quotes

Answer 1

“once they’ve been laid in yer airms they’re in yer heart til the end o yer days”
“my lovin johnnie’s still my lovin johnnie, whitever i look like”
“he’ll dae whit i tell him… i can wrap him roon ma little finger”
john gives maggie a “pat”
alec refers to isa as “mine
john buying maggie a new hat
“you leave john alane! he does his best for us!”

Question 2

poverty quotes

Answer 2

“i’ve nae breeks”
“i’m hungry ma”
“rin across tae the bakers an see if there’s ony stale tea breid left”
“folks like us huv tae depend on their neighbours when they’re needin help”
“someday we’ll hae a wireless son”
“your alec’s street, the hooses has collapsed”
“it’s rotten, this hoose. rotten. damp… its a midden lookin oot on ither middens. its got rats, bugs”
“mammy seems tae think they’re lettin Bertie hame but they’re no, not tae this.”
“livin in a slum an slavin after a useless man an his greetin weans”

Question 3

violence/crime quotes

Answer 3

“ye’ve got tae hide the evidence - the polis”
“mind the time he jist missed me wi the breid knife”
“the polis… the court… an yon probation officer”
“whit makes ye think i’d stop at spoilin yer face for ye?”
“i’ll kill ye! i wull!”
“its no near as bad as the last yin ye had”
“john takes jenny by the shoulders and shakes her”
“john hits her across the face”
“i’ll learn ye tae ca me a bitch! (slaps isa’s face)”

Question 4

unemployment quotes

Answer 4

“this is the first christmas i’ve had a decent job in ten year”
“i worked when there wis work tae get”
“hundred o us maggie, beggin for the chance tae earn enough for food an a roof ower oor heids”
“a man’s nae right tae bring weans intae the world if he canna provide for them”
“i ken its no the hame for you yer mammy an me would like but its no oor fault.. its the way things are”
“i couldna mak enough. so! she’s left us!”

• some of these could also be role of men/john

Question 5

role of women quotes

Answer 5

“naw i’ve had enough. i’m gonna live ma ain life”
“she’s wantin tae leave hame”
“i’m wantin nae mans airms roon me”
“i can manage him… i can aye manage him”
“who made that money? you or me?”
“yer mammy’s jist tired, she’s been oot all day… mebbe we should’ve helped mak things easier for her”
“ i dinna ken whit way we bring weans intae the world at a. slavin an worryin for them all yer days an then naethin but heartbreak at the end o it.”
“we’re wantin nane o yer whore’s winnins”

Question 6

elderly quotes

Answer 6

“i’m jist an aul nuisance takin up room”
“old folks is an awfu problem”
“i wish ye could pit yersel tae bed. yer as much bother as anither wean”
“its awfu tae be aul an kicked aboot frae yin hoose tae the next”

Question 7

community

Answer 7

• support and compassion
• can be intrusive, judgemental and opinionated
• neighbours worry about bertie and look after granny
• women play a central role and theres a sense that they share a life which men dont understand/men contribute to womens problems
• open in passing judgements/criticisms of husbands, the younger generation and even maggie’s hat
• maggie and john worry about community opinions, whereas jenny and isa care less and flout traditional values represented by their neighbours

Question 8

role of women (not quotes)

Answer 8

• women bear major responsibility for their families, which often negatively affects them
• maggie’s outburst is triggered by the constant burden of domestic responsibility
• lily is more comfortable financially than maggie because she rejected the traditional mother/wife role
• granny represents the older generation of women who have been left without support and therefore relies on her family and pension
• maggie’s behaviour in the opening scene (rushing about to try and deal with granny/kids) shows constant struggle of mothers/wives
• support network of women in the community helps them to endure their struggles with poverty
• jenny represents modern generation of women who want independence and refuse to conform but ultimately still rely on men

Question 9

john’s role

Answer 9

• conforms to assumptions about male role in family, but often doesnt fulfil this and feels frustrated as a result
• his consideration for maggie doesnt stop him from accepting that she should make him tea when he comes in, despite her exhaustion
• his willingness to share in maggie’s household duties is very limited as he sees it as the role of women
• sees his role as jenny’s father is to protect her and be respected, shown by his anger when he catches her with a man
• ashamed of his inability to provide for the family
• responds to isa’s flirtation even though this is a betrayal of his wife for feelings which are superficial
• proud and happy when he’s able to provide for the family, in the traditional male role

Question 10

jenny

Answer 10

• concern for family shows responsibility but earlier she was self centred and immature
• her admission of her previous lack of respect towards maggie shows she’s willing to take responsibility for her actions
• shows little sympathy for her parents’ financial plight as she doesnt want to be disgraced
• her late arrival home and impudent response to her father’s concern shows she’s selfish and irresponsible
• desperate attempts to carve her own identity often result in cruel behaviour towards her parents
• guilt over abandoning her home and family becomes apparent through her attempts to reassure maggie (“ye’ve got dad an alec an the weans. ye’ll no miss me”)