Men Should Weep - Theme of Family

Question 1

Maggie defends John to Lily

Answer 1

Dialogue:
“[Lily] If John wid gie hissel a shake…
[Maggie] You leave John alane! He does his best for us!”

Question 2

Dialogue:
“[Lily] If John wid gie hissel a shake…
[Maggie] You leave John alane! He does his best for us!”

Answer 2

1. Role of men: this shows the role of men because it relays the responsibility of having to look after the family onto the man of the family. Lily dislikes how John isn’t providing for his family as and complains about how he doesn’t seem to be trying enough.
2. Family: this shows the theme of family through how Maggie protects her husband. It is the fact she even defends him against the word of her sister, showing how strong their love is. It is the contrast of one family bond to another.

Question 3

Granny’s like another child

Answer 3

Dialogue:
“I wish you could pit yersel tae bed. Ye’re as much bother as anither waen.”

Question 4

Dialogue:
“I wish you could pit yersel tae bed. Ye’re as much bother as anither waen.”

Answer 4

1. Family: this shows the theme of family because even though looking after Granny puts further pressure onto Maggie and her family, having to help her and feed her and make space for her in their already cramped house, they love her and make sure she is okay even though it feels as if Maggie has another child to look after even when she already has so many.

Question 5

Granny doesn’t like having to move house constantly

Answer 5

Dialogue:
“It’s awfu tae be aul an kicked aboot frae yin hoose tae the ither.”

Question 6

Dialogue:
“It’s awfu tae be aul an kicked aboot frae yin hoose tae the ither.”

Answer 6

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because Granny’s children struggle to keep her for long periods of time due to money struggles so they take turns in looking after her, using her pension to make sure she stays fed and clean.
2. Family: this shows the theme of family because even through the hardship with money the Morrisons still take her in and look after her. Contrastingly Lizzie does not seem pleased with having to take Granny to look after her and is very persistent that Granny has to use her pension to look after herself.

Question 7

Lizzie doesn’t like looking after Granny financially

Answer 7

Dialogue:
“If ye’re comin tae bide wi me, ye’re no tae bide aff me.”

Question 8

Dialogue:
“If ye’re comin tae bide wi me, ye’re no tae bide aff me.”

Answer 8

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because of Granny’s constant movement between houses and how Lizzie doesn’t want her to be living off her money so demands she has her pension book to compensate for her staying.
2. Family: this shows the theme of family through the contrasting treatment of Granny from Lizzie and then Maggie and her family even though she is a financial burden to them. Even with that they seem to love and care for her much more than Lizzie does as her main focus is getting her hands on Granny’s pension book.