Men Should Weep - Theme of Poverty

Question 1

Set up of the house

Answer 1

Stage Directions:
“A space has been cleared, centre, for a mattress on the floor with pillows, blankets and old coats.”

Question 2

Stage Directions:
“A space has been cleared, centre, for a mattress on the floor with pillows, blankets and old coats.”

Answer 2

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because the family have to cram a mattress on the floor with pillows, blankets and old coats showing they don’t have much room in their home or the money to buy thicker materials such as duvets to keep them warm.

Question 3

Lily’s view of Maggie’s life

Answer 3

Dialogue:
“Livin in a slum an slavin efter a useless man an his greeting waens.”

Question 4

Dialogue:
“Livin in a slum an slavin efter a useless man an his greeting waens.”

Answer 4

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because of how Lily describes Maggie’s house, treating it as if it is something to be ashamed of because poverty is undesirable even though most don’t have a choice.
2. Role of women: this shows the role of women because Lily describes Maggie’s life to her as being a slave to a man and his children who do nothing to help out, not even saying that they are Maggie’s children even though she was the one to carry them for 9 months. This shows the under appreciation for what women do.

Question 5

Money is tight

Answer 5

Dialogue:
“Money disnae stretch.”

Question 6

Dialogue:
“Money disnae stretch.”

Answer 6

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through the families struggle with money. Maggie explains that money is tight for them and it isn’t something they can stretch to make it more workable for them and their needs.

Question 7

Edie has worn down pants

Answer 7

Dialogue:
“I’ve nae breeks.”

Question 8

Dialogue:
“I’ve nae breeks.”

Answer 8

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because Edie has worn out underwear and explains to her Aunt that she has no others to wear. The family struggle to afford some of the most basic things a human needs and shows how stuck in poverty they unfortunately are.

Question 9

Alec and Isa’s house

Answer 9

Dialogue:
“Your Alec’s street. The hooses has collapsed.”

Question 10

Dialogue:
“Your Alec’s street. The hooses has collapsed.”

Answer 10

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because it shows how poor the housing is that these people need to live in. Alec is the eldest son of the Morrison’s and lives with his wife Isa and whilst they were out their houses collapse, showing how little they have to settle for due to being stuck in poverty.

Question 11

Jenny getting battered fruit for the family

Answer 11

Dialogue:
“I had enough o Ma waiting at the shop door every Friday closing time… asking for chipped apples an bashed tomatoes a disgracing me afore the hale shop.”

Question 12

Dialogue:
“I had enough o Ma waiting at the shop door every Friday closing time… asking for chipped apples an bashed tomatoes a disgracing me afore the hale shop.”

Answer 12

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because at the end of the week Maggie has to go to Jenny’s work to ask for the battered unsold fruit just to make sure she can feed her family properly. The family struggles with money so much they fail to fully fulfil their basic human needs and have to rely on food that wasn’t bought by those who have enough money to choose the nicest fruit from the grocers.

Question 13

Treat with granny’s pension

Answer 13

Dialogue:
“Maggie aye bought a bit bacon wi ma pension.”

Question 14

Dialogue:
“Maggie aye bought a bit bacon wi ma pension.”

Answer 14

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because the family can only treat themselves to better food than things such as bread, fruit and beans with the help of Granny’s pension whilst she is living with them.

Question 15

Dependability on neighbours

Answer 15

Dialogue:
“It’s only rich folks can keep theirselves tae theirselves. Folks like us huv tae depend on their neighbours when they’re needin help.”

Question 16

Dialogue:
“It’s only rich folks can keep theirselves tae theirselves. Folks like us huv tae depend on their neighbours when they’re needin help.”

Answer 16

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because it shows how these families do not have the money to miss work when a child is sick, or pay someone to look after their children so have to rely on one another for help.
2. Community: this shows the theme of community because it shows the reliance neighbouring families have on one another when they are in a time of need. They can’t not be a community because each would struggle just as equally as the other if they didn’t have the extra hands to help out.

Question 17

John’s guilt for being in poverty

Answer 17

Dialogue:
“Every time I’ve had tae say ‘no’ tae you a the waens it’s doubled me up like a kick in the stomach. Christ Almighty! A we’ve din wrong is tae be born into poverty! Whit dae they think this kind o life dis tae a man? Whiles it turns ye intae a wild animal. Whiles we’re a human question mark, aye askin why? Why? Why? There’s nae answer. Ye end up a bent back and a head hanging in shame for whit ye canna help.”

Question 18

Dialogue:
“Every time I’ve had tae say ‘no’ tae you a the waens it’s doubled me up like a kick in the stomach. Christ Almighty! A we’ve din wrong is tae be born into poverty! Whit dae they think this kind o life dis tae a man? Whiles it turns ye intae a wild animal. Whiles we’re a human question mark, aye askin why? Why? Why? There’s nae answer. Ye end up a bent back and a head hanging in shame for whit ye canna help.”

Answer 18

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through John’s guilt of not being able to provide for his family or treat his children to things they ask for. He explains how he hasn’t done anything to deserve this and cannot help it due to having been born into poverty to begin with.
2. Role of men: this shows the theme of the role of men through John’s guilt in not being able to live up to his expected role of providing for his family. He feels like he is going insane (like a wild animal) due to failing to do so as he only tries his hardest to make sure his family have the money to be fed, cleaned and clothed.
3. Unemployment: this shows the theme of unemployment through John’s struggle to find a job and his guilt for it. He is ashamed that he can’t give his children everything they ask for because he hardly brings in enough money to give his family their basic needs.

Question 19

Baker’s leftovers

Answer 19

Dialogue:
“An then run across tae the baker an see if there’s ony stale tea-bried left.”

Question 20

Dialogue:
“An then run across tae the baker an see if there’s ony stale tea-dried left.”

Answer 20

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through the families reliance on unwanted food from the bakers. The fact the family have to settle for stale bread because they cannot afford to buy fresh bread and instead wait for the bakers to close to ask for whatever was to be thrown out shows us the true struggle the family is having due to being stuck in poverty.

Question 21

Bertie can’t come home

Answer 21

Dialogue:
“Mammy seems tae think they’re letting Bertie hame; but they’re not. No here. No tae this, Mammy.”

Question 22

Dialogue:
“Mammy seems tae think they’re letting Bertie hame; but they’re not. No here. No tae this, Mammy.”

Answer 22

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through the state of the families house. Bertie, one of their children, is in the hospital sick with TB and the hospital do not find their home to be safe for him to go back to to ensure full recovery and staying well. The family cannot afford to fix things and keep the house completely cleanly.

Question 23

The state of the Morrison’s home (why Bertie can’t come home)

Answer 23

Dialogue:
“It’s rotten, this house. Rotten. Damp. Ye ken yersel. It’s a midden looking out on ither middens. It’s got rats, bugs.”

Question 24

Dialogue:
“It’s rotten, this house. Rotten. Damp. Ye ken yersel. It’s a midden looking out on ither middens. It’s got rats, bugs.”

Answer 24

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through Jenny’s description of her parents home during a talk about Bertie not being able to get home due to it. Their house isn’t pleasant and is damp, uncleanly and not appealing to live in, attracting rodents and insects. the lack of cleanliness show their struggle with money because they are unable to build the funds to fix leakage problems or properly clean their home to get rid of pest attractions.

Question 25

John’s guilt for Jenny leaving

Answer 25

Dialogue:
“An I couldna make enough tae gie her a decent hame. So! She’s left us! She’s as guid as deid tae us.”

Question 26

Dialogue:
“An I couldna make enough tae gie her a decent hame. So! She’s left us! She’s as guid as deid tae us.”

Answer 26

1. Role of men: this shows the theme of the role of men through John’s guilt for being unable to give his daughter Jenny enough to make her stay with him. He is ashamed for not having enough money to have a good home which left his daughter ashamed of it and caused her to leave.
2. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through the families poor housing. Due to them not having a decent house and being stuck in poverty their eldest daughter left to try and make a better life for herself.

Question 27

Jenny wants to lead a life outside of poverty

Answer 27

Dialogue:
“The kitchen’s aye like a pig-sty… there’s never ony decent food, an if there wis, ye’d hae nae appetite for it… an sleepin in a bed-closet in aside a snorin aul wife. Naw I’ve had enough. I’m gonna live ma ain life.”

Question 28

Dialogue:
“The kitchen’s aye like a pig-sty… there’s never ony decent food, an if there wis, ye’d hae nae appetite for it… an sleepin in a bed-closet in aside a snorin aul wife. Naw I’ve had enough. I’m gonna live ma ain life.”

Answer 28

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through the lack of cleanliness of the house and how the do not have decent or nutritious food to eat. Jenny find that the state of the house would put people off whatever food they would have available and that shows how affected by poverty this family is, struggling to keep their house in a good state where it would do them benefit.
2. Role of women: this shows the theme of the role of women because currently Jenny is arguing about wanting to leave home and not wanting to lead a lifelike her mother where she slaves around the house doing chores and looking after an entire family. That is the expected role of a women especially when they are married and have a family, women are not typically independent nor go out working because they husband earn money for the house.

Question 29

Granny doesn’t like having to move house constantly

Answer 29

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

Question 30

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

Answer 30

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 31

Ernest has scuffed his new football boots

Answer 31

Dialogue:
“Whaur d’ye think I’ll find the money for anither pair? Oh, I cannae staun ony mair o this… I cannae staun it! (shouting at John) Leave me alone!.. I hate ye! I hate the hale lot o ye!”

Question 32

Dialogue:
“Whaur d’ye think I’ll find the money for anither pair? Oh, I cannae staun ony mair o this… I cannae staun it! (shouting at John) Leave me alone!.. I hate ye! I hate the hale lot o ye!”

Answer 32

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through Maggie’s stress of Ernest already ruining his new football boots that he has gotten. After a hard day of work this stress makes her snap.
2. Role of women: this shows the theme of the role of women through the workload put onto women. After a hard day of working to earn money for her family we see Maggie finally break as everything in the house is still left to be done and her son has scuffed his new boots. Her repetitiveness shows us how exhausted she is because she cannot find words to describe her feelings and this relays to us how tiring it is to take on all the responsibilities of a woman in this time.

Question 33

The Morrison’s don’t have basic necessities

Answer 33

Dialogue:
“Nae hot water, nae place to dry the waens’ clothes, nae money.”

Question 34

Dialogue:
“Nae hot water, nae place to dry the waens’ clothes, nae money.”

Answer 34

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through the families lack of meeting their basic needs. They don’t have any hot water for making hot food or cleaning themselves, they don’t have anywhere to dry warm clothes which could cause sickness and uncleanliness, and they don’t have any money to even try and fix this.

Question 35

Lily has brought beans

Answer 35

Dialogue:
“I brought ye a tin o baked beans the night. They’ll mebbe dae yer dinner the morn.”

Question 36

Dialogue:
“I brought ye a tin o baked beans the night. They’ll mebbe dae yer dinner the morn.”

Answer 36

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty because Lily helps out her sister and her family where she can by bringing them food so that they are fed. Another example is bringing medicine for Bertie when he is ill, using the fact she lives alone and earns her money only for herself to her benefit for helping her sisters struggling family.

Question 37

Jenny doesn’t want to live here

Answer 37

Dialogue:
“I didnae ask tae be born. No in this midden.”

Question 38

Dialogue:
“I didnae ask tae be born. No in this midden.”

Answer 38

1. Poverty: this shows the theme of poverty through how Jenny is ashamed of her family home and the state it is in. She refers to the house poorly because it isn’t well kept and she is ashamed because they do not have enough money to afford a decent home especially for the size of their family.

Question 39

Lizzie doesn’t like looking after Granny financially

Answer 39

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

Question 40

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

Answer 40

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.