Men Should Weep - Theme of Poverty Flashcards
Set up of the house
Stage Directions:
“A space has been cleared, centre, for a mattress on the floor with pillows, blankets and old coats.”
Stage Directions:
“A space has been cleared, centre, for a mattress on the floor with pillows, blankets and old coats.”
- 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.
Lily’s view of Maggie’s life
Dialogue:
“Livin in a slum an slavin efter a useless man an his greeting waens.”
Dialogue:
“Livin in a slum an slavin efter a useless man an his greeting waens.”
- 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.
- 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.
Money is tight
Dialogue:
“Money disnae stretch.”
Dialogue:
“Money disnae stretch.”
- 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.
Edie has worn down pants
Dialogue:
“I’ve nae breeks.”
Dialogue:
“I’ve nae breeks.”
- 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.
Alec and Isa’s house
Dialogue:
“Your Alec’s street. The hooses has collapsed.”
Dialogue:
“Your Alec’s street. The hooses has collapsed.”
- 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.
Jenny getting battered fruit for the family
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.”
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.”
- 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.
Treat with granny’s pension
Dialogue:
“Maggie aye bought a bit bacon wi ma pension.”
Dialogue:
“Maggie aye bought a bit bacon wi ma pension.”
- 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.
Dependability on neighbours
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.”
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.”
- 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.
- 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.
John’s guilt for being in poverty
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.”
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.”
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Baker’s leftovers
Dialogue:
“An then run across tae the baker an see if there’s ony stale tea-bried left.”
Dialogue:
“An then run across tae the baker an see if there’s ony stale tea-dried left.”
- 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.
Bertie can’t come home
Dialogue:
“Mammy seems tae think they’re letting Bertie hame; but they’re not. No here. No tae this, Mammy.”
Dialogue:
“Mammy seems tae think they’re letting Bertie hame; but they’re not. No here. No tae this, Mammy.”
- 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.
The state of the Morrison’s home (why Bertie can’t come home)
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.”
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.”
- 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.
