Scotish Set Text - MSW - Act Two Scene Two Flashcards
Summary - one month later
The scene opens with Isa and Alec- who are still iving With Maggie and John - arguing furiously about a theft they Wove carried out. Alec is angry at Isa because she has been
‘carryin oar with another man. He gets hold of her by the faroat, but panics when she screams. He apologises and she shuts the bedroom door in his face.
Maggie arrives home from working all day. She is exhausted and is vexed when she sees that nobody has helped out in the house. Alec loses his temper at her and breaks the small dish of jam which she was going to take to Bertie in hospital.
Maggie’s frustration is clear, but she stil manages to comfort Alec when he moans about Isa. She is taken in by Alec feigning illness and argues with Isa.
John enters the house just as Maggie slaps Isa. He demands to know what has happened: when Maggie explains her frustrations about the lack of help around the house, lohn angrily tells her that he is not a ‘skivvy’ and that housework is for women. Alec uses the conflict as an opportunity to steal money from Maggie’s purse and then quietly leaves. When John then defends Isa, Maggie walks out.
Isa attempts to flirt with John. Edie and Ernest come in and John scolds them for not helping their mother. Maggie arrives home with some chips and bread for tea. She notices Ernest’s new boots are scuffed and loses the last of her self-control. She leaves the house in tears and lohn tries to reassure the children that she is ‘just tired’.
Maggie returns very soon and apologises to John. He is glad to see her, and their affection is made clear again. She makes a wry comment on gender inequality.
“You’re no the only pebble on ma beach”
Isa’s dialogue shows that she is not committed to her marriage and makes it clear which is unusual for women at the time of the play suggesting she is not stereotypical
“(He gets a hold of her by the throat: she makes strangling noises. He panics and drops her)”
The stage directions show that Alec is a volatile character which suggests that he can attempt to be abusive but doesn’t as he acts cowardly and Isa has more power than him
“But if ye was hauf a man”
Isas dialogue suggests that she doesn’t think alec is strong or brave showing that women settled for less than they deserved and wanted to raise their standards
“Love! Hee- haw! There’s nae sich a thing”
Isas a dialogue suggests she doesn’t believe in love showing that women at the time of the play often felt pressure to be married and rushed into it - she related to the older generations here despite wanting to break stereotypes
“ no work for the men. Aye plenty for the women”
Maggie’s dialogue highlights further that men are lazy throughout the play while women are left to do all of the housework and even find jobs because the men aren’t capable of it
“It’s no ma fault! I’ve din a hale copper-fu o washin an scrubbed three floors an The Hale lot o yous had naethin tae dae but lie in yer beds!”
Maggie’s dialogue and the build up of her frustration highlights the inequality faced by women who were expected to work and also complete all of the domestic task
“Shut yer mouth or I’ll shut it for ye!”
Johns dialogue highlights abusive relationships and male violence he doesn’t hit Maggie but isn’t afraid to act upon his temper
“I’m no turnin masel intae a bloomin skivvy! I’m a man!”
Johns dialogue shows the stereotypes of men and that cleaning was for women, he doesn’t want to be deemed less of a man by doing domestic work even under the circumstances they are suffering from
“Turning at that moment, sees the scuffed toe-caps of his boots and what remains of her self control gives way”
Maggie’s stage directions show she is exhausted by life and tired of her family not pitching in
“(Screaming at him)”
The stage directions describe Maggie shouting loudly at Ernest. Suggesting she is loosing her composure due to his behaviour
“Look at yer new boots!”
Maggie’s dialogue when she scolds Ernest for scuffing his shoes suggests that motherhood can often feel like a heavy burden to bear
“I cannae staun ony mair o this”
Maggie’s dialogue shows she is fed up of the family which suggests she is exhausted by life
“(She collapses in a storm of weeping)”
Maggie’s stage directions show that she can’t control her emotions any longer suggesting she is overwhelmed
“I hate ye! I hate The Hale lot o ye”
The dialogue shows that the repetition of ‘I hate’ emphasises her frustration towards the family
