Scottish Set Text - MSW - Act Two Scene One Flashcards
Summary - one week later
Mrs Harris and Mrs Bone are looking after Granny and the Morrison household while Maggie is at the hospital with Bertic. Granny is waiting to move to Lizzie’s house for a while - it is nearly Lizzie’s ‘turn to look after her and the house is already overcrowded with Alec and isa. The neighbours chat and worry about Berties health. Lizzie comes to collect Granny, and it is soon made clear that she is a selfish character who is only interested in money. Lizzie is annoyed when she learns that Maggie has used Granny’ weekly pension for the hospital visit, and she decides to make up the loss by taking things from Maggie’s cupboards.
The neighbours prevent this.
Lily arrives to help out. Isa, Alec and Jenny then arrive. Isa and Jenny are cheeky to the neighbours and Granny. The arrival of the removal men (who have come for Granny’s bed) prevents a row.
Lizzie and Granny are about to leave when a distraught
Maggie arrives. Bertie has been kept in hospital with tuberculosis - a very serious illness. The neighbours leave. promising to look in later.
When Lily asks where John is, Maggie tells her that he will be home later. It becomes clear that Jenny intends to leave home that day and lohn does not want to be there when she goes. However, John arrives just as Jenny is leaving. Feeling awkward, the others all leave. John makes a bitter speech against poverty and its terrible consequences
“I hope it’s naethin serious wi wee Bertie.”
Mrs bones dialogue shows the theme of community and suggests that the neighbours have genuine concern about each others lives and look out for one another
“I wis up a day and a nicht. No a wunk o sleep did I get till he’d past the crisis… and there wis his feyther, Lyin snorin his heid aff”
Mrs Harris’ dialogue highlights the role of women at the time of the play even when it was both of their responsibility only she took care of their son while her husband relaxed this suggests men were useless and lazy at the time of the play
“They’ll no miss me. But they’ll miss ma pension”
Granny’s dialogue suggests the isolation the elderly face - they are only used to people’s benefit not appreciated
“Ye Ken I cannae bide. Alec and Isas needin the room.”
Granny’s dialogue highlights the theme of poverty and suggests the poor conditions and overcrowding families lived in at the time of the play
“Mrs Bone and mes in chairge o this hoose till lily comes.”
Mrs Harris’ dialogue highlights the importance of neighbours at the time of the play and how strong their relationship is that they feel comfortable to claim they are in charge which suggests they always have Maggie’s best interest at heart
“(Jenny and Isa clutch each other and giggle. Mrs Harris glares at them)”
Isas dialogue shows Isa has strong opinions which leads her to clash with the older women around her.
“(They both slowly survey the other women, looking them over, up and down shaking their heads)”
The stage directions of Jenny and Isa shows that the younger women at the time of the play attempt to break stereotypes and do not value women that are older because they do not want to end up like them.
“For a brief moment he faces her boldly, then he wilts and removes himself to lean morosely against the wall”
Alec’s stage directions show that Isa is in charge of their relationship which is unusual as it contrasts with the controlling stereotype of men at the time of the play suggesting he is weak
“(Enviously) my Isa! I could dae wi a leaf oot o your book!”
Mrs bones dialogue suggests that the women in the play desire to be as powerful as isa as she is so independent and controls her relationship unlike all the other women
“(She breaks into helpless sobs again)”
The stage directions show Maggie internalises her children’s pain causing her to become upset
“A we’ve done wrong is tae be born intae poverty!”
Johns dialogue suggests his living situation has left him feeling helpless and defeated
