Set Text - Quotation Analysis Flashcards
Jenny: “I didnae ask tae be born. No intae this midden.”
Shows Jenny as a very critical character and resentful of her parents for the life they gave her. Highlights how poverty affects Jenny’s relationship with her parents.
Mrs Wilson: “Your Alec’s street. The hooses has collapsed.”
Shows how the neighbours’ purpose is to share information which can be helpful but also shows how the neighbours know everyone’s business so there is a lack of privacy. Poor quality housing is highlighted here which impacts the family as they have to stay with Maggie etc.
John: “Christ Almighty ! A we’ve din wrong is tae be born intae poverty !”
The exclamation marks emphasise John’s passion and feelings of dismay about what he is saying. Also shows how John is a character who doesn’t take much responsibility as he is complaining about being born into poverty which seems like he is making excuses for their poverty. Highlights how John feels his poverty has unfairly disadvantaged him at life.
Maggie: “Lily, money disnae stretch. Ye pit oot yer haun for yer change and whit dae ye get? A coupla coppers.”
Maggie feels as though she doesn’t have enough money, even after reaching out for help. The poverty has made her lose a little faith in humanity as people aren’t helping as much as she had hoped. This quotation shows that Maggie feels disheartened and the poverty affects her mood.
John: “Hundreds o us,Maggie, beggin for the
chance tae earn enough for food and a roof ower our heids.”
The choice of the word ‘begging’ shows that John is desperate for a job, yet he is not the only one struggling with the poverty at this time. Shows John is taking initiative to try get a job but the fierce competition is causing him to lose faith.
Maggie: “if a woman did everythin that ought tae be done aboot the hoose, she’d go on a day an a night till she drapped doon deid.”
Shows Maggie feels too much is expected of women and she is very aware of that. She is sick of being held to such high expectations with such lack of credit or acknowledgment. The expected role of women is to be the housekeeper.
Lily: “Jist like him! Leave a the dirty work tae the women!”
Lily is disappointed but not surprised at John refusing to accompany Maggie to the hospital to see Bertie. Lily also knows women are expected to do all the jobs the men don’t want to and she believes John should put in more effort to help Maggie.
Maggie: “I havena time tae look in nae mirrors and neither would you if ye’d
a hoose an a man an five weans.”
Shows that Maggie is so busy that she doesn’t have time to spend for herself. She is working all the time, whether that is looking after the children, tending to granny, doing the housework, etc. Maggie is overwhelmed with tasks to do all the time.
Lily: “Livin in a slum and slavin efter a useless man an his greetin weans.”
Displays Lily as a very critical character who is judgemental of Maggie’s lifestyle. This highlights the gender stereotype of how women are supposed to look after the men, whilst the men do nothing to help the women. Lily pities Maggie for having to look after everyone else, but never herself. The theme of poverty is also brought up here to emphasise how depressing Maggie’s life is from Lily’s perspective.
Maggie: “Nae work for the men. Aye plenty for the women.”
Maggie is speaking out about how John can never seem to get a job to bring in some family income, but still manages to leave Maggie with a ridiculous amount of things to do. She could also be alluding to the fact that there are plenty of ‘women’s jobs’ such as working in a shop, but John is too stubborn to do one of these.
John: “Yous women! Ye’ve nae system.”
Shows John is so out of touch with the reality of life for women. He doesn’t fully understand or appreciate how much Maggie actually does, he just goes straight to criticising her lack of organisation.
Maggie: “And I like a man - (her voice breaking) - tae stand up
for his wife.”
This shows Maggie can be a confrontational character when she needs to be and call John out for not taking her side. This shows that although she is hurt by the situation, she is confident enough to communicate this to John.
Lily: “Your daddy disnae work.”
This shows Lily having a subtle dig at John for not doing his part in providing for the family. This shows she can be a sly character. She is frustrated that John’s lack of a job creates so much pressure, especially financially, for Maggie.
Jenny: “Some men gets on a makes money, depression or no. lthers hasna the brains.”
This shows Jenny as a confident and critical character. She is not afraid to call John out for making excuses for himself on why he can’t get a job. She is putting some of the blame on John for the family being in poverty. This highlights the theme of gender stereotypes.
Mrs Harris: “Aye, they men! But if their nebs is rinnin, they think they’re deein.”
This highlights the theme of gender stereotypes. Mrs. Harris is mocking how dramatic men are by saying they think it’s the end of the world after any minor inconvenience, and they aren’t as ‘tough’ as they act.
John: “Get Mrs Harris tae go wi ye- or Mrs Wilson.”
Highlights gender stereotypes- John doesn’t want to go to the hospital, even if it means support Maggie, so he leaves it to the women. Also highlights the theme of community as they neighbours are there to support Maggie, especially with activities John won’t do.
Mrs. Harris: “there’s a thing or two aboot the dunny stairs no
being washed when it’s a certain party’s turn.”
Theme of community- tension and gossip are created by the neighbours as everyone knows everyone’s business. Although the neighbours are there for one another, they are also a source of conflict in each others’ lives.
Maggie: “Ma Edie says the teacher says your Mary’s
got beasts in her heid.”
Shows judgement between the neighbours- Maggie is judging the hygiene of the neighbours. Once again shows that the neighbours know everything about each other.
Maggie: “I’ll need tae buy her aff now wi some tattie scones or snowballs - or something.”
Shows how the neighbours rely upon each other and despite having conflicts, Maggie cannot afford do sacrifice the support the neighbours give her. Emphasises the theme of community.
John: “Whit’ll the neighbours think, you comin hame at this time o night an staundin in the close wi a man.”
Shows that John is a self-conscious character and be cares about what other people think about him and his family. He doesn’t want to get a bad reputation for his family with the neighbours as he know word gets around quickly. Also shows John is quite a selfish character as he cares more about the family’s reputation than what Jenny is actually doing.
Maggie: “Folks like us hev tae depend on their neighbours when they’re needin help.”
Highlights the theme of poverty and community. Maggie and the neighbours are all in the same situation financially and it’s vital that they help each other out. The neighbours know that if they help each other, they will get help when they need it.
Ernest: “(nodding towards the ceiling) That’s him bashin her.”
Shows the theme of gender stereotypes/male violence and community. Even Maggie’s children know about the abuse Mrs. Bone receives as there are no secrets with the neighbours. The blunt/casual tone Ernest says this in shows how domestic abuse is not uncommon at this time.
(Alec): “(He gets hold of her by the throat: she makes strangling noises. He panics and drops her.)”
Theme of male violence/gender stereotypes. Alec is being violent towards Isa as he is frustrated by her lack of affection towards him. The panic shows Alec is quite a pathetic and feeble character because despite him trying to hurt Isa, when he realises what he is doing he wimps out. His talk is bigger than his actions.
Maggie: “If ye’ve got weans, ye’ve got tae pit up wi the fella that gied ye them”
Theme of male violence and family. Maggie is talking about how once you start a family with a man, you have to stay with that man, no matter how badly he treats or abuses you. Suggests Maggie feels that once a woman has a child with a man, she is stuck in that relationship forevermore.
Marina: “Mammy, is ma daddy drunk?”
This is after John belittles Jenny for being in the close with a man (???). This highlights the theme of male violence and gender stereotypes as even the children can identify that men tend to act more violently when drunk. (Insert bit about John being TT?)
“(John hits her across the face)”
Theme of male violence. Shows John as a violent character with a very short temper. His frustration at Jenny has provoked an outburst in him.
Mrs. Harris: “(She peers at Mrs Bone ‘s mahogany-coloured eye) Och, it’ s no near as bad as the last yin ye had.”
Shows theme of community and male violence. The neighbours are aware of the abuse Mrs. Bone receives, despite her not liking to talk about it. This quotation shows that Mrs. Bone is repeatedly abused by her husband and is pitied by the neighbours.
Isa: “Oh aye … You’re the yin that lives up the stair? Ye lost the battle years ago, hen.”
This quotation shows Isa as an insensitive character as she is hinting towards the abuse of Mrs. Bone. Isa clearly pities Mrs. Bone as Isa is the one in charge of her relationship, but Mrs. Bone is not in hers. “Years ago” references the theme of male violence as it is suggested Mrs. Bone has been abused for years. The casual tone suggests this is nothing out of the ordinary at this time.
Maggie: “It’s because
things have aye been right atween you an me that I can struggle on.”
Theme of love. Maggie and John’s loving relationship is what motivates her to keep going through the day, despite her overwhelming lifestyle. Maggie’s relationship with John is a sense of consistency in her life.
Isa: “Love! Hee-haw ! There ‘ s nae sich a thing.”
Shows Isa is a very cynical character. Highlights theme of love and how Isa has a very different perception of love compared to Maggie. Isa doesn’t believe in love, despite being in a relationship, as she only believes in sex and money.
Maggie: “No in wages- I’m paid wi love.”
Theme of love. Shows that Maggie is an affectionate and loving character- she values love much more than money. Maggie is proud of her family and the love she receives from them.
Maggie: “Ye’re breakin yer daddy’s heart, that’s whit ye’re daein!”
Theme of family and love. Shows family can be a source of pain and frustration. John is hurt at Jenny wanting to leave home and Maggie is frustrated with Jenny for causing John to feel this way. John loves Jenny deeply which results in him feeling betrayed when she wants to leave.
John: “I can get that mad at Jenny I could … then she looks up at me wi that wee smile o hers an I can feel - I can actually feel ma heart tumin intae butter.”
Theme of family and love. John has a soft spot for Jenny and as much as she causes him to feel frustrated, he can’t help but love her as he sees his little girl whenever he looks at her. Shows that John can be a loving, soft and reminiscent character.
“Alec is play-acting for all he ‘s worth, leaning on her and half-whimpering”
Theme of love and family. Shows that love can be manipulative as Alec is exploiting Maggie’s unconditional love for him to benefit himself. Shows that Alec can be a sly, immoral character.
John: “It’s gonnae be somethin for Maggie and me tae remember when we’re a coupla toothless aul has-beens.”
Theme of love. Shows John loves Maggie dearly and wishes to spend the rest of his life with her. Also shows John is a sentimental and thoughtful character as…
“She gives him a kiss, almost in tears. He puts his arms round her”
Lily: “I hope the bottle I brought him’ll help.”
Theme of family. Lily is looking out for her sister’s family and doing her best to help them out Isa she is in a better financial position than them. Shows Lily is a caring and helpful character as she wants to help the family.
Maggie: “It’s weel seen you never had a faimly, Lily. Once they’ve been laid in yer airms, they’re in yer heart tae the end o yer days, no maitter whit way they turn oot.”
Theme of family. Highlights the idea of unconditional love within the family. Maggie believes that she will forever love and care for her children, regardless of the people they end up being. She is referencing Alec here (?) as Alec has a bad reputation, which Maggie knows, but it doesn’t make her love him any less.
Lily: “I brought ye a tin o baked beans the night.”
Theme of family and poverty. Shows the family can’t even afford meals for their family and need to rely on Lily to do so. Shows Lily is a generous character.
John: “You couldna knock doon an empty midden-bin.”
Shows John thinks Alec is pathetic and an embarrassment. Alec I’d not the kind of son John hoped for.
Alec: “Ye’ve aye
been the same tae me. Despisin … Despisin.”
Theme of family. Shows tension in Alec and John’s relationship. Alec knows that John doesn’t like Alec’s personality and isn’t proud of him as a son.
John: “A man’s got nae right tae bring weans intae the world if he canna provide
for them.”
Theme of gender stereotypes and poverty. John is disappointed in himself for having children without being in a stable financial position. He knows that he should’ve done better for his children.
Granny: “Ye ken I cannae bide. Alec an Isa’s needin the room.”
Theme of family and poverty. Shows the poor housing conditions and how cramped the family were living. There is not enough room for Granny to stay if Alec and Isa also stay.
“Alec gets up and crosses to his mother, sits on the arm other chair and pats her back.”
Theme of family and love. Shows that family are there to love and support each other. This shows that Alec can be a loving and caring character, despite also being manipulative.
