The role of women quotes Flashcards
“if ye’ve got wains , ye’ve got to put up wi the fella that gied ye them…. I bet she’ll hae a black eye the morn, but she’ll never let dab how she got it” Maggie , p.11
- This tells us that most of the women within the story view marriage as something that a women should stay in no matter how bad it gets. A women should stick by her husband even despite abuse, this shows that the ways in which Maggie and her neighbours conform to societal standards of a women’s place within the home and marriage, this also tells us that many women in 1930s Glasgow would have likely dealt with abuse and that their role was to stick by their husband.
“your daddy doesny work” Lily
-In Act 1, Lily belittles and puts down John to Ernest, when she criticises him for not having a job.
Lamont Stewart uses Lily here to explore the role of women because she provides an alternative view of womanhood in the 1930s. Unlike Maggie she doesn’t see marriage as the best option for a woman, viewing her reliance on John as an issue because he doesn’t work.
“Your mammy’s just tired. She’s been oot a day cleaning other folk’s hooses.” John
The short sentence is used to bluntly convey to the reader the stress that women had to go through fulfilling their expected role in the 1930s in addition to also fulfilling the expected role of breadwinner.
“puir lily! Goad help her… the interferin bitch. nae wunner she couldna get a man” John
An unmarried women like lily is held in deep suspicion by other characters. It is used as ammunition against lily that she is unmarried rather than accepting her lifestyle choice, which further shows that women of the 1930s were unable to break free of societal standards and pressures without criticism.
“fancy you wi a red hat. Yons no a colour for an auld done wife” granny
Bright, bold colours are considered inappropriate for the usually dowdy Maggie. Granny and other characters pigeon-hole Maggie and do not allow her to express herself, this further contributes to the pressures that Maggie feels to conform to what a women’s role within society should be.
“in future ye’ll let yer hair grow tae the colour god meant it tae be an leave it that way” John
Other characters including John and the neighbouring women are scornful of Jenny blonde died hair. She is expected to conform to strict standards of modesty by not altering her appearance by trying to be attractive. They suggest that to dress up is to be against nature and god.
“no work for the men, Plenty for the wummin “ Maggie
Maggie comments on unfairness of unemployment and highlights the burden that falls heavily on women. Maggie not only is the main earner within the home but she also looks after the children and does the housework. She feels overburdened by her role as a women in the home.
