Men Should Weep - Theme of Violence

Question 1

John and Jenny argue when she comes in drunk

Answer 1

Stage Directions:
“John takes Jenny by the shoulders and shakes her.”

Question 2

Stage Directions:
“John takes Jenny by the shoulders and shakes her.”

Answer 2

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence because after Jenny comes in drunk, she and her father end up in an argument. During this argument John discovers she is drunk whilst escalates the argument and it does turn physical, staring with John shaking his daughter.

Question 3

John slaps Jenny

Answer 3

Stage Directions:
“John hits her across the face.”

Question 4

Stage Directions:
“John hits her across the face.”

Answer 4

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence through John slapping his eldest daughter. Unlike other households John is shocked by his actions and tries to apologise for what he has done because he did not mean to do it. This highlights how common male violence is in these times.

Question 5

Mrs Bone has another black eye

Answer 5

Dialogue:
“Hoo’s yer keeker the day? Ooh, it’s no near as bad as the last yin ye had. Whit did ye bump intae this time?”

Question 6

Dialogue:
“Hoo’s yer keeker the day? Ooh, it’s no near as bad as the last yin ye had. Whit did ye bump intae this time?”

Answer 6

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence through Mrs Bones domestic violence. Her husband abuses her and the neighbours know about it, having to hear it from times through the walls. The fact they don’t do anything about it shows how common it is and that it isn’t frowned upon like it is today.
2. Community: this shows the theme of community through the neighbours support of on another, specifically the women. They know about Mrs Bones situation and even though they don’t anything they silently support her by not forcing her to talk about it and leading into her unbelievable cover stories.

Question 7

Lily despises Isa

Answer 7

Dialogue:
“If I wis you, Alec, I’d wallop that impudent wife o yours till she wis black an blue.”

Question 8

Dialogue:
“If I wis you, Alec, I’d wallop that impudent wife o yours till she wis black an blue.”

Answer 8

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence through how common male violence is, especially in domestic settings. Here shows it because Lily tells Alec he should abuse his wife because she is not obedient like wife are expected to be at this time.

Question 9

Alec and Isa fight

Answer 9

Dialogue:
“I’ll kill ye! I wull! I’ll kill ye!”

Question 10

Dialogue:
“I’ll kill ye! I wull! I’ll kill ye!”

Answer 10

1. Violence: this show the theme of violence because even though Alec is not physically harming Isa in this moment he is angry enough to be threatening to end her life.

Question 11

Isa calls Maggie a bitch

Answer 11

Dialogue:
“I’ll learn ye tae ca me a bitch (she slaps Isa’s face)”

Question 12

Dialogue:
“I’ll learn ye tae ca me a bitch (she slaps Isa’s face)”

Answer 12

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence through Maggie’s slap. Isa insults her and calls her a bitch which infuriates Maggie further - Maggie does not like Isa as she doesn’t treat her son well and also does not fit into the stereotypical wife profile and is insulting towards the family - and so she slaps her.

Question 13

Alec threatens Isa

Answer 13

Dialogue:
“Mark ye? Whit makes ye think I’d stop at spoilin yer face for ye?”

Question 14

Dialogue:
“Mark ye? Whit makes ye think I’d stop at spoilin yer face for ye?”

Answer 14

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence in two distinct ways. First it is through Alec’s violent threats against his wife, threatening to not only ruin her face with his knife but take it further. Secondly it is shown show his physical threats of a knife, using it to frighten his wife, backing her into a corner during an argument.

Question 15

Alec chokes Isa then panics

Answer 15

Stage Directions:
“He gets hold of her by the throat: she makes strangling noises. He panics and drops her.”

Question 16

Stage Directions:
“He gets hold of her by the throat: she makes strangling noises. He panics and drops her.”

Answer 16

1. Violence: this shows the theme of violence through how during an argument Alec begins to strangle Isa. Violence is more common in this time than it used to be as today it is highly frowned upon and more likely to be punished.
2. Role of men: this shows the theme of the role of men because Alec’s panic also shows how he doesn’t play into the stereotypical role of a man where they are meant to be angry, short tempered and violent. Even though he is short tempered and does lash out at Isa, he is quick to realise what he is doing, panics and drops her, chasing after her for an apology which isn’t the ‘manly’ way to go about this.