Masculinity in Men Should Weep by Ena Lamont Stewart and Perfect Days by Liz Lochead

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Masculinity in "Men Should Weep" by Ena Lamont Stewart and "Perfect Days" by Liz Lochead

Both plays portray men under a negative light. In ‘Men Should Weep’

men are the dominant sex and are seen socially of far greater

importance. Whereas in ‘Perfect days’ men are easily manipulated and

tend to be controlled by the contents of their trousers.

‘Men Should Weep’ is a play which examines how the family unit

crumbles under the pressure of poverty. ‘John’ the father of the

family is the main male figure throughout the play. His wife Maggie

does everything for him and their family. However although there is

always a lot to be done John manages not to do anything to help as he

would never want to damage his alter ego. Not only doesn’t he help

around the house but he is also unemployed. This says a lot about

John’s character and implies that he is a selfish self-centred

character.

‘I’d an idea a was heid o this hoose’

Although John gives the family no support in anyway he is still quite

content in thinking that he is head of the household. Due to the way

society was at this time it implied that women had to do as their

husbands told them. Once women married they were their husband’s

property. Men in that day and age overruled women they were more

powerful and a lot of women feared them for various reasons. Domestic

abuse was a main reason for this fear. Although a lot of women were

domestically abused it wasn’t something they talked about. Mrs Bone

one of the neighbours which are used as a vehicle to examine how men

have a hold over women in the play is a victim of domestic abuse.

‘I just canna understand a women who lets her man bash her aboot…..’

Standing up to men was unheard of you just wouldn’t...

... middle of paper ...

...Brendan doesn’t know about. Grant is seen

to give Barbs a lot of happiness but their relationship ends with

Grant asking.

‘Why are you so ashamed of me?’

This portrays Grant as a very naïve character as Barbs was only using

him for a bit of fun the relationship as never serious, yet he looked

upon it to be.

In conclusion the portrayal of men and masculinity in two Scottish

plays that I have studied are that they completely dominate the

society. They are selfish self-absorbed characters.

In “Men Should Weep” this is portrayed through John a very

self-absorbed character. I think the writer’s purpose was to show how

bad the conditions were that people use to live in and some people

still do.

In “Perfect Days” the men are portrayed to be very stupid and weak

characters. I feel that the writer’s purpose was to show that women

can cope without men.

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