‘Men Should Weep’ Ena Lamont Stewart Act One Scene 2 Introduction to the play

Act One, Sc2 - Summary Alec and his wife, Isa, arrive late at night to stay with John and Maggie after their flat, along with the rest of the tenement block, has collapsed. Their arrival is the start of the conflict between Isa and Maggie, and Alec and John. After they’ve all retired to bed, Jenny arrives home. She has been drinking and ends up in an argument with John, who finds his daughter’s behaviour hard to accept. The scene ends with John losing his temper and striking Jenny across the face.

Think Pair Square share Activity 1: Developing our understanding of the characters of Alec and Jenny  Answer the following questions and back up your answers with evidence / quotes Alec (ref. Pp 18–21) What do we learn about Alec as a character? What do we learn about Alec’s relationship with John? What do we learn about Alec’s relationship with his wife, Isa? Jenny (ref. Pp. 21–27) What do we learn about Jenny as a character? What is Jenny’s attitude towards the family’s situation? What is Jenny’s attitude towards her father? Think Pair Square share

Activity 2: Food, glorious food! A tin of beans causes huge excitement in the Morrison family. What does this show us? Find three other references to food from anywhere in the scene and explain their importance.

Activity 3: Rounding up ideas about Act 1 and making predictions What have you learned about the characters and their situations in the first Act of the play? How have women been presented so far in the play? What are the concerns/ideas raised through their portrayal? How have men been presented so far in the play? What are the concerns/ideas raised through their portrayal? What thematic concerns do you think the playwright is exploring through her characters and what happens to them? How do you think the ideas presented so far in the play might develop?

Activity 4: Act 1 Scene 2 Quiz At what time of night do Alec and Isa appear? What is their demeanour? What does John want to do with his son, Alec? Describe the relationship that Isa has with Alec. What hopes did John have for Alec? Describe the relationship that Jenny has with her father, John. Why does Maggie say that ‘Folks like us he tae depend on their neighbours when they’re needing help’? When was the last time Maggie slept in a real bed? Why is John so upset that Jenny is out late? Where does Jenny work?

Activity 4: Act 1 Scene 2 Quiz How has Jenny changed, in her father’s view? How old is Jenny? Ena Lamont Stewart states in her stage directions that jenny is ‘made up boldly (for the 1930s)’. What does she mean by this? Why is Jenny going to ‘chuck the shop’? What is Jenny going to do instead? What does John think that Jenny should do out of duty? Why is Jenny unhappy living with her family? Compare Jenny’s life aged 18 with your own. What are the differences? Are there any similarities? How does John discipline Ernest?