MEN SHOULD WEEP Themes THEMES Poverty and unemployment

MEN SHOULD WEEP Themes

THEMES • Poverty and unemployment • Conflict • Emancipation Gender Roles

We will use each of these as a starting point to organise our information. How do each of the characters relate to these themes? This is how you should approach the 10 mark question

• Maggie struggles to feed and clothe her family • She has to rely on handouts from Lily (her sister) and from the mission • She has to work two jobs • Their house is a “midden” • Bertie has TB – not helped by damp home • He is not allowed home • She fights with John about it • She has to take all of Jenny’s wages to survive • She relies on good neighbours to help her out • Initially she accepts this situation • Eventually she loses her temper in frustration

• • • John is unemployed His pride becomes obvious He hates receiving the handouts from Lily He will not do ‘womans’ work He wishes Maggie would not rely on the neighbours He blames the government for his unemployment He claims he has done nothing wrong That he was born into poverty and he cant change that It causes conflict with Jenny, about responsibility Life becomes easier when he finds work But through it all his marriage is strong

• Jenny has to hand over all of her wages • This causes conflict between her and her dad • She blames her dad for not taking responsibility for his children and for not trying hard enough to fin work • She cant stand living in their house • She complains that she will never find a decent husband living there • She finds a new job, leaves home and makes her own life – changing role of women • Life isn’t easy for her and she even contemplates suicide • However she meets someone and settles down • She rescues the family from their terrible

Fights with John JENNY | Conflict • She… • “ XXXX” • “XXXX “ • She…

HOW CAN WE EXAMINE CONFLICT THROUGH MAGGIE

THROUGH WHAT OTHER CHARACTERS CAN WE LOOK AT CONFLICT?

How does Jenny represent the changing role of woma What other characters can we explore this theme through?