Men Should Weep - Plot - Revision Cards in A Level and IB English

Act 1, Scene 1

The play opens on a chaotic tenement setting, with Maggie calling for her children out of the window.
A light-hearted domestic scene ensues with Granny complaining in the corner, the children running in from outside and Maggie soothing the baby and Bertie.
Underlying the cheerful mood however, is the concerning deficiency of necessities. These are made more apparent by the arrival of Lily who reminds Maggie of her impoverished predicament.
When John enters there is obvious affection between husband and wife, and an apparent tension between spinster Lily and chauvinist John. Offended by John, Lily leaves declaring she has lent Alec money.
The neighbours enter with news of Alec’s house collapsing and the scene closes with Mrs Harris annoyed at Maggie for accusing her daughter of having lice in her hair.

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The scene takes place towards midnight of the same day. Alec and Isa enter. The family are putting them up after the collapse of their tenement.
Alec is drunk, and already the dynamic between him and his wife is clear. He fawns over her – we see how he paws her - while she pushes him away.
John’s disapproval and disappointment in his son are revealed by his tone, “Whit I’d like tae dae is kick him oot o the house”. Maggie placates and despairs.
After Isa and John take Alec off, John returns, and there is a moment of affection between Maggie and John. They then eat a tin of beans together and Maggie has to admit that Jenny is not yet home.
The mood darkens as John reacts angrily to this. He hears her outside and goes out, then drags her inside.
Jenny is furious and says she is leaving; conflict ensues between father and daughter, which culminates in John hitting her. The scene ends with John staring out of the window, smoking.

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This scene takes place a week later. The neighbours are looking after Granny while she waits on Lizzie to pick her up. We sympathise with Granny here, who clearly wants to stay with Maggie.
When Lizzie arrives, we realise she is a hard-hearted woman, who can only see Granny’s pension. Jenny, Alec and Isa enter, followed soon after the removal men who have come to take Granny’s bed.
The first man chastises Isa for the way she speaks to Granny, forcing her to apologise, which is more than Alec can do. Maggie arrives upset with the news that Bertie has TB and must stay at the hospital.
Several of the characters, led by Lily, sympathise, but the scene ends with Jenny’s departure and an emotional speech from John in which he deliberates over his unjust predicament.

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It is now a month later and Isa and Alec are arguing because Isa says she will leave him for Peter Robb. We see the first display of Alec’s violence when he gets hold of her by the throat out of anger and desperation.
When Maggie enters, he playacts for sympathy and attention, and finally takes her money. John is critical of his son and comforts Isa. Maggie is upset that he does not stand up for his wife and walks out.
Isa then flirts with John, which makes the audience question his strength of character. The scene ends with Maggie’s breakdown into hysteria, which contributes to her decision at the end of the play.

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The final act begins on a positive note. The mood is upbeat like the beginning of the play, but the audience notices that the kitchen is tidy, there is a wireless playing jazz music, Ernest has new football boots and Maggie is in a new dress.
This is all because John has found work. When he enters, he is happy and confident to be back in his role as provider and he movingly gives Maggie a red hat which reminds her of their courting days.
Although Maggie's neighbours and later Lily are not impressed by the hat, Maggie insists on wearing it and she goes out window shopping on Sauchiehall Street.
After a time lapse, Isa enters and starts to pack up her things. She makes it to the threshold with her suitcase only to find Alec standing there wild-eyed. Alec tries to strangle her for the second time, but again lets go.
Isa pretends she loves him in order to leave and cunningly trips Alec up and races out the door, leaving him sobbing. After he has followed her out, Maggie and Lily re-enter and discover the mess the argument has created.
Lily hides the knife in her handbag and Maggie, no longer happy, sits slumped in misery at the actions of her unruly son. Lily looks after Maggie and there is a poignant moment between the two sisters.

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The Act draws to a close with the arrival of Jenny, who has found a sugar daddy to keep her, and has pulled herself up from rock bottom. Jenny reveals the truth about Bertie and comes with a roll of notes that are to pave the way for Maggie’s new life.
John returns and there is immediate tension between father and daughter. He refuses the money and dismisses her attempt at helping the family, saying she hasn’t earned the money.
However, Maggie usurps his status of head of the house, takes the money and then humiliates John in front of Lily.
The play ends with Maggie imagining her future, so it is therefore an optimistic conclusion.

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