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

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... ...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 naà ¯ve 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 â€Å"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 â€Å"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.