Men Should Weep-Setting

Historical and Social Context:

Glasgow's East End in the 1930s: The play is set in the 1930s in Glasgow's East End, a time characterised by political upheaval and poverty. The setting offers insight into the effects of the Great Depression and how people had to continue their lives in deprived conditions.

The Great Depression: The play portrays the impact of the Depression, depicting families who had to endure cramped living spaces with poor sanitation, and disease was rampant. Due to the absence of a National Health Service (NHS), people couldn't afford necessary medicines, leading to unchecked health issues.

Relevance to Contemporary Issues: While some aspects of the setting are specific to the 1930s, there are parallels with modern life, making it relatable to contemporary audiences. Poverty, substandard housing, and the struggle for survival are concerns that persist today.

Everyday Life in 1930s Glasgow:

Absence of Modern Amenities: The play offers a glimpse into 1930s Glasgow, a time without modern conveniences like computers, mobile phones, or televisions. Children played outside, and women engaged in communal activities such as chatting from tenement windows and listening to the wireless.

Daily Routines: People's daily routines involved going into town to look at the shops on Sauchiehall Street for entertainment. Men, often unemployed, had to wait for work and would frequently end up in pubs.

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Drama

The Tenement Setting:

Cramped and Ill-suited: The Morrisons' home, where most of the action takes place, is ill-suited for a family of nine. The setting mainly consists of the kitchen, with Maggie often tending to her children in the back parlour. The cramped conditions in the tenement are evident.

Untidy and Disordered: The setting is described as untidy and in disarray. Nappies hang on a string across the fireplace, and the table, dresser, and other areas are cluttered. Characters are often seen searching for things, reflecting the disorder in their lives.

Maggie's Muddle: The expression "Maggie's muddle" implies not only the physical state of the home but also the metaphorical hectic and cluttered existence she leads.

Improved Setting in Act III: In Act III, the setting has improved due to John having a job. The kitchen is now clean, tidy, and festive. This change in the setting highlights the positive effect on the characters when the burden of poverty is lifted, even if only slightly.

Connection Between Setting and Characters:

Parallel Between Setting and Maggie: The untidy tenement setting parallels Maggie's dishevelled physical appearance. The play highlights the connection between Maggie and her environment, with her appearance reflecting the chaotic state of their home.

Maggie's Independent Action: Maggie's independent and assertive action in Act III is mirrored by the potential move to a better and larger house, indicating that a change in setting can symbolise a change in the characters' lives.

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Drama

Tenement Community:

Sense of Community: Despite the hardships of tenement life, there was a sense of community that is often lacking in modern society. Neighbours come to each other's aid in times of distress and interact frequently.

Lack of Privacy: The lack of privacy in the tenement setting is apparent. Characters' lives are exposed to the vast neighbourhood, and gossip and judgments are common due to the close living quarters.

Intrusiveness: John is bitter about the intrusive neighbours, and the lack of privacy is a recurring theme. People in the tenement know each other's business, and the characters cannot escape the prying eyes of their neighbours.

The setting in "Men Should Weep" not only provides the backdrop for the play's events but also serves as a reflection of the characters' lives, the historical context of the 1930s, and the sense of community within the tenement. It highlights the struggles and challenges faced by the characters in their daily lives.