John Morrison

Act 1

How John feels about equal rights • John takes the stereotypical role of a man at these times, in the sense that he

thinks women are inferior and men are better at everything. He feels there are clear roles that men should take and women should take.

-“You’s wumman, you’ve nae system” -“Well its no ma job, if it wis ma job…”

• Another time this is shown is when Maggie asks John to accompany her to the hospital and he acts as if it’s a ridiculous request.

-“Did ye tak him tae hospital?” -“Could you no – come wi me?” -“Maggie, I’m on casual labour”

John’s Responsibility

• However, he doesn’t take the role of a man as the “main breid winner”. He doesn’t have a job and is very pessimistic, always feeling sorry for himself and blaming his problems on society/the government.

-“ It no ma fault Maggie, Theres nae work”… -“Its the Industrial revolution”

Relationship with the children

• John is quite rough and grumpy with the children however, it is known that he still cares about them all. John and Jenny have a good relationship. It is like the typical relationship between mother and daughter, except it is between father and daughter.

-“Jenny’s your pet” -“(smiling) aye a cany deny it”• It is because of this, that John becomes so angry and disappointed

with Jenny’s actions at the end of act 1 scene 1.

• It is also made clear that John and Alec had a strong relationship when Alec was young, however, as he got older, he changed and John became very disappointed in him.

-“I used to think, when he was wee, it’d be rare when he grew up”

-…. “We’d be rare pals… An look what I’ve got”

• Even though John would not go to the hospital for Bertie, John clearly still cares for him. • This is shown when Alec comes in after a night out, John expresses

how he doesn’t want him sleeping next to Bertie with his current illness.

- “Is he gounna lie aside Bertie stinkin o stale beer?”…

-“Berties nae weel”

Act 2

John’s view on fatherhood

• He feels like all the responsibility for the children should be on Maggie, although he favours Jenny.

- ‘I ken, Maggie. I Ken. He’ll be cryin for his mammy the way I’m cryin for Jenny. (Pause) Ma first bonnie wee girl’

• John sees the children as a struggle - ‘Struggle! Aye, ye’ve hit on the right word –

struggle….Weans! They roast the heart and liver oot o ye!’

Ambiguous relationship with women

• John sometimes doesn’t realise how his relationship with Isa is, he sometimes ‘takes her side’ over Maggie's as he sees both sides to the story

- ‘Well, ye’re certainly actin like yin’

• Isa seems to be ‘flirting’ with John near the end of Act 2, Scene 2. He picks up on this realising that she shouldn’t be doing this

- ‘Isa! Mind who ye’re speakin tae!’

John’s view of male responsibility

• In Act 2, Scene 2, Maggie is getting on at John for not helping around the house especially now that he doesn’t have a job. John doesn’t feel like that is his responsibility, he thinks he should be finding a new job.

-’Aw, shut up harpin on that string. It’s no ma fault. I’ve been oot lookin for work’ • During act 2, John is struggling with finding himself a job, he feels like he should be

the once bringing in the money but he cant be and that frustrates him when Maggie reminds him of that fact.

-Maggie: ’Who earned that money? You or me?’ (John, as if he had been shot, drops Alec and turns away, slumps

down in a chair and puts his head in his hands)

John’s relationship with Maggie

• John and Maggies relationship is tested in this Act. Isa is getting right in the way and Maggie feels like John isn’t there. John shows a different side of himself.

“- Maggie: ‘She ca’d be a bitch’ John: ‘Well, ye’re certainly actin like yin’” -’(John to Maggie) – Shut yer mouth or I’ll shut it for ye!’

-’(to John) And I like a man – (her voice breaking) –tae stand up for his wife.’

John’s changing attitude• After Maggies outburst, we see a change in Johns attitude. He picks up on Isa and

how he is being with him and he has to take responsibility for Edie and Ernest while Maggie is getting the messages.

- (John to Isa) ‘Don’t ca me Daddy!’ - (John to Isa) ‘ (feebly) Y’re no tae say anything against Maggie’ - (John to Ernest) ‘Get on and red this place up a bit’

• John has to step up and comfort Edie after Maggie shouts at him -’ Listen tae me. …. Yer Mammy’s no really angry at ye……. Your

mammy’s just tired…… mebbe we ough tae hae helped mak things a bit easier for her.’

Act 3

John’s relationship with Maggie

• John and Maggie are content at the beginning of act 3 contrasting their feelings from the other acts.

-“(his pleasure matches hers)”• John has bought Maggie a present that brings back the memory of

their younger days. -“It’s a hat!”• The relationship becomes more romantic as they are happier because

of John buying Maggie her present.

John’s change in attitude

• John has a renewed sense of pride and confidence. -“If there is onythin tae be done, it’ll be done by me,” • Jenny returns and John wants to take charge of the family again. A

role that has been lost without his job

Jenny’s Return

• When Jenny returns John is pleased but this quickly changes when he remembers what Jenny has done to the family.

-“Well, well, well(pause)”• Jenny returns with a substantial amount of money to help the family

but John is unwilling to accept the money from her. -“I’d an idea I was the heid of the hoose”• After calling Jenny a “whore” John is humiliated by Jenny as she says

she was never able to be with a decent man as John could not provide her with a decent house she could take a man like that back to.