Speech
It is important to remember that Men Should Weep is a play. Unlike prose or poetry it was not written to be read but to be performed on a stage.
To appreciate the play fully it should be considered from the point of view of the audience, with stage craft considered as well as writing.
Stewart uses a range of techniques to engage the audience and to develop important aspects such as character and theme.
Dialogue
It is through dialogue that Stewart reveals most about her characters.
Consider the following taken from Alec and Isa’s first argument in Act II, Scene 2:
Isa: Fancy me mairryin a rat like you. The joke wis on me a right.
Alec: Isa, I’ll hae plenty again, you’ll see…I’ve a coupla pals that’s got ideas…wait on, Isa! I’ll get ye onythin ye want…a fur coat an crockydile shoes – ye said ye wanted crockydile shoes – I proamise, Isa! I proamise!...
Firstly, Isa refers to Alec as a rat
, which alerts the audience to Isa’s poor opinion of her husband. Alec’s response reveals a lot about his character and Isa’s. His use of ellipsis suggests his ideas are fragmented as if he is only now piecing together what he is going to do.
It could also evoke the sense that he is following her around the room, trying to make her stay, and this breaks up his speech. This conveys his sheer obsession with her and dependency on her.
He then lists the things he’ll get for her. Again this illustrates his deferential character but also tells us about Isa.
Did she just marry a man in order to be looked after and given gifts? Is she just using him? When we consider her actions later in the play, we realise these conclusions are justified.
There are many other incidents throughout the play where conclusions can be drawn about characters from what they say. Several of these are examined in the other chapters.
