Character: John

Character: John

Character Profile: John Morrison

Overview

  • John Morrison is the unemployed husband of the central character, Maggie Morrison.
  • He lives with his large family in a cramped tenement flat during the Great Depression.
  • His personal struggles with masculinity and societal expectations become key aspects of his characterisation.

Character Traits

  • Emasculated: John’s unemployment makes him feel less then a man in the conventional 1930s role, stirring feelings of inadequacy.
  • Insecure: He struggles with feelings of insecurity, often leading to frustration and anger towards his circumstances and toward others.
  • Dependent: He is financially dependent on the women in his life, namely his wife Maggie and his daughters who bring wages into the household.

Character Development

  • John’s character faces development through adversity. As his struggles with unemployment and masculinity persists, he begins to learn from his experiences.
  • John’s development is seen in his acceptance of Maggie’s matriarchal role and her financial contribution to the family.
  • Towards the end, he learns to redefine masculinity and outdated societal expectations, a significant step in his character progression.

Relationships

  • John’s relationship with Maggie is complex. While he often feels emasculated by her, he also respects and relies on her.
  • John’s strained relationship with his mother, Granny Morrison, mirrors his struggle with traditional gender roles.
  • He shares a turbulent relationship with his daughter Lily, owing to Lily’s stronger personality and financial independence.

Key Quotes

  • “A man’s supposed to provide for his family.” This reflects John’s own perception of masculinity and societal expectations.
  • “Maggie, I’m no use to you.” This quote highlights John’s feelings of inadequacy stemming from his unemployment.

Critical Analysis

  • John Morrison’s character is a reflection of Ena Lamont Stewart’s critique of traditional gender roles and societal expectations.
  • His personal journey serves as an exploration of redefined masculinity in the face of adversity and changing societal norms.