Style and Technique: Speech

Style and Technique: Speech in Men Should Weep

Understanding Authentic Dialogue

  • Ena Lamont Stewart uses a very naturalistic style of writing in ‘Men Should Weep.’
  • The characters speak in Glaswegian dialect with phrases and lexicon specific to the location and time. This helps to provide authenticity and bring the characters, their struggles and lives into sharp relief.
  • The language used by the characters also reflects their economic status and education-level.

Character Development through Speech

  • Character personalities are revealed through their dialogue. For example, Maggie’s gentle, hopeful, and resilient nature is clear from her conversations.
  • Stewart uses speech to reflect the gap between aspirations and reality. For example, John talks about his dreams and ambitions for a better life, juxtaposing it with the harsh reality of his unemployment.

Conflict through Dialogue

  • Conflicting dialogues often take centre stage, reflecting interpersonal and socioeconomic tensions.
  • These conflicts through words show the effects of harsh living conditions, with arguments revealing frustration, hopelessness, and desperation.
  • The tense atmosphere in the tenement is communicated via terse dialogues and heated arguments.

Speech as a Narrative Tool

  • The concept of dramatic irony is harnessed through dialogue, where the audience is made privy to certain information which characters are unaware of.
  • Dialogue thus serves to move the plot forward, with revelations, arguments, and discussions acting as turning points in the narrative.

Key Quotes Reflecting Speech in the Play

  • Maggie: “It’ll no’ be long ‘til we get our ain hoose.” This phrase, rich with local dialect, reflects Maggie’s unbroken spirit and hope for a better future.
  • John: “If I can only get some decent wark…” This showcases John’s despondency and constant struggle against their socioeconomic reality.

Looking at Speech in Men Should Weep

  • Analysing the dialogues helps to build a deeper understanding of each character, their motivations and desires, and the context they’re in.
  • Authentic dialogue serves to root the play in its setting, giving it a sense of immediacy and realism.
  • Understanding the speech and its impact can enhance the interpretation of the themes and underlying messages within ‘Men Should Weep.’