1939- born Jan. 18th in Newfoundland
1945- moved to Toronto with his
family
1958- graduated from Oakwood
Collegiate / studied acting in
Toronto and California
1960- acted for CBC TV / wrote
radio and TV scripts
1971- worked for the post office but
continued to write
1972- Leaving Home was
performed at the Tarragon
Theatre in Toronto / Leaving
Home was his first full length
stage play and began his
career as a playwright
2010 – died Dec. 4, 2010
http://www.youtube.c
om/watch?v=FPYK94so
j44&list=PLCAC745DF6C
6DCF09
7 Part Interview series
You Tube Video
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http://www.youtube.com/wat
ch?v=MDdEPjhqfXg
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By: Theatre Museum of
Canada
Part. 1: Leaving Home, Tarragon
Theatre and Bill Glassco
Part. 2: Playwriting, the opening of
Leaving Home
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
Part 3: Starting a Play Of the Fields…
Part 4: Becoming a Writer, Evolving as
a Writer
Part 5: Bill Glassco, Directors, and
Staging His Plays
Part 6: The Seagull, Reviews and Jitters
Part 7: Jitters and Broadway
•
The play focuses on the Mercer family who emigrated from
Newfoundland to Toronto. Leaving Home is part of French's series of
plays that revolve around that family, including Salt Water Moon, 1949,
Of The Fields, Lately, and Soldier's Heart.
•
In Leaving Home, the Mercer family is preparing for their youngest sons
wedding to a young lady he has impregnated.
•
There is tension between the father and elder son who graduated from
high school the night before and is going to University. Tensions erupt
when the elder son reveals he is moving out as well.
•
Later, the mother-of-the-bride arrives and adds to the drama as she is a
loud alcoholic who constantly brings up the relationship she once
shared with the father-of-the-groom.
•
When it's revealed that the bride-to-be has had a miscarriage, the teens
are left to choose whether or not they will continue with their wedding
plans.

Jacob Mercer, the
Newfoundlander who
brought his family to settle
in Ontario. Portrayed as a
flawed but loving father.
Jacob is in his fifties but
looks older. A man who is
used to leading his family in
a patriarchal fashion, he is
devastated by the new
way of life and the
decisions of his sons to
leave home. He despises
the Catholic religion.
Secretly he longs for the old
way of life and times when
he was needed.

Mary Mercer, at fifty, Mary is a
devoted mother and wife
who has her hands full with her
three men. She is the mediator
of the family and also the
confidante of the boys.

Ben Mercer, at eighteen, Ben
is the oldest son. He is closest
to Mary, but is not a 'Mama's
Boy'. He has graduated from
high school and plans to
attend university. His
relationship with his father has
always been strained.

Bill Mercer, is seventeen. He
would rather stay home than
marry his girlfriend, Kathy, but
he must because she is
pregnant. He is a little more
worldly than his brother Ben.

Kathy Jackson, is Bill’s 16 year
old girlfriend. She is pregnant
and is planning on marrying
Bill. Together they will move
into their own home.

Minnie Jackson, is Kathy’s
mother. She used to date
Jacob Mercer. She is also
from Newfoundland. She is
Catholic and has a drinking
problem. She is very
outspoken. Her husband
passed away a few years
ago. Her relationship with her
only daughter is strained.

Harold, is Minnie’s boyfriend.
He is Canadian but not from
Newfoundland. He works at
a funeral parlour as an
embalmer.
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The __________ Family
The patriarchal ruler of the
household is _______
The eldest son who has a
tense relationship with his
father and is leaving home
________
She has the role of the
“middle man” between her
husband and boys _______
The youngest son who is
getting married ___________
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
The Jackson’s
The youngest son’s
pregnant girlfriend ______
Her mother who a loud,
voluptuous alcoholic
widow and at one time
dated her daughters soon
to be father-in-law _______
This woman’s boyfriend
who has no lines in the play
but is a character
nonetheless ___________
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Toronto
Mercer Family Home
Early November day
Late fifties
Stage is divided into
three areas: kitchen,
dining room and
living room
Make note of the following themes in your notebook
to track as you read.
1. Loss of Cultural Identity (new world vs old world)
2. Generation Gap (tensions between parents and
children)
3. Dysfunctional Families – lack of communication
4. The Search for Independence an Identity
5. Religious prejudice and stereotypes (Catholics vs.
Protestants)
6. Traditional Gender Roles and Identity
7. Social Issues – Alcoholism and Teen Pregnancy
Characters to read..
Mary
2. Ben
3. Bill
4. Jacob
5. Kathy
6. Minnie
7. Stage directions
** See the reading
schedule**
1.
What is the setting of the play?
 Why is Billy packing a suitcase?
 What event takes place the night before
the play opens?
 Who is Kathy?
 Why is Kathy upset when Mary phones
her?
 Explain why Ben does not invite his father
to his graduation.

Who is Minnie Jackson?
 Why is Minnie “well off”?
 Why does Jacob hate Catholics?
 Why does Jacob tell the story about
Mary’s cousin Israel Parsons?
 Who did Mary used to go out with?
 How does Jacob test Ben’s manhood?

How did Minnie and her new boyfriend
meet?
 Why does Kathy flirt with Harold?
 How does Act 1 end?
 Speculate about the events to come in
Act 2.
 Do you think Bill and Kathy will get
married? Why or why not?

How does Mary feel about marriage at
such a young age?
 Why does Minnie feel they should go
ahead with the wedding? Do you
agree?
 Describe the relationship between
Minnie and her daughter.
 Why can it be said that Jacob learns
about Ben’s leaving in the worst possible
way?
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On page 85, Ben says, “And if you ever hit me
again...” What does this suggest to the
audience?
What was special about Ben’s birth?
Which of Ben’s actions prove he loves his
family?
Which of Jacob’s actions proves he loves his
family?
According to Jacob, why does Ben refuse to
stay in the Mercer home?
Why did Mary marry Jacob? (Think back to the
“Don’t she smell?” incident)

Jacob comments that there are
two types of people – “those that
are Newfound- landers and them
that wish they was”

Jacob laments the loss of
Newfoundland culture to a “new
brand of Newfie”; ignorant of the
life and culture (cod fish story)

The children do not speak using
the colloquial language of
parents; none have been there;
Bill is a “turncoat

Cultural elements in the play: They
speak in colloquial language,
drink “Screech” (Newfie alcohol);
sing and dance (I’se the b’y)

Jacob’s anti-Catholic views are evident throughout the play

He is Protestant; his father was a loyal Orangeman (a group of
Protestants in N. Ireland whose object is to oppose the Catholic
Church); his prejudices are rooted in family and culture

Jacob holds ignorant views of Catholics – they are murderers (story
of uncle Isaac; the nuns who murdered and buried babies)

Examples: He makes remarks about the Pope; the hypocrisy of the
church and the priest who drives a “Cadillac” and takes money
from his parishioners

Minnie and Kathy are Catholic - it is hinted at that this is one of the
reasons Jacob and Minnie did not marry

Jacob is upset that Bill is a “turncoat” (one who has converted)

Jacob - Stereotypically, males
are supposed to be strong
physically and emotionally
In Leaving Home, Jacob’s
ideas of masculinity limit the
relationship between him and
his sons
 Ex. He wants his sons to be
real men and “get out from
under [their] mother’s skirt”


Jacob passes on negative
traits that harm Ben and Bill in
their daily lives, in their present
and future relationships
These negative traits include:
 Inability to be honest with
himself AND others
 Projecting feelings onto others
(insecurity, jealousy,
resentment)
 Acting out of spite
 Being immature
 Alcohol addiction
 Escapism
 Blaming others
 Anger/ temper

Jacob alienates himself from others; especially
his family

Mary and the boys deliberately keep things
from Jacob because “it’s easier” on them; the
lack of communication causes more problems

Allows Jacob to play the victim; he accuses
Mary of being the “ringleader”; “the t’ree of
[them] against one of [him]”

He also curses, taunts, argues, manipulates
until he gets his own way (ex. when he is trying
to get Ben to stay he does all – sentiment; guilt;
anger)

He cannot allow his children to leave - loss of
control and failure as a father

He unwittingly forces them out of his home by
compelling them to reject him as a father and
as a man

Context: the play is set in the late 50’s

BEFORE the play (1940’s) = during WWII,
women worked; women acquired a
taste for work and greater independence and freedom

AFTER the play (1960’s) = Sexual
revolution/women’s lib movement

Mary = strong female, independent,
speaks her mind, also stereotypical
mother - holds family together; loving;
nurturing to husband and sons

Minnie = a negative example of this
new independence (Mary’s foil)

Kathy = an emerging gender
consciousness (works for her money,
willing to support Bill while he goes to
school)

Jacob = patriarchal attitude – sees
himself as the head of the house – he is
the father and demands respect –
deserved or not – authoritarian /
paternalistic, a “man’s man” (drinks,
curses; chivalrous; closed minded etc.)

Ben = the “new” modern man,
educated, independent, open-minded

Bill = weak, irresponsible, frivolous

Jacob’s view of his role is symbolized by
the BELT

Literally: the title of the playLeaving Home

Ben wants true independence
– 19 year old university
student; wants to move out on
his own

Also wants to escape Jacob
before he “devours” him

Bill and Kathy seek a false
independence – forced upon
by circumstances and desire
to escape her mother

Symbolized by: SUITCASE
Alcoholism:


Causes dysfunction in the relationship
between Minnie and Kathy (missed
the baby shower)
Jacob drinks - argumentative; sees
drinking as masculine; taunts Ben for
not drinking
Teenage pregnancy/pre-marital sex:

Related to the coming sexual
revolution and subsequent change of
morals regarding sex

Importance of marriage as an escape
from shame/ embarrassment
The Diploma:

Symbol of education,
independence, the new
role/strength of men

Represents the complex
nature of Jacob and Ben’s
relationship – a source of pride
and success, but also Jacob’s
insecurity, jealousy and
resentment

By ripping it apart, Jacob
symbolically attacked the
new order and the new
role/strength of the modern
male; Jacob reveals a lack of
respect for and knowledge of
his son.
The Belt:

Symbol of authority/discipline,
manhood/the old role and
strength of men

A symbol of Jacob’s anger
and hate; lack of self-control

By taking it from Jacob, Ben
establishes the new role of the
male: an educated, nonviolent, tolerant and
reasonable man
The Cod Fish:
The Suitcase:

Symbol of lost identity

Symbol of independence

The cod is the main staple
of Newfoundland and the
backbone of their
economy; this is gone and
Newfoundland is not the
same

The suitcase is symbolic of
moving on in life, change
and escape.

Can you make any
connections to the play
Leaving Home and the
novel Flowers for Algernon?

What similarities are there
between the characters
Charlie Gordon and Ben
Mercer?

Are there any themes that
exist in both works?

What character in the play
can you relate to the most
and why?

Do you have any questions
or concerns regarding
Leaving Home?

Did you enjoy reading the
play? Why or why not?
Culminating Performance Task
Have you selected a topic? Here are some
topics to choose from:
Teen marriage
 Teen pregnancy
 Alienation
 The mistreatment of the mentally disabled
 Education
 Physical abuse
 Substance abuse
 Family relationships
 The quest for independence

Culminating Performance Task
Have you found three sources of information
on your topic?
Sources must be credible – no wikipedia
 Of your three sources, one must be textual (i.e. book, magazine)
 The other sources may be from online media
 All sources must be printed off and submitted in your final package

Here are some sources to consider…
 cbc.ca or cnn.com
 The government of Canada website
 Statistics Canada
 The government of Ontario website
 Social organization publications
 The Toronto Star
Culminating Performance Task
For Monday…
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Topic should be selected
Topic should be researched
Three credible sources should be brought to class (printed
from on-line sources or bring books and magazines)
I will be conferencing with every student to ensure they are
on the right track
You will be writing summaries on your three sources – due
Tuesday