“…if there is anything wrong I assure you I’m capable of making the man suffer…”
Will appears from the trap door. He is lanky man who is not stupid, but has been stunted mentally. His clothes are poor and shabby but he has qualities and charm in him.
When Mrs Hepworth speaks to him he is nervous and when she goes to give him her card he ducks expecting a blow of her.
In the film version when we first see Will Mossop he looks similar to how he is described in the book. He looks weak and nervous and is very shocked when he hears what Mrs Hepworth says about his boots. It shows that he doesn’t expect anything good to happen to him. This shows his lack of confidence.
Before Maggie makes her proposal, she talks to Will about leaving Hobson’s. He tells her that he doesn’t want to leave Hobson’s. He says that he fears going out to a larger shop in Manchester.
“Nay, I’d be feared to go in them fine places”
When Maggie announces that they are going to get married Will is completely shocked. At first he thinks that Maggie just wants a partnership.
“Partnership! Oh that’s a different thing…”
Then he finds out that she wants them to get married and this shocks him even more. He is in total disbelief.
“ Well by gum! And you the masters daughter.”
At the end of Act 1 we see the first change in Will. Maggie announces to Hobson that she is marrying Will and that she wants too be paid for working in the shop. Hobson summons Will and goes to hit him with a belt. However will stands up to Hobson and tells him that it wasn’t his idea to marry Maggie, it was the other way around and then threatens Hobson by saying that if he hits him he will walk out with Maggie.
“ I’m none wanting thy Maggie, it’s her that’s after me. But I’ll tell you this, Mr Hobson: if you touch me with your belt, I’ll take her quick, aye, and stick to her like glue.”
This shows that Maggie has already started to change Will. He has stood up to Hobson, something that he wouldn’t have done when we first saw him. He has gained confidence from what has been happening to him.
In act 2 and 3 we see more changes in Will as time goes by. At the end of act2 when Maggie and Will are leaving to get married Will shows that he is now one hundred percent sure that he is going to get married to Maggie. Maggie gives him the chance to back out but he stands strong and tells her that he is sure that he truthfully wants to go through with it. The old Will might have chosen the easy option of backing out but now that he has changed, he decides to go through with it without hesitation.
“Yes, Maggie. I’m resigned. You’re growing on me lass. I’ll toe the line with you.”
After the wedding Hobson comes around to visit. Will takes his chance to show Hobson that he is now the man of the house by boldly inviting Hobson in.
“Aye, let him come”
Will also shows that he is growing more and more confident. He tries to offer Hobson advice and even when it seems that it is been thrown back at him he still tries to offer it. He is continuing to grow stronger and shows it.
In act 1 Will is described as not stupid but stunted mentally. It says that he has potential but needs a keen eye to detect them.
In act 4, he is now been described as not aggressive but prosperous and has self-confidence. The changes we have seen are that he has confidence in himself, he stands up for himself, and he says what he feels to anyone and is not afraid in doing it.
I think that the main change that he made was at the end of act 1. It showed that he had the power in him to stand up for himself and not to be bossed about. Since then it has grown more and more.
In act 4 we see the new Will. He walks into Hobson’s house/shop and takes charge of the situation. He lays down to Hobson what he wants. When Hobson tells him he can have his old job back Will tells him about his new business and how he has moved on since working at Hobson’s. He tells Hobson straight and stands up to Maggie about the name the shop will have.
“ Mossop and Hobson or its Oldfield road for us Maggie”
Will takes complete charge of what is going to happen to the shop. He plans the changes he is going to make and doesn’t take no for an answer from Hobson.
In Conclusion I feel that Maggie is solely responsible for the change in Will. Since she dragged him into marrying her he has changed into a strong, self-confident and self-assured man. At the end of act 1 he shows that he won’t be bossed about by Hobson and becomes determined to marry Maggie.
He turns into the strongest man in the play from being the weakest. He now knows what he is doing in life and is not afraid of changes as he was at the beginning of the play. He is now successful and respectable but he doesn’t gloat or boast over Hobson’s misfortunes. At the end of the play he shows of all his new qualities. Will’s change has happened for the best for him without a doubt but not for Hobson. Hobson used to be in charge of Will and boss him around but now the tables have turned as Hobson now needs Will.