Look Back in Anger by John Osborne

 

 

LOOK BACK IN ANGER

 

   - JOHN OSBORNE

 

 BRIEF BACKGROUND OF THE PLAYWRIGHT

 

            John James Osborne was an English Playwright, screen writer and actor born in Fulhan, London, on 12 December 1929.  His father Thomas Osborne died in 1941, leaving the young boy with an insurance settlement which he used to finance a private education at Belmont College and he was expelled.

              Osborne explored many themes and genres, writing for stage, film and T.V.  His personal life was extravagant and iconoclastic.  He was notaries for the ornate violence of his language, not only on behalf of the political causes he supported, but also against his own family, including his wives and children.  His other literary works include:  The Entertainer and Inadmissible Evidence.  Looking Back in Anger is considered one of the most important plays in the modern British, theater.  It was the first known example of “Kitchen Sink drama”, a style of theater that explored the emotion and drama beneath the surface of ordinary.   

 

 

 

BACKGROUND/SETTING OF THE PLAY

 

             Looking back in Anger (1956) is a realist play.  Realism in the theater was a general movement that began in the 19^th century, around the 1870 and remained present through much of the 20^th century.  It was aimed at bringing a greater real life situation to texts and performances.  Characters are believable and are everyday people (types), stage settings (locations) and props are other indoors is believable.  Dialogue is not heightened for effect, but that of everyday speech (vernacular), protagonist can rise up against the odds to assert him/her against an injustice of some kind.

  The play focuses on the life and marital struggles of an intelligent and educated but disaffected young man of working class origin Jimmy porter, and his equally competent yet impassive upper middle class wife, Alison.  The supporting characters include; Cliff Lewis, an amiable welsh lodger who attempts to keep peace, and Helena Charles, Alison’s snobbish friend. Looking Back in Anger is largely autobiographical, based on Osborne’s time living with Pamela lane in cramped accommodation in Derby.  The play was the first well-known example of “kitchen sink drama”, a style of theater that explored the emotion and drama beneath the surface of domestic life.  The play takes place in the porter’s one-room flat, fairly large attic room.  The furniture is simple and rather old, a double bed dressing table and book.

              It is also based on Osborne unhappy marriage to actress, Pamela lane and their life in cramped accommodation in Derby.  While Osborne aspired towards a career in theater, lane was more practical and materialistic not taking Osborne’s ambitions seriously, it also draws from Osborne’s early life.

 

PLOT ACCOUNT

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

             Osborne’s Looking Back in Anger opens in the attic at the apartment of Jimmy Porter and Allison, his wife.  The setting is mid 1950 small town in England.  Jimmy and Allison share their apartment with Cliff Lewis; a young working class man who is best friend with Jimmy although is more educated than Cliff.  They both run a business that is sweet-stay together.  As soon as the first act opens on a Sunday in April.  Jimmy and Cliff are seen reading the Sunday papers while Allison is ironing in a corner of the room. Jimmy is a hot-tempered young man and he begins to provoke both Cliff and Alison.  He is antagonistic towards Cliff’s intellectual and class back ground and makes fun of him for his low intelligence.  He accuses Cliff of being ignorant when he tries to concentrate on his reading.  “You are too ignorant… why don’t you get my wife to explain it to you” (4) Cliff who is good-nature takes the insult calmly.  Jimmy also attempts to provoke his wife.  Alison, thereby making fun of her family and her former status before she married him; Jimmy also seems to display a nostalgic feeling for England’s powerful past.  Alison, who is tired of Jimmy’s rants and unnecessary arguments and quarrel, begs for peace.  Cliff attempts to make peace between the two, and this leads to a playful scuffle between the two.

              As soon as Jimmy leaves, Alison confides in Cliff that she is pregnant with Jimmy’s child, though she has not told Jimmy yet, Cliff advises her to tell him, but when Cliff goes out and re-enters the room, the two instead, fall into an intimate game.  Jimmy impersonates a stuffed bear and Alison impersonates a toy squirrel.  Cliff returns to tell Alison that her old friend. Helena Charles has called her on phone, and Alison leaves to attend to the call and returns with the news that Helena is coming to stay for a visit. Jimmy who does not like Helena becomes furious and he wishes that Alison would suffer in order to know what it means to be a real person.  He assures Alison that she could have a child only to watch it die.  Two weeks later, Helen has arrived and Alison discusses her relationship with Jimmy.  She reveals how they met when they were young; they used to crash parties with their friends, Hugh Tanner.  Jimmy maintains affection for Hugh left to travel the world and Jimmy stayed to be with Alison.  Jimmy seems to regret that he could not leave, but he is also angry at Hugh for abandoning his mother. 

Helena inquires about Alison’s affectionate relationship with Cliff, and Alison reveals that they are just friends.

             However, Cliff and Jimmy return to the flat and Helena tells them that she and Alison are leaving for church. Jimmy goes into an anti-religious rant and argument and ends up insulting Alison’s family once again.  Helena becomes angry and Jimmy dares her to slap him on the face, warning her that he will slap her back. Jimmy tells her how he wanted his father to die as a young man.  His father had been injured fighting on the Spanish civil war and had returned to England only to die shortly after Alison and Helena leave for church and Jimmy feels betrayed by his wife.  A phone call comes in for Jimmy and leaves the room.  Helena then disclose to Alison that he has called Alison opines that she will go when her father comes for her the next day.  When Jimmy returns, he tells Alison that Mrs. Tanner, Hugh’s mother is sick and is going to die.  Jimmy decides to visit her and he demands that Alison should make a choice of whether to go with Helena or him, meanwhile Alison picks up her things and he leaves for church instead, and Jimmy collapses on the bed, heartbroken by his wife’s decision.

             The following evening, Alison is seen packing her things while talking to her father, Colonel Redfern.  The Colonel is a soft spoken person who has realized that he does not quite understand the love that exists between Jimmy and Alison.

He admits that the actions of him and his wife are partly to blame for their split.  The colonel was an officer in the British military and served in India, and he is nostalgic for his time there.  He considers his service to be same of the best years of his life.  Alison observes her father is hurt because the present is not the past and that Jimmy is also hurt because he feels the present is only the past Alison begins to pack her toy squired but then she decides not to continue with it.

             In the same vein, Helena and Cliff arrives the scene, and Alison leaves a note (letter) for Jimmy who explains the reason why she has left and she hands it over to Cliff.  After Alison leaves Cliff becomes angry and gives the letter to Helena, blaming her for the situation.  Jimmy returns dejected and bewildered that he was almost knocked down by Colonel Redfern’s car and that Cliff pretended not to see him when he was walking by on the street.  He then reads Alison’s letter and becomes very angry.  Helena drops the bombshell when she tells Jimmy that Alison is pregnant, but Jimmy tells her that he does not care about it.  He insults Helena and she slaps him back before they passionately kiss each other.

             Several months elapse and the third act opens to reveal Jimmy and Cliff once again reading the Sunday papers, while Helena stands in the corner ironing.  Jimmy and Cliff still engage in their unnecessary argument.  Jimmy and Cliff also perform musicals and comedy shows, but when Helena leaves cliff acknowledges that things do not feel the same with her here. Cliff then informs Jimmy that he wants to move out of the apartment Jimmy takes the news calmly and tells him that he has been a loyal friend and is worth more than any woman. 

When Helena returns, the three of them plan to go out, before Alison suddenly re-appears.  Alison and Helena engage in a talk, while Jimmy leaves the room.  He begins to loudly play his trumpet.  Alison has lost her baby and she looks very sick.  Helena reveals to Alison that she should be angry with her for what she has done, but Alison is only grieved by the loss of her baby.  Helena is driven to distraction by Jimmy’s trumpet and implores her to come into the room.  Jimmy laments the fact that Alison has lost the baby but takes it lightly.  Helena then reveals to Alison and Jimmy that she still knows right and wrong, and that her sense of morality has not be eroded and she is of the opinion that she must leave. 

Alison attempts to persuade her to stay because Jimmy would be alone if she eventually leaves.  As soon as Helena leaves, Jimmy attempts to become angry once again but Alison informs him that she has gone through the emotional and physical suffering that he has always wanted her to experience.  Jimmy also realizes the fact that she has greatly suffered and Jimmy becomes softer and tender towards her.  The play ends in happy note with Jimmy and Alison embracing each other, as they resume their game of bear and squirrel.

 

 

ACT BY ACT SUMMARY

 

ACT 1 (1-25)

 

             The play Look Back in Anger is set in a one room apartment at the top of Victorian house, attic.  The shabby furnishings mark this apartment as a working class space. The newspaper which represents Jimmy’s attempt to live like a member of the well educated elite make the apartment seems less civilized. We see Jimmy porter and Cliff Lewis seated on opposite sides of the stage and reading newspapers.  The opening of the play gives detailed descriptions of the disposition of each character.  Jimmy, who is about 25 years old, is described as “disconcerting mixture of sincerely and cheerful malice of tenderness and free-booting restless, full of pride, a combination which separates the sensitive and insensitive alike: Cliff who is about the same age as Jimmy is almost the opposite of jimmy.  He is relaxed almost to lethargy” and easy going.  Cliff demands other’s love while Jimmy despises it.

             Also present in the attic is Alison Porter, Jimmy’s wife who is tall, slim dark and whose personality is not yet known to audience.  She is ironing a pile of laundry, Jimmy throws his paper down in annoyance and disgust and complains that the book reviews sound the same and that they provide no intellectual stimulation and is boring  “Different books-same reviews”.  He inquires to know if the papers make Cliff feel ignorant before he calls him “a peasant”.  The audience comes to understand that Cliff has not received the same education that Jimmy has received.  Jimmy also accuses cliff of being low intelligent when he condition his wife, Alison to explain what Cliff is reading to him.  “Why don’t you yet my wife to explain it to you? she’s educated” (4) Jimmy then transfers his antagonism towards Alison who is only half listening to his ranting as Cliff tries to pacify Jimmy, but he persists with his ranting.  He obviously states that even Alison is not as brilliant as others thinks she is.  Jimmy also becomes offset when he learns that nobody is listening to him when he speaks.  Jimmy is “hungry”and angry at the same time, and Cliff mocks at him for always wanting food. “You’re like a sexual maniac only with you its flood.  I will end up in the News of the World… Don’t see any use in your eating at all.  You never get any fatter” (5) Jimmy disagrees with Cliff on his belief that he (Jimmy) will get fat someday because “we just burn everything up?  He also demands that Cliff make him some tea, and Cliff complains bitterly that Jimmy has creased his paper and Jimmy boast that ‘I’m the only one who knows how to treat a paper or anything else, in this house’.

             Cliff, unlike Jimmy, is kind and gentle with Alison.  His affection for her is not destructive, though he likes Jimmy, who came from a different class background.  Cliff’s flirtation, which takes place in front of Alison’s husband, shows that traditional gender and family role are fluid in this play.This happens when Cliff kisses Alison’s hand and put her fingers in his mouth, and Jimmy then conditions Cliff to give her, her finger back, and don’t he so sickening.  Cliff lets go Alison’s hand and confesses that he’d been reading a “moving” article by Bishop Bromley, who said that Christian should aid or support the manufacture of the hydrogen bomb. Jimmy asks if this moves Alison, and she answers affirmatively, while reading the column himself, Jimmy reveals that the Bishop denies any differences between working class people and others.  He quotes from the article in which Bromley argues that this idea is a lie popularized by the working classes, for their own selfish interest.  Jimmy opines that the argument sounds like the kind of argument Alison’s father, colonel Redfern would succor to.  Jimmy attempt to control his wife as he asks her to make him tea, thereby forcing her into traditionally domestic role, though he does not even want tea.  There is a sense that he wants the power that the upper class has but doesn’t know what to do with it, as he rejects the upper class’ culture by rejecting the tea.  He also bullies Cliff by denying him the right to answer for himself.  His anger then overshadows the room.

             Alison offers to iron Cliff’s wrinkled trousers and Cliff also wants a pipe, but cannot stand the smell of it and so starts to smoke a cigarette even though Jimmy warns him they will upset his ulcers.  Jimmy begins to reflect on the state of the English nation.  He remembers an old saying about England….  “We get our cooking from Paris, our polities from Moscow, and our morals from Port Said”. He know that he shouldn’t be very patriotic, but he say sarcastically that he can’t help but idealize Alison’s father’s time spent in the British army in India.

             Cliff and Jimmy discuss whether Alison’s friend, Webster might come over to visit.  Jimmy hopes not, but Alison notes that he is the only person that understands him.  Jimmy also talks about Alison’s brother, Nigel who was a soldier in the British army and is touring the world; Jimmy believes that he’ll be in parliament one day, though he also believes Nigel “seeks sanctuary in his own stupidity.”  Also, Jimmy continues to disrespect Alison and her family.  He calls them sycophantic, phlegmatic and pusillanimous means, He goes further to explain that the last word means “Wanting of firmness of mind, of small courage, having a little mind, mean, spirited, cowardly.  Alison feels extremely angry and returns to the concert Jimmy is getting set to listen to radio on air.  As Alison continues with her ironing, Jimmy complains that he can’t hear the music because of the noise.  He angrily turns off the radio and Alison warns him for acting like a child. He begins to yell at her and generally complains about loud women before he describes her as “a dirty old Arab, sticking his fingers into some mess of lamb fat and gristle”.  Church bells start ringing outside and the noise affects Jimmy the more Cliff tries to save the situation by pretending to dance with Jimmy.

             As soon as Cliff and Jimmy engage in a petty protest, they push themselves into Alison and the Iron burns her arm.  Jimmy attempts to apologize to her but she yells at him to leave the room. Jimmy goes into his room to play trumpet, while Cliff decides to nurse her wound with soap. Alison confides in Cliff and says “I don’t think I can make much more… I don’t think I can take much more… I don’t think anything more to do with love “.  Cliff admonishes her not to give up before Alison further reveals to Cliff that she is pregnant and Jimmy is unaware.  He urges her to tell Jimmy whom he suspects does not love her because Jimmy will also be of the opinion that he might think she is trapping him with the pregnancy.  Alison reveals to Cliff that Jimmy has “his own private mortality” and that Jimmy has been angry when he slept with her on their wedding night and found out she was a virgin as if “an untouched woman would defile him Jimmy enters the room and finds out hat Cliff and Alison are very close together on her couch and Jimmy does not utter a word as he sits to read the papers, he only pokes far at how physically affectionate they are.

            Jimmy re-enters and apologies to Alison for pushing her down and he acknowledge that he sometimes takes her for granted and hunting her emotionally.  They (Jimmy and Alison) tease each other and hug as well.  Cliff has not been able to enter his house because Mrs. Drury their landlord enters; Cliff discloses to Alison that she has a call from Helena Charles.  Alison leaves to take the call.  Jimmy informs Cliff that Helena is Alison’s old friend and he calls her a bitch, and he goes further to say that she is one of her first “natural enemy.  Jimmy reflects that he has had enough of this expense of spirit lark, as far as women are concerned.  He goes through Alison’s purse and finds a letter from her mother.  He then becomes angry because Alison and her mother write letters but never mention his name because it is a “dirty word” to them.

             Alison informs Jimmy that Helena is coming to stay with them while she is in town, this angers Jimmy who begins to verbally assault his wife, telling her that if only she “could have a child and it would die…. let it grow let a recognizable (sic) human face emerge from that little mass of Indian rubber and wrinkles”, then she would understand that she devours his passion as a python devours an animal.

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF INCIDENCE IN ACT 1

 

At the beginning of the play, Jimmy is described as a study in dualism, he is angry and bitter, yet he is very tender and loving.  Alison porter is also described as a woman that has been beaten down by life; her life has not turned out as she hoped it would.  Cliff is described as a likable man who is direct opposite of Jimmy for he suffers Jimmy’s abuse.

 

 This act also shows that this love/hate relationship with British culture is characteristic of Jimmy’s attempts to retain a vibrant patriotism even while being pessimistic about the state of English affairs.  It also shows Jimmy as an anarchist, opposed to any kind of organization being it politics or religion.

 

 Alison’s allusion to his friend Webster and former girlfriend, Madeline shows that they understood his need for more enthusiastic mode of living.

 

 Jimmy’s comment about the “American age” illustrates his nostalgia for the former British Empire.  He hates people who refuse to believe that such an empire does not exist anymore, such as Alison’s father.  He sees this British Empire as point in history in which the Englishman was allowed to truly live as himself.

 

 The moment Jimmy play’s trumpet is an allusion to the twentieth century British fascination with Black America Jazz culture.  Jimmy playing the trumpet represents his association with a culture which he believes is truly alive.  Jimmy’s anger is a result of not being able to live such life.

 

 Alison and Cliff’s relationship is also revealed and it is a strange one because the two seen to have a close physical connection, they often touch and hug, yet this does not make Jimmy jealous.

 

There is a dramatic Irony and foreshadowing when Alison wishes that she could see her child die and Jimmy’s attack on her foreshadows the death of her child and her future hardships.

 

The play Look Black in Anger is a critique of feminism in 1950s society or an attack on women’s world Jimmy’s anger is as a result of the anger felt by a generation of men domesticated by a feminine culture.  Some critics argued that Osborne’s attempt was completely misogynistic (to show hatred for women).

 

ACT TWO SCENE 1

 

As the scene opens two weeks later, Alison is seen boiling water for tea on a Sunday afternoon.  Helena enters who is at the same age with Alison. Jimmy particularly dislikes Helena and it is pretty obvious.  Helena places a bowl of salad on the table, and Alison appreciates her for helping in the house in the last couple of weeks “When Helena is there, everything seems to be very different” (37).  But Alison is worried that Mrs. Duruy is going to kick them out of the apartment. Helena changes the conversation to Cliff and she asks Alison if they are in love and Alison denies it.  Alison goes further to tell Helena the story of their first few months in marriage where they live without any money or Job and they went to live with Hugh Tanner, a friend of Jimmy.  High was even more angry and insulting then Jimmy and Alison realized for the first time in her life she was cut off from all the people in her life.  Her parents had made her sign over all her money and assets when she married Jimmy because they believed him to be utterly ruthless”. They also go for parties just to get food to eat.  Helena insists that Alison must either reveal to Jimmy that he is either going to be a father or else leave him.  Alison points towards the squirrel and teddy bear in the corner of the room and reveals that those animals represent both of them, and that she pretends to be squirrel and Jimmy pretends to be bear.  Helena conditions her to fight Jimmy or else he will kill her.  Helena and Alison are getting set for church where they are invited, and Cliff laments that he has not yet read the papers, but Jimmy mocks him and says he has no intellect or curiosity and is nothing but “welsh trash”.

 

              Jimmy discloses to everyone that he has composed a song which is entitled “you can quit hanging round my counter Mildred Cos you‘ll find my position is closed”.  He begins to sing that verse.  It is a song about how he is tired of women and would rather drink and he alone than have to deal with their problems.  He has also written a poem and the title is “Cesspool”. Helena then confronts Jimmy and demands to know why he’s such an unpleasant person to be with.  Jimmy is surprised to see Alison dress in front of a mirror getting set for church.  Alison gets angry as he attempts to discourage her for going and she sarcastically reminds him how he rescued her from her family so that she would never have to suffer with them again. Jimmy confesses that he knew from the moment he met Alison’s mother that she would stop at nothing to keep him from her daughter.  He compares her to a “rhinoceros in labor” whose “Bellow” makes male rhinos ran away and “pledge celibacy”  He suggests that Alison mother’s motherly protectiveness makes her sexually unattractive, and that her un-lady like ”roughness” makes her comparable to a prostitute.  Jimmy also mocks Alison mothers suspicious of Alison.  His morality isn’t actually superior to that of this upper class character.  Jimmy says he has every right to talk about Alison’s mother, when he calls her “that old bitch” who will soon die and being eaten by worms.

             Jimmy looks at Helena and asks her what is wrong and she tells him that she falls sick with contempt and loathing Jimmy promises to write a book about everyone in the room, a recollection of their time together “In fire, and blood”. My blood, Jimmy also tries to figure out why Helena is still living with them since her play has finished eight days earlier, because he believes that she is up to some bad mischiefs and she might influence Alison.  He calls Helena a sacred cow before he gives a monologue on Helena’s life.  He says she is an expert in the new “Economics – the Economics of the super nature”.  Her type has thrown out “Reason and progress” and look towards the past, the Dark Age.  Helena wishes to slap Jimmy but, Jimmy warns that he will slap her back, and goes to ask her if she ever watches someone die.” Anyone who’s never wanted somebody die is suffering from a pretty bad case of virginity” Jimmy opines.  He casts his mind back then when he watched his father die when he was ten.  He was the only one who cared about his father, a part from the family that sent money every month, even the mother care less.  This has also contributed to Jimmy’s anger and helplessness.  He tells Helena that he knows more about love, betrayal and death, when he was ten years old than she will probably ever know all her life.

             Jimmy enters and demands to know why his suffering means nothing to Alison and calls her a Judas and Phlegm.  Alison gets provoke and throws a glass across the room where it shatters. All she ever wants is peace and she goes to the bed to put on her shoes.  Helena summons Jimmy for a phone call.  She turns to cliff and asks why he does nothing when Jimmy is angry and Cliff confesses that where he comes from that they are used to brawling and excitement.  Helena reveals to Alison that she has sent a message to Alison’s father to come and get her home.  Jimmy re-enters and tells Cliff that Hugh’s mum has had a stroke and is dying and that he must leave to attend to her.  As the church bell goes, Jimmy tells, Alison that he needs her to come with him.  Alison who is initially undecided on whether to leave with Helena or stay with Jimmy is shock.

 

ACT TWO SCENE II

 

             The scene opens the next evening, with Alison packing her suitcase and her father Colonel Redfern sits by in a chair.  He is a handsome man in his late sixties.  He is slightly withdrawn a dedicated and strict soldier for fifty years.  He feels disturbed by everything that is happening to his daughter. When Colonel Inquires about Jimmy’s whereabouts, he’s told that he has gone to visit Mrs. Tanner in London.  Alison’s father explains how Mrs Tanner set Jimmy up with the sweet stall and how he has remained fond of her through the years.  The Colonel wonders why Jimmy, an educated young man decided to work in such a place and Alison reveals that he has tried so many Jobs such as Journalism, advertising and vacuum cleaners.  When Alison and her father discuss her life with Jimmy, she tells him how Jimmy hates all of them and how he believes it is “high treason” for Alison to be in touch with her family.  The Colonel admits that Jimmy’s mother was wrong to criticize Jimmy and calls him a criminal.  Alison says that she believes his mother is only trying to protect her and the Colonel says that he wishes they had never interfered with his daughter’s life.  The colonel insists that Jimmy and Alison are to blame for everything that has happened.  Alison is shocked at this revelation, but the colonel explains to her that they are birds of the same feather because she likes “to sit on the fence because it’s comfortable and more peaceful”.  Alison reminds her father that Jimmy had once threatened her and that she was the one that is married to him anyway.  Alison tells the colonel how Jimmy insulted both her mother and dad for he called her mother an “over-privileged old bitch” and called the colonel a “plant left over from the Edwardian wildness that can’t understand why the sun isn’t shining any more”.  Asking the reason why she married Jimmy, Alison calls such question “the famous American question – sixty four dollar one. She says he perhaps married her for revenge.  Jimmy thought that “he should have been another Shelley and can’t understand now why I’m not another Mary and you’re not William Godwin.  The colonel wonders why youths of nowadays no longer marry for love.  Alison admits that Jimmy complicated her life by throwing down the “gauntlet”

             The colonel admits to Alison that Jimmy might be right in calling him an old Edwardian.  He tells her the story of how he left England in 1914 to command the Maharajah’s army in India.  He loved India and did not return to British until 1947.  He discovered that he was very happy over there. Alison tries to compare her father’s notion and Jimmy’s Idea about England. To colonel, everything in England has changed but to Jimmy everything is still the same.  Alison puts the squirrel in her suitcase but it reminds her of the moment of affection that she shared with Jimmy and this makes her doubt her decision to reject him and his lifestyle.  She makes a choice and goes to her father, leans against him and weeps.  The colonel tells her she’s taking a big step in deciding to leave with him.  Helena enters as soon as Alison is done packing.  She insists on going with Alison because she is having an interview the next day in Birmingham.  Alison hands a letter to Cliff for Jimmy and leaves with her father.

             Cliff decides to meet Jimmy up at the train station to have few drinks, suddenly Jimmy burst in the room angry and complains to Helena that the colonel almost ran him down with his car.  Cliff throws the letter at him and he opens it and read.  Alison says in the letter that she desperately needs peace and that she needs time “I shall always have a deep, loving need of you… “Jimmy gets provoked in the process and calls Alison phony and he warns Helena to her greatest surprise that Alison is pregnant with his child.  He also recounts how for the past eleven hours he watched Hugh’s mother die, he therefore blames Alison for taking Hugh’s mother seriously and himself does not care about Alison’s baby and she lets out a cry before she groups him and they kiss passionately.

 

SIGNIFICANT OF INCIDENCE IN ACT II SCENE I & II

 

(a)    The introduction of Helena Charles portrays that she is the opposite of Alison, though Helena is upper class while Alison is working class.

(b)    The bear and squirrel games is explained by Alison to mean “an unholy Priest hole of being animals to one another”.  It shows that only way that both can truly love each other is to completely detach themselves from the world-go separate ways.  It also represents the conditions of their real life and an expression and makes us of a lost childhood.

(c)     This Act II also shows that Jimmy is misogynistic.  His attack on Alison’s mother also demonstrates this in the play.  He is cruel to older; upper class women especially Alison’s mother and this makes Alison’s Mum to hire a private detective to stop Alison’s relationship with Jimmy.  This seems to be his reason for extreme hatred for all women like her mother.

(d)    The death of Jimmy’s father and his family did nothing to help him. 

   It haunts him greatly and makes him feels both superior to others and to long for a more real way of living.

(e)     This scene also presents Colonel Redfern sympathetic character, a former

 Military man who represents the past, He does not understand the new,   British generations; Osborn argues that this attitude mirrors the collective British conscience which cannot understand the angry young men who are   working class.  The Colonel is upset because the present is not like the past, while Jimmy is angry because he views the present as the same as the past and sees no future for himself or anyone else, for Jimmy, the past creates   Stagnation and anger.

 

 

ACT 3 SCENE 1

 

              The scene opens after several months.  Helena who now occupies Jimmy’s apartment is ironing in a corner.  Jimmy is smoking pipe and Cliff implores him to put it out.  Jimmy begins to tell them of an outrageous tabloid story in one of the papers they are reading, about a cult in midlands that is involving in grotesque and evil practices by drinking the blood of a white cockerel and making “midnight invocation to the Coptic goddess of fertility.  Jimmy news concludes that Alison’s mother is performing evil magic (voodoo rituals) to cause him pain.

             Jimmy turns his attention back to the papers he’s been struggling to understand.  He then relates a story he read concerning a Yale professor who is on his way to England to prove that William Shakespeare changed his sex while writing The Tempest and Helena laugh at such story.  Jimmy changes the subject and reseals the title for his new act he calls it “Nobody” after a number of suggested title.  Cliff is preparing to leave because he’s hired of sweet stall.  Meanwhile, Jimmy is even making plans to close it and start from scratch, just then a knock is heard at the door, behold Alison is the one knocking.

 

ACT 3 SCENE II

 

             The second scene of the Act three opens and ends in an emotional and confusing way.  Helena is pouring Alison a cup of tea to help her feel better. Alison apologizes to Helena for coming to the apartment to disturb her and Jimmy.  Helena now reveals that things are over between her and Jimmy. And she announces her departure.  Alison begs her to stay because Jimmy will have no one and she insists that she’d be a fool to return to Jimmy and that he’ll find someone to take care of him “one of the renaissance popes”. As soon as Jimmy enters, there is a cold concern in him.  Helena begins to mention that she lost her baby and she needs to leave and can’t take part in all this suffering.  As soon as Helena leaves, Jimmy begins to cry.  Alison decides to leave too before jimmy stops her. He confesses to her: for he denied her the desired love and care.  He asks her if she remembers the night they met.  He tells her he admired her relaxed spirit and that he knew she was what he wanted.  She tells him when she lost the child, and she wished he could have seen her.  “So stupid and ugly and ridiculous…  “I’m in the fire and all I want is to die. Realizing the pain she has passed through. Jimmy stops her and kneels with her, as he tries to comfort her.  He reminds her that mockingly with tender irony that they will be together as a bear and a squirrel.  He assures her he’s “a bit of a soppy, scruffy sort of a hear, but that he’ll protect her “we‘ll be together in our bear’s cave and our squirrel’s drey and we’ll live on honey and nuts” (130) Jimmy gives Alison a note of assurance as they embrace each other.

 

SIGNIFICANCE OF INCIDENCE IN ACT 3 SCENE 1 & II

 

(a)     Jimmy’s reference to writing a book some day from his own is symbolic of the sacrifice that he believe he is making by living a domestic life first with Alison and now with Helena.  Blood therefore is a symbol of violence and sexual tension that still remains between Jimmy and Alison.

 

(b)     This scene has also helped in assessing his rejection of traditional religion which also represents the past, though he later finds solace and sense of stability in the past for he idealizes Cliff’s friendship just as he does to Hugh and Mrs.  Tanner and every other relationship in his life.

 

 

(c)      Alison and Helena have both come to understand Jimmy’s character and attitude as someone being stack in “the French Revolution”, meaning that his extreme emotion seems to bring anarchy to his life and to the lives of those around him.  Alison sees him as an “Eminent Victorian”, meaning he is nostalgic for an idealized past, and that his life is lived in the suffering he experienced at the death of his father.

 

(d)     Helena’s conclusion is significant and she’s established as the moral compass of all the characters.  The audience also questions her morality at the end in this act.  She steals Alison’s husband and accepts to leave him for Alison to start a new life.

 

 

CHARACTERIZATION

 

JIMMY PORTER

 

             Jimmy porter is the central character in the play; a twenty five year-old man who lives in Britain’s industrial midlands.  He is an educated; well-read individual who works in a factory that is tends a sweet stall he is trying to buy, and issues diatribes about British society, which he feels has denied him opportunity simply because of his working class background.

            Jimmy is self-conceited, self-centered and individualistic.  He prides himself on his honestly, but can be cruel, as seen in his verbal attacks on his wife, Alison and his father, and on, Cliff Lewis, who lives with them.

             Jimmy is a misogynist, that is, one who hates women.  He hates womenfolk with passion and never takes them seriously.  He sees them as people who cannot contribute anything meaningful to his life.  He tends to transfer the anger in the past to them.  He maltreats Alison, makes her feel subhuman to the point of resistance and her father, until Colonel Redfern comes to her rescue, and the Colonel takes her home.  His only reason for maltreating Alison is the fact that she is too possessive and that she cannot understand him because she has never suffered, because he suffered at the age of ten; for he had to watch his father die.  Because he insists on total loyalty, Jimmy feels betrayed when his wife, Alison, does not accompany him to the dead bed of a friend’s mother, yet he does not see anything wrong with his having an affair with Helena, his wife’s friend.

             Jimmy is egocentric and egoistic; for he cares only about his own feeling and cares less about other people around him.  He seems incapable of empathizing with his wife, even when she grieves over losing their baby. He takes her back only after he has realized her importance and completely abased herself to him.  Jimmy is the “angry young man” of the play.  Born working class but highly educated like his friend and roommate, Cliff but Jimmy have an ambivalent relationship with his educated status and yet frustrated that his education can do nothing to effect his class status.  Jimmy is a frustrated character who wallows in his feelings of alienation and uselessness in post-war England.  Jimmy is a bundle of contradictions.  He is passionate about progressive politics but he treats his wife like slave, which might seem contrary to being progressive, Jimmy is filled with rage but the reason for this misery is not known to anyone.

 

ALISON PORTER

 

             Alison is a woman from an upper class background, and Jimmy’s wife, and Colonel Redfern’s doting daughter.  She is attracted to Jimmy’s energy, but also gets exhausted by their constant catering and fighting.  Jimmy accuses her of being too complacent, tired and lacking “enthusiasm”, and her father, Colonel Redfern agrees that she has a tendency towards too much neutrality.  Alison feels struck between her upper class upbringing and the working class world of her husband.  After three years of turbulent marriage, she becomes miserable especially when she lost her child to Jimmy’s constant torment.  She is very taciturn and the only way that she can survive Jimmy’s constant verbal attacks on her and on her family is to conceal her feelings and remain silent.  She openly confesses that Jimmy is the only man she has ever loved, Alison who constantly yearns for peace, seeks the advice of her friend.  Helena and leaves with her father, Colonel Redfern without informing Jimmy that she is pregnant.

            After losing the baby, Alison returns to Jimmy, begs for forgiveness for betraying him and promises to be a type of wife he wants and needs after tasting suffering.  This suffering makes her commit more truly to the emotion inherent in Jimmy’s life.  “It doesn’t matter! I was wrong.  I was wrong! I don’t want to be neutral, I don’t want to be saint, and I want to be a lost cause.  I want to be corrupt and futile” (127-128) Alison’s final admittance of what she has not actually done here makes her a down-to-earth humble and sensible woman.

 

CLIFF LEWIS

 

            Cliff is Jimmy’s friend, also from the working class.  He is a gentle man to the core, a direct opposite of Jimmy porter.  He does not have Jimmy’s fire, wit or bossy and bully attitude like him; he also lacks cruelty and verbal abuse on others.  He is genuinely fond of Alison and shows his appreciation for her housekeeping efforts, and he tries also to defend her from Jimmy’s verbal and physical abuse.  Cliff personally bandages Alison’s arm after she gets burnt.

              Cliff is the most empathetic and sensitive character in the play, because he does not only share in others’ problem but also seems to understand what other people are feeling.  He is like a go between Jimmy and Alison because he seems to sacrifice time to make things right for them, even when Helena thinks that she hates Jimmy, Cliff guesses that he really desires him, and he is the only person who senses Alison’s attempt to break up the marriage. Cliff’s hatred for Helena makes him to move out of Jimmy’s house when he learnt about her attempt to move in.

              Cliff is a relaxed and easy-going fellow, with natural intelligence of the self taught.  His affectionate relationship with Alison bothers on a sexual one, but both of them are content with comfortable fondness rather than burning passion.  Cliff eventually decides to leave to pursue his own life, rather than staying in Jimmy’s apartment.  Cliff announces his departure in the following few words.  “I’ve just thought of trying somewhere different. The sweet-stall all right, but I think I’d like to try something else.  You’re highly educated, and it suits you. But I need something a bit better” (112).

             Cliff is good nature and he serves as Alison’s confidant who is ever willing to offer his support to her.  He admonishes Alison never to call her relationship with Jimmy a quit when she announces that she does not have anything to do with love, “you’re too young to start giving up-too young and too lovely… I’m wondering how much longer I can go on watching you too tearing the inside out of each other” (31-32).

 

 

 

HELENA CHARLES

 

              Helena is a beautiful elegant actress, a friend of Alison and a member of her social circle; he comes to spend a few days with the porters while acting in a play, but finds herself attracted to Jimmy.  She actually contributes to worsen Jimmy and Alison’s marriage and when she increases the pressure.  She calls Alison’s father, Colonel Redfern to come and take her home.

             Helena is a pessimist with a lot of shenanigans and cynical attitude.  She encourages Alison to leave Jimmy to ward off his cruelty”… you must get out of this mud-house.  The menagerie, he doesn’t seem to know what love or anything else means… listen to me.  You’ve got to fight him. Fight or get out otherwise he will kill you” (52) Helena reprimands Alison.  As soon as Helena persuades Alison to seek solace or olive branch from somewhere else, she remains in Jimmy’s house and becomes his mistress and his housekeeper Alison’s final return forces her out of Jimmy’s apartment.  This is because she has a strong code of middle class morals.

            Helena is bet on getting to know whether Cliff is in love with Alison, and she (Alison) finds it difficult to explain the situation when asked if Jimmy approves of it.

 

COLONEL REDFERN

 

              He is Alison’s father who is also a former colonel in the British army stationed in the English colony of India (back before 1947 that is, when India was still a colony of England.  He represents Britain’s great Edwardian past.  He was a military leader in India for many years before returning with his family to England.  He is quite particular and critical of Jimmy and Alison and Alison’s marriage, but admits that he is to blame for many of their problems because of his undue meddling in their affairs.  He is gentle and kind in his approach to issues and this makes him command respect.

             He is very incisive and he believes every standard should be maintained.  He feels discouraged about Jimmy resorting to below-standard Jobs such as sweet-stall. It does not seem an extraordinary thing for an educated young man to be occupying himself with. Why should he want to do that, of all things”.  The Colonel admits that both he and Alison’s mother are to blame for everything; he also becomes mystified when Alison reveals that her marriage to Jimmy is built on revenge mission.  As a believer of true love, Colonel wonders why youths of nowadays don’t marry for love.  “They have to talk about challenges and revenge. I just can’t believe that love between men and moment is really like that.

             Colonel Redfern is a calm and easy-going soldier who does not use his Juicy office to maltreat others.  He refuses to approach Alison’s maltreatment with military fashion, but waits patiently to listen to both parties involved.

 

HUGH TANNER

 

             Hugh is Jimmy’s friend who took Alison and Jimmy into his apartment in the first months of their marriage.  He was also Jimmy’s partner when they went on to raid against Alison’s upper class friend at fancy parties, and Jimmy saw him as a co-conspirator in the class struggle.  Hugh then leaves for China to write a novel and Jimmy felt betrayed.  This reveals Jimmy’s deep traditional values and his sense of patriotism.  He also gets angry at Hugh for abandoning his mother.  Mrs Tanner.

            As Jimmy’s childhood friend, he helped him start his sweet stall through the help of his mother.

 

MRS. TANNER

 

     She is Hugh Tanner’s Mum who helped Jimmy set up his sweet stall.  Jimmy loves her and when he learns that she has had a stroke, Jimmy visits her in the hospital.  Mrs. Tanner has been a good friend to both Jimmy and Alison.

 

MINOR CHARACTERS

 

Alison’s Mother

 

     Alison’s mother is strongly against Jimmy and Alison’s marriage and she demonstrates it in many ways all in a bid to protect her.

 

Miss Drury

 

     She is both Alison and Jimmy’s landlord.  They are both constantly worried that she will evict them because of their frequent quarrel, and rowdiness in the house.  Jimmy sees her as a thief because of his view of people that are rich.

 

Nigel

 

     He’s Alison’s brother who is also a politician.  Alison often complains about her inability to reach out to him during her first months to their marriage to show that she cares about him.

 

Madeline

     She is Jimmy’s first love, who is ten years older than him.  Jimmy sees her as a lady that possesses the spirit of enthusiasm and excitement which Alison does not have.

 

Webster

 

     He is Alison’s only friend that Jimmy believes and thinks has any value.  He plays banjo and understands Jimmy’s dialect.  Jimmy also sees him as a gay.

 

 

Theme in Look Back In Anger

 

Theme of Anger, Hatred and Loss of Childhood

 

             The expression of anger is known as aggression and people feel angry in order to reduce feelings mainly aroused by frustration.  Jimmy porter is an aggressive young man angry at almost every British institution such as the church, the monarchy, the government and he rants against “posh” Sunday papers. Although he buys them every weekend, he is against any form of upper class manners, but he married a girl from the class which he hates.  As a result of his class hatred, Jimmy attacks Alison both verbally and physically throughout the play since his wife reminds him of everything he despises from the beginning.  Jimmy verbally attacks Alison because he wants her to answer a question about an article in the newspaper but Alison defends that she has not read it yet.  He humiliates and attacks Alison and her brother, Nigel.

            Contrary to Jimmy, Alison does not give any direct reaction against Jimmy’s aggressive behavior.  She prefers to maintain silence.  She knows that if she gives any reaction to his attack, he will be triumphant.  Alison’s silence and seeming ignorance can also be considered as a weapon in order to save her from Jimmy’s assaults.  Jimmy not only attack Alison but also other members of her family and her friends.  He calls her parents “Militant, arrogant and full of malice” (19).  He labels her friends “sycophantic phlegmatic and of course, top of the bill pusillanimous.

             Jimmy also hates Alison’s mother because she is dedicated to her middle classrooms and her concern about her daughter marrying a man beneath her social status that she even hire a detective to watch Jimmy because he does not trust him.  This makes him angry at middle-class value.  He therefore calls Alison’s mum “old bitch” and she should be dead.

              Jimmy also attacks Helena verbally because she also represents the class he detests. When Helena and Alison are about to go out, Jimmy accuses Alison of letting Helena influence her to go to church as he yells “you Judas! You phlegm” He describes Helena as a “Saint in Dior’s Clothing”.  Throughout the play, Jimmy expresses physical aggression towards Alison, that is when he pushed Cliff on the ironing board and Cliff falls against Alison and she burns her arm on the Iron.

             Consequently, Jimmy’s anger against every member of the play can be attributed to his rough and thorny background and his loss of childhood.  Jimmy is frail and insecure because he says he was exposed to death, loneliness and pain at a very early age.  He watched his father dying when he was ten, and he claims that he knows what it is to lose someone.  He thinks that Alison does not know anything about loss or the feeling of helplessness.  Jimmy therefore is also insecure because he married a woman that is above his status.  Jimmy therefore was forced to deal with suffering from an early age.  Alison’s loss of childhood also is best seen in the way that she was forced to grow up too fast by marrying Jimmy.  His youth is wasted in the anger and abuse that her husband levels on her.

 

Class Struggle and Education

 

               The play centers on class struggle and the status of education in our society.  Jimmy comes from a working class background, but has been highly educated.  He went to a university but not gainfully employed.  He is still stuck running to sweet stall, and he does not feel fully comfortable and hasn’t been accepted into the upper classes.  He speaks and uses Jaw breaking words, read newspapers, but he sometimes has to look these words up in a dictionary.

             Alison and Jimmy’s relationship is the main meeting point where class struggle unfolds.  Alison is from an upper class background very different from Jimmy’s. Both portray the struggle between the two classes in military terms as the two just can’t  blend.  Jimmy is full of pride because of his education and this makes him alienate, separate and look down on others who are not so educated like himself, Cliff is such a character in the text.

 

Theme of Love and Instability

 

              The nature of love in the play is quite controversial; Jimmy and Alison’s marriage is consummated in the ground of revenge.  Their relationship is seen as master and servant relationship and they barely enjoy peace and harmony at home as Jimmy is always at the control of everything, while Alison’s business is to remain silent.  Jimmy believes that love is pain and suffering.  He therefore scorns Cliff and Alison’s love for each other, which is gentle fondness that does not correspond to his own brand of passionate, angry feeling.  Jimmy’s definition of love has to do with the class tensions between Jimmy and Alison, and she tells her father, colonel Redfern that Jimmy married her out of sense of revenge against the upper classes.  It was born out of sense of competition between classes.

             It is clear that Jimmy and Alison’s love for each other is not characterized by much tenderness though they do manage to exhibit one when they play their animal game.  Jimmy and Alison as the beer and squirrel are able to express more simple affection for each other, but only in a dehumanized manner.  In the first scene, Jimmy describes the game as a retreat from organized society.  Their relationship is marred by class struggle anger and suffering.

             Jimmy and Alison’s relationship lack feeling and stability, because Jimmy especially, does not nurse any aorta of feeling for Alison, as he feels undaunted or not worry at all when she lost her first baby, Alison who is ever ready to be with Jimmy walks away and returns quickly to him and they both renew their vows and opts for peace.

 

Theme of Feminism and Gender Inequality

 

     Jimmy is seen as a misogynist in the play, that is, one who hates women. He treats the two women in the play with disdain and utter rejection.  Alison seems to be doing the household work and otherwise be ignorant of any social development.  On the contrary, Jimmy treats her badly and has no regard for her as a wife by also verbally abusing her because in his eyes she is lazy and does not know how to lead a real life. Real life to Jimmy means that you have to suffer and have experienced real emotions.

              While Cliff and Alison’s father are very caring towards Alison, Jimmy disrespects and humiliates her because is a mere woman.  Cliff helps bandages her wound and her father rescues her from the cruelty of her domestic life with Jimmy.  Jimmy also accuses Alison’s mother when he called her “old bitch and also wishes she was dead”.  He resents her because she represents an upper class, educated ones who object to his marriage with Alison.  Jimmy also despises Helena’s being too churchy.  He feels nothing when Helena intends to leave his house before Alison resurfaces for the second time towards the end of the play.

             Also, Alison and her father, colonel Redfern want too fight against gender inequality, silently without any bridge of peace by leaving Jimmy’s house.  The colonel plans to take Alison away in order to restore peace and balance to her existence.  Everything is resolved and Jimmy comes back to his senses and sues for peace in his household.

 

Dramatic Devices in Look Back In Anger

 

Use of symbolism

 

I.         “Bear and squirrel game”

 

             This game of bear and squirrel is simply meant to escape the harsh and cruel realities of life in the tension and the failure of marriage between Alison and Jimmy for a short time.  It also helps in reconciling the couple of the end of play.  The bear is associated with Jimmy, and the squirrel with Alison.  The fact that they keep stuffed animal versions of the bear and squirrel in the apartment reflects a childlike innocence that these characters find it difficult to maintain their marriage.

 

II.       “Church bells”

 

             The church bells symbolize middle class morality that Jimmy finds oppressive and unacceptable.  Helena likes this version of morality which specifies that something is clearly right, while others are wrong and “sinful”.  The chiming of the church bell makes Jimmy sick and gets him more resentful.  He curses and yells when he hears them, thereby reflecting his anger at this system of morality.

 

III.     “Trumpet”

 

              Jazz which has traditionally been protest music is associated with the working class.  It symbolizes Jimmy’s desire to be a voice of resistance in society.  It is also a symbol of loneliness and alienation in Jimmy’s world.

 

IV.     “Newspapers”

 

             In act 1 and 3, Jimmy and Cliff read newspapers and these papers are symbols of Jimmy’s education.  They help to mimic the habit of upper class university educated elite.  Jimmy also uses newspaper articles as a way to belittle the intelligence of Cliff and Alison.  His relationship with these newspapers also shows his double relationship to his educational status.  He confesses that the newspaper makes him “feel ignorant” and he often mocks “posh” papers.  Which in his mind are out of touch with the real concerns of working class men like him?

 

V.       Jimmy’s pipe

 

             Pipe is an upper class symbol and this makes Jimmy wants to associate with upper class instead of working class where he actually belongs.  Pipes are associated with old educated, university professors, and Jimmy’s pipe is a way for him to dominate scene and assert himself as a rebellious force in the world to rebel against upper class.

 

Look Back in Anger as the kitchen sink Drama

 

             Kitchen sink realism or kitchen sink drama is British cultural movement that developed in the late 1950 in theater art, novel and film, whose protagonists usually described as “angry young men” disillusioned with modern society.  It presents the situations of working class Britons.

 

Characteristics of a Kitchen Sink Drama

I.    The settings are usually based on working class personality.  It brings out the real lives and social inequality of ordinary working class people who are caught between struggles of power, industry or politics.

II.   Characters are usually dissatisfied with the ruling class statistic.  In Osborne’s play, Jimmy porter plays the role of the angry young man.  He is angry and dissatisfied at a world that offers him no social opportunities and he longs to live a “real life” he therefore channels his anger and frustration towards those around him, such as Alison and Cliff.  This play demonstrates how pent up frustration and social anger can wreak havoc on the ordinary lives of the British people.

III. These plays are centered on a masculine point of view or male dominance.  Emotions and tribulation of its female characters are trampled upon. Women are often assumed to serve the men of their household and when there is conflict, it is often the man who is portrayed as the cause or suffering protagonist.  Women’s suffering is always as a result of the suffering of the male counterpart.

IV.   Kitchen sink drama often explores the domestic life of socially established characters.  In the case of the porter’s attic apartment, the kitchen and living spaces are all one room on the stage.

V.   It also centers on angry, young protagonists who are usually poor, disillusioned and frustrated.

 

                       

 

 

 

Likely W.A.E.C and N.E.C.O Examination Questions

 

1.     Examine the theme of anger and frustration in the play

2.     With relevant examples, argue that Jimmy porter is a misogynist

3.     Discuss Osborne’s Look Back in Anger as kitchen sink realism

4.     Assess the use of symbolism in Look Back in Anger

5.     How has the setting of the play contribute to the development of the plot

       of the play.

6.     Examine the role and character of Alison Lewis as a trouble shooter in the play.

7.     “Jimmy is an egocentric character in the play”.  Discuss

8.     Compare and contrast the role and character of Jimmy and Cliff in the play.

9.     Compare and contrast the role and character of Alison and Helena in the play

10.  Write short note on the following characters

        i. Colonel Redfern

        ii. Helena

        iii. Cliff

11. Helena is an embarrassment to British morality” Discuss

12.  Discuss the plot of Look Back in Anger and show how scene transitions

        are achieved by the play wrights

13.  Assess the role of Jimmy portr as a bully and loudmouthed.

14.  Discuss the title of the play.  How does it relate to the main incidence in

        the plot?

15. Examine the theme of class struggle and education in the in the Look Back in Anger.

15.   Examine the theme of class struggle and education in the Look Back in Anger