:contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} – Look Back in Anger
Look Back in Anger (1956) is a revolutionary modern British play by John Osborne. The play presents the anger, frustration, and disillusionment of post-war youth through the character of Jimmy Porter. It marks the beginning of the Angry Young Men movement in English drama.
Set in a cramped attic flat, the play exposes class conflict, emotional cruelty, social stagnation, and the breakdown of relationships in post-war England.
Background of the Play
The play emerged in post-World War II Britain, a period marked by:
- loss of imperial pride
- class rigidity
- youth frustration
Osborne rejected polite, genteel drama and introduced raw realism and emotional intensity.
Central Idea
The central idea of the play is that:
- post-war society suppresses youthful energy
- class divisions prevent emotional fulfilment
- anger becomes a form of protest
Jimmy’s anger is both personal and social.
Structure of the Play
The play is divided into three acts:
- Act I – Domestic Conflict and Social Anger
- Act II – Emotional Breakdown and Violence
- Act III – Recognition and Reconciliation
Act I – Domestic Conflict and Social Anger
The play opens in a small attic flat shared by Jimmy Porter and his wife Alison.
Jimmy delivers long, bitter speeches attacking:
- the upper class
- moral complacency
- emotional indifference
Alison remains passive, representing the privileged class Jimmy despises.
Marriage becomes a battlefield for class resentment.
Act II – Emotional Breakdown and Violence
Jimmy begins an affair with Helena Charles, Alison’s friend.
Alison leaves Jimmy after suffering emotional abuse and later loses her unborn child.
Jimmy’s anger intensifies, masking deep emotional vulnerability.
Anger becomes a substitute for love.
Act III – Recognition and Reconciliation
Helena realises the moral emptiness of her relationship with Jimmy and leaves him.
Alison returns, emotionally transformed by suffering.
Jimmy softens and reconciles with Alison through their symbolic “bear and squirrel” fantasy.
Suffering enables emotional connection.
Major Characters
- Jimmy Porter – angry, articulate, emotionally wounded
- Alison Porter – passive, upper-class wife
- Cliff Lewis – mediator, working-class warmth
- Helena Charles – moral rigidity
- Colonel Redfern – fading imperial values
Jimmy Porter as an “Angry Young Man”
Jimmy represents:
- post-war disillusionment
- intellectual frustration
- social alienation
His anger is a response to moral emptiness and social injustice.
Major Themes
- Anger and Protest
- Class Conflict
- Marriage and Alienation
- Post-war Disillusionment
- Suffering and Redemption
Symbolism
- Attic flat – social confinement
- Ironing board – domestic monotony
- Bear and squirrel fantasy – emotional escape
Style and Technique
- realistic dialogue
- long rhetorical monologues
- raw emotional intensity
- anti-heroic protagonist
Osborne’s style broke from traditional British drama.
Critical Appreciation
- The play revolutionised British theatre.
- It gave voice to a new generation.
- Jimmy is controversial yet compelling.
- The play blends realism with emotional symbolism.
Significance of the Play
- launches modern British drama
- defines the Angry Young Men movement
- challenges class hierarchy
- remains socially relevant
Quick Revision Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Playwright | John Osborne |
| Play | Look Back in Anger |
| Year | 1956 |
| Structure | Three Acts |
| Movement | Angry Young Men |
| Central Theme | Anger and class conflict |
| Hero | Jimmy Porter |
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