Look Back in Anger: A play that still resonates today.

 

John Osborne's 1956 play, Look Back in Anger, sparked a cultural phenomenon and became the voice of a generation disillusioned in post-war Britain. It continues to resonate with audiences today, offering insightful commentary on social class, relationships, and the human condition. This blog post delves into the key elements of the play, analysing its characters, themes, and enduring legacy.

Look Back in Anger is perhaps the best realistic work of that time. It portrays the life of a young husband and wife, Alison and Jimmy Porter, as they attempt to navigate class conflict and deal with a deteriorating marriage in 1950s England. Alison comes from a traditional upper-class background. Jimmy comes from a working-class background, though he is highly educated. The couple lives with Cliff Lewis, an affable working-class man and Jimmy’s longtime friend. The story takes a new turn with the arrival of the character named Helana. The play focuses themes such as Class and education, disillusionment and nostalgia, gender, love and innocence. More or these Religion also comes as a major theme in the play.

A Story of Conflict and Discontent

The play revolves around the tumultuous marriage of Jimmy Porter, an angry and frustrated working-class man, and his upper-middle-class wife, Alison Porter. Their contrasting backgrounds and worldviews fuel constant arguments, further complicated by the arrival of Alice's well-meaning but meddling friend Helena Charles and easy-going resident Cliff Lewis.

Unveiling the Characters

Jimmy Porter: The central character of the play, Jimmy is an intelligent, articulate yet deeply troubled man. His anger stems from a sense of powerlessness and frustration with the established order. He criticizes social injustices and hypocrisies, often alienating those around him.

Alison Porter: Caught between her love for Jimmy and her upbringing, Alison represents a sense of stability and traditional values. However, she is gripped with self-doubt and struggles to relate to Jimmy's emotional intensity.

Helena Charles: Representing the upper class, Helena embodies conservative values that Jimmy despises. Her condescending behavior and attempts to "fix" Jimmy's problems exacerbate the conflicts.

Cliff Lewis: A calm presence amidst the chaos, Cliff acts as a mediator, providing a counterpoint to Jimmy's anger and providing moments of humor and compassion.

An arrangement that reflects internal turmoil

The play unfolds in a cramped one-room apartment, reflecting the confined circumstances of the characters and the claustrophobic nature of their relationships. The cluttered space serves as a constant reminder of their frustration and inability to escape their problems.

Themes that transcend time

Anger and Despair: Jimmy's rage is a central theme, reflecting post-war anxieties and a generation's lost sense of purpose. His frustration stems from social inequalities, hypocrisies and a desire for a better world.

Social Class and Inequality: The play criticizes the rigid class system of the time, showing the struggles of the working class and their lack of opportunities compared to the privileged elite. This social imbalance and his own limited possibilities fuel Jimmy's anger.

Gender Roles and Relationships: This play explores the complexities of gender roles and relationships in the 1950s. Jimmy's traditional expectations clash with Alison's independent spirit, leading to challenges and conflicts in their marriage.

Religion in Drama: An Overview

Religion in the play Look back in Anger is a much-discussed topic and there is a lot of studies done about the topic. In the very first scene of the play, we can see the protagonist Jimmy ridiculing the Pope by making some funny comments. Even though being a Christian, Jimmy never goes to church. He spends his Sundays idly reading newspaper. In second act we can see Jimmy being completely shocked when his wife says she was going to Church. To quote “You’re doing what? Have you gone out of your mind or something” In another instance we can see Jimmy yelling out the window when the church bell rings. This instance is taken by many critics to explain the anti-religious attitude of Jimmy.

While coming to know about the history and the background in which Jimmy grown, we get a faint idea about what might be the reason for Jimmy’s negative attitude towards religion. He was born in a working-class English society of that time, then it is needless to say he would have to go through many struggles and fight to get a collage education and to find himself a job. In front of God everyone should be equal, but in his society the suffering of people were unequally divided. People of lower class suffered lot more than the others, also it was the time when the church of England was questioned for corruption and taking sides with wealthy people

Jimmy criticizes Christianity because it has not galvanized people into action.  In his mind, the Church has stood on the sidelines while people have embraced a life that lacks emotional connection. For Jimmy, redemption cannot be achieved unless individuals are emotionally committed. He sees organized traditional Anglican religion as exactly opposite of everything he believes in.

The reason for Jimmy's anger against people and the Church is that when he was a young boy, he sat with his father to keep him company while he was dying. It took six months for his father to die and Jimmy was there with him daily. This is explained in Act II after Jimmy Helena and Alison get ready for church and Jimmy plays the trumpet. Jimmy is angry at the Church because it is part of the Establishment power structure that is set up by the upper-class people and controlled by them. Jimmy hates all things that depend upon social class distinctions and have power over people from the lower classes.

Thus, through the character of Jimmy The play wright John Osborne expresses his views towards the institution of church and religion. Through this play he Alludes the functioning of church and the power structure set up by the wealthy people to control the church and through it they propagate their views and ideas about how a society should be.

Although not overtly religious, the play subtly explores the role of religion and its effect on the characters:

Jimmy's Lack of Faith: Jimmy expresses cynicism towards organized religion, which he finds irrelevant and hypocritical. He rejects its comfort and structure, and seeks answers and meaning outside of conventional systems.

Alison's Faith: Alison finds solace in her religious beliefs, seeking guidance and comfort when faced with her difficulties. However, Jimmy's skepticism and the play's overall critique of social norms challenge her belief.

Religious Symbolism: The play uses subtle religious imagery, such as allusions to the Garden of Eden and the Fall of Man, to depict the characters' search for meaning and their struggles with societal expectations.

A Legacy of Influence

Look Back in Anger started a cultural phenomenon, ushering in the era of the "Angry Young Men" in British theatre. It challenged conventions, gave voice to the disaffected, and sparked conversations about social issues. The play's themes remain relevant today, prompting discussions about social inequalities, gender roles, and man's search for meaning in a complex world.

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Looking Back in Anger continues to perform worldwide, offering audiences a powerful and thought-provoking experience. We encourage you to take a closer look at the play, whether by reading the script, seeing a production, or diving deeper into critical interpretations. This timeless work offers valuable insights into the human condition and challenges us to think critically about the world around us.