After the World War 2, which is called post-war era, the nineteenth century England undergoes social, cultural, monetary, spiritual, together with many different issues. A bunch of latest writers emerged in that situation and their perspective to societal ills, is revolutionary and their intention is to alter society by their plays. John Osborn is one of those nineteenth century well-known writers who’ve handled the post war issues of England in his well-known play Look Back in Anger.
The opening of the play reveals the boredom within the life span of the post-war youth. As the curtain rises, audience sees the protagonist, Jimmy Porter, and his friend, Cliff Lewis, who’re seated in two shabby armchairs and skimming through newspapers. Here, life is inactive, motionless and boring. Therefore, everyday reveals to be the Sunday. There is a big window within the attic, however the one light comes from a skylight. So the room is considerably dim which symbolizes their colourless life as there isn’t any change in actions. The room is filled with smoke which supplies hint to the truth that the entire post-war generation is under problem. Jimmy finds Sunday particularly miserable because one has to observe the identical routine each time skimming papers, taking tea, ironing clothes. Just a few extra hours, and one other week gone. Our youth is slipping away, Jimmy remarks. He tries to flee from all this boredom by enjoying on with his trumpet.
Read About: Naturalism in Look Back in Anger by John Osborne
With the decolonizing process that begins within the 40s, numerous changes happen within the British Empire that decade which impact Britain’s socio-economic fabric. The new Commonwealth expands immigration from Britain’s former colonies, and, following the sub continental divide into Pakistan and India on the eve of India’s independence, many individuals relocate to England seeking work or a house after the lack of their very own homeland. A consequence, there was a severe job and lodging disaster within the post-war England. After the war, the graduated students from the lower class discovered the each attainable door of getting jobs as much as their expectations closed. Many are compelled to simply accept occupations a lot under them. Thus, Jimmy Porter, a college graduate is compelled to run a sweet stall for his living. He lives in a shabby attic together with his higher class wife. As Alison tells her father, Jimmy has tried his hand at many issues—-journalism, advertising, even vacuum-cleaner for just a few weeks and so forth. He is just not glad with the occupation as a vendor of sweets… He is actually pondering of leaving the sweet-stall, as he tells Helena, however he doesn’t know what precisely he’ll do. This perspective of uncertainty and drift is once more typical of the aimless youth of post-war England.
The World War 2 brings an end to the European colonialism. The difficulty of “coloured immigration” has been a significant social-concern for post-war England and the 1948 British Nationality Act provides the immigrant the authorized proper of entry and settlement in Britain. Still, the 50s witnesses race riots within the Midlands and in London Because of the immigration pressure and racial hostilities will increase. The year 1956, when Look Back in Anger is written, can be the peak year for the arrival within the industrial cities of immigrants from the West Indies, Pakistan, and India. Here, racism has been shamelessly seen between the aristocrat and poor class. Frustration within the married life span of Alison and Jimmy has been pushed by the reason for class distinction. As Jimmy is from a working class, Allison doesn’t pay any heed to his phrases and she faces her parents’ disfavour in marrying him. Allison additionally stays untouched on the words of Jimmy about Mrs. Tanner: “She’s been a good friend to us, if you like. She’s even letting me buy the sweet-stall off her in my own time. She only bought it for us, anyway. She’s fond of you. I can never understand why you’re so – distant with her.” Finally, Jimmy remarks on her detestation for working class as: “that bitch won’t even send her a bunch of flowers….” and so he will likely be alone to attend Mrs. Tanner’s funeral ceremony. Jimmy additionally continually berates his spouse, Alison, whom he considers his class enemy; opposes Alison’s brother Nigel, a Member of Parliament and an Etonian. He assaults the “posh” Sunday newspapers, and condemns Alison’s family, particularly her mom, for their upper-class ways. In distinction to those assaults, he admires his father for fighting in Spain towards Franco. He has excessive regard for his working class friends, Hugh Tanner and his mother, who has helped him to arrange the sweet-stall. He considers Helena as “the royalty of middle-class womanhood” and therefore, a “natural enemy.” There is way of social criticism and condemnation of the British class system within the play.
The end of World War II is marked by the spiritual hollowness. Jimmy makes fun over the Religious leader, Bishop of Bromley, which symbolizes the failure of the spiritual leaders to realize a particular respect from the citizens of the nation. The Bishop urges all Christians to assist the manufacture of the H-bomb which factors out sincerity and non secular deadliness on the identical time. Jimmy is against religion and its practices and beliefs. He speaks bitterly concerning the rituals of church and feeling sad when Alison goes to church under Helena’s affect. Church-going provides no consolation to him, and the sound of church-bells solely annoys him.
Read About: What is Kitchen Sink Drama in Look Back in Anger?
With the end of World War II, England goes by a major socio-cultural change. Free mixing, living-to-gather, and quick dresses start to turn out to be the development of the last decade. Cliff and Alison are good friends and all the time kissing and hugging one another earlier than Jimmy however he doesn’t mind in any respect. The worth of nuptial dedication begins to fade away from human thoughts as Jimmy and Helena don’t hesitate to begin living together. Moreover, Jimmy can’t take it well when he comes to know that Alison has been a virgin before her marriage, as Alison states: “He seemed to think an untouched woman would defile him.” The thought of women empowerment additionally begins to flourish which has been mirrored within the play by the carefree life style of Mrs. Porter and Mrs. Redfern.
In conclusion, the end of the World War II has impacted England with great change from each facet of human life and this transformation is taken into account negatively by the young generation of 1950s. So, the situation of post-war England has made the youth generation as angry man and Osborne reveals the image of the post-war England is through the lines of Jimmy Porter: “I suppose individuals of our generation aren’t in a position to die for good causes any longer. We had all that accomplished for us, within the thirties and the 40s, once we had been nonetheless kids… There are no good, brave causes left.”
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