Discuss the beast imagery in “Look Back in Anger.”
The Caretaker is a notable literary work by Harold Pinter. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of The Caretaker.
Answer
Discuss the beast imagery in “Look Back in Anger.” [NU: 2016, 18] ★★★
In John Osborne’s (1929–1994) play “Look Back in Anger” (1956), beast imagery is a thought-provoking part. It shows the wild anger, pain, and frustration of the characters. Osborne compares their emotions to animals to make them feel more natural, raw, and powerful.
Beast Imagery and Jimmy’s Anger: The main character, Jimmy Porter, is full of anger at society, class differences, and his own unhappy marriage. His rage is often described as if it were an untamed beast inside him. In Act I, Jimmy says:
“Let’s pretend that we’re human beings, and that we’re actually alive.”
This sarcastic line shows that Jimmy feels trapped in a lifeless, dull society, and his inner beast of anger pushes against it.
Wildness in Relationships: The beast imagery also appears in the Bear–Squirrel game between Jimmy and Alison. They imagine themselves as animals to escape their painful marriage. In Act II, Alison says:
“We could become little furry creatures with little furry brains. Full of dumb, uncomplicated affection for each other.”
Here, the imagery of animals shows their longing for simple love and warmth, which they cannot find in real life.
Pain and Loss: Later, Alison admits to the death of this childish love. In Act II, she says
“Even they are dead, poor little silly animals. They were all love and no brains.”
This line shows that their beast-like escape has also died. It symbolizes the end of hope in their relationship.
In short, through beast imagery, Osborne shows the raw emotions of Jimmy and Alison. Their anger, love, and pain appear as natural forces, like wild animals. This makes the play’s emotions powerful, natural, and unforgettable.