How does “Look Back in Anger” reflect the post-First World War situation?
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Answer
How does “Look Back in Anger” reflect the post-First World War situation? [NU: 2015]
John Osborne’s (1929 -1994) “Look Back in Anger” (1956) shows the frustration of young people in post-war Britain. The First World War and later social changes created a lost generation. Old values collapsed, but new hopes did not arrive. Osborne presents this confusion through Jimmy Porter’s anger and suffering.
Collapse of Old Values: The First World War destroyed faith in noble ideals like patriotism, honor, and duty. Jimmy feels there is nothing left to fight for. In Act I, he sarcastically says,
“I suppose people like me aren’t supposed to be very patriotic.”
This shows his deep disillusionment. Unlike earlier heroes, Jimmy finds no meaning in war or nationalism. His anger reflects the emptiness many young men felt in post-war society.
Class Tensions After the War: British society changed after the war. The old ruling class lost much of its power. But the middle class did not gain full respect. Hero of the drama, Jimmy Porter, is educated but poor. He feels trapped between classes. He marries Alison, a woman from an upper-class family. But their marriage turns into a battlefield of class conflict. In Act II Alison admits,
“Some people do actually marry for revenge.”
This shows that their relationship was shaped not only by love but also by social revenge. Their relationship reflects the deep class tensions of the time.
Emotional Frustration and Lost Purpose: After the First World War, young men felt they had no grand cause. Life became dull and empty. In Act I Jimmy complains,
“Let’s pretend that we’re human beings, and that we’re actually alive.”
This sarcastic line shows his frustration with a boring middle-class life. He longs for adventure and noble struggle, but instead finds routine and disappointment. The war created restless men. But society gave them nothing meaningful to do. Osborne reflects this mood through Jimmy’s constantUnlock this study guide now