Topic : Look Back in Anger
Look Back in Anger is a notable literary work by John Osborne. 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 Look Back in Anger.
Main text
ACT I
The Porters' one-room flat in a large Midland town.
Early evening. April.
The scene is a fairly large attic room, at the top of a large Victorian house. The ceiling slopes down quite sharply from L. to
R. Down R. are two small low windows. In front of these is a dark oak dressing table. Most of the furniture is simple,
and rather old. Up R. is a double bed, running the length of most of the back wall, the rest of which is taken up with a
shelf of books. Down [...]
Key info
Take a quick look at the key facts of the play "Look Back in Anger".
- Full Title: Look Back in Anger
- Author: John Osborne (1929-1994)
- Written: 1955
- Premiered: May 8, 1956, at the Royal Court Theater in London
- Published: First published in 1957 by Faber and Faber
Summary
"Look Back in Anger" opens in Jimmy Porter and Alison Porter's apartment. It is set in a small town in England in the mid to late 1950s—a lack of working opportunities for the youth in a post-World War II society. Jimmy's best friend, Cliff Lewis, stays with the married couple.
Themes
Class Struggle
One of the most prominent themes in "Look Back in Anger" is class struggle. The play presents the stark contrast between the working-class Jimmy Porter and the upper-middle-class Alison and her family. Their marriage echoes the tension between their different social backgrounds. Jimmy feels alienated by Alison's upper-class friends and her family's wealth. His anger and resentment are rooted...
Characters
Jimmy Porter
Jimmy Porter is a 25-year-old educated man. He comes from a working-class background and runs a sweet stall. He is married to Alison Porter. Read the character analysis.
Literary devices
Symbols
The play uses various symbols to convey its themes.
Bear and Squirrel Game
In the play, Jimmy and Alison play with a toy bear and squirrel. Jimmy is associated with the Bear and Alison with the squirrel. The Bear and Squirrel game serves as a metaphor for their relationship...
Quotations
Here, we discuss some selected quotes from the play.
"Let's pretend that we're human beings, and that we're actually alive."
(Jimmy Porter, Act 1)
In Act 1, Jimmy Porter accuses his wife Alison of being emotionally distant and noncommittal. He suggests that she's like an empty vessel merely existing in the world rather than truly living...
Notes
- Jimmy Porter is an anti-hero in Look Back in AngerCan Jimmy Porter in "Look Back in Anger" be seen as an anti-hero? Or, In what sense is Jimmy Porter an unheroic hero? Elucidate. In John Osborne's (1929-1994) iconic play "Look Back in Anger,"[Expand...]
- Bear and Squirrel Game contributes to the dramatic interest in Look Back in AngerHow does the Bear and Squirrel game contribute to the dramatic interest in "Look Back in Anger"? "Look Back in Anger" (1956) is a groundbreaking play by John Osborne (1929-1994). The play revolves around[Expand...]
- The significance of the title Look Back in AngerDiscuss the significance of the title of the play "Look Back in Anger". The title of John Osborne's (1929-1994) play, "Look Back in Anger" (1956), holds significant thematic and emotional weight. It encapsulates many[Expand...]