What role does Helena play in separating and uniting Jimmy Porter and Alison?
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Answer
What role does Helena play in separating and uniting Jimmy Porter and Alison? [NU: 2019]
In John Osborne’s (1929–1994) play “Look Back in Anger” (1956), Helena Charles plays a double role. She first separates Jimmy and Alison, but later her actions help them reunite. Osborne shows Helena as both a critic and a participant in their troubled marriage.
Helena Encourages Alison to Leave: Helena is an old friend of Alison. She arrives to visit her. She sees Alison’s suffering under Jimmy’s anger. In Act I, Jimmy cruelly says:
“If you could have a child, and it would die…”
This shocks Alison and reveals his bitterness. In Act II, Helena tells her:
But you can’t go on living in this way any longer. (To her.) ALISON: I’m so tired.
Then, Alison feels tired and hopeless. She leaves Jimmy under Helena’s influence.
Helena’s Affair with Jimmy: After Alison leaves, Helena becomes close to Jimmy herself. In Act III, she even confesses her love to Jimmy. She says, “I love you.” Jimmy replies, “I think perhaps you do.” This affair shows Helena repeating Alison’s mistake. She enters the same painful world that she once criticized.
Helena Realizes Her Mistake: The turning point comes when Alison returns after a miscarriage. She tells Helena in Act III:
“You saw me, and I had to tell you what had happened. I lost the child.”
This moment makes Helena guilty. She realizes her role is wrong and finally leaves Jimmy, returning to London. In ACT- III, She says:
“Very well. I’m going downstairs to pack my things. ACT- III
In short, Helena first breaks Alison’s marriage but later clears the way for reconciliation. Her actions bring pain but also prepare the ground for Jimmy and Alison’s reunion. Helena plays a key role in both separating and bringing them together.