What symbols are used 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
What symbols are used in “Look Back in Anger?” [NU: 2019]
John Osborne’s (1929 -1994) play Look Back in Anger (1956) uses several symbols. These symbols represent the pain, love, and conflict of Jimmy and Alison’s married life. These symbols make the story deeper and more meaningful.
Ironing Clothes: At the beginning, Alison is ironing clothes. And later, Helena does the same. This simple act shows their tiring daily life and the dull routine of the middle class. In Act I Jimmy mocks it, saying:
“Always the same ritual. Reading the papers, drinking tea, ironing…”.
The ironing becomes a symbol of boredom and frustration.
The Bear–Squirrel (Beast) Game: Jimmy and Alison imagine themselves as a bear and a squirrel to escape their unhappy reality. In this game, they feel safe and show affection. Jimmy says in Act III:
“We’ll be together in our bear’s cave, or our squirrel’s drey”.
But later Alison admits, “And now, even they are dead, poor little silly animals” (Act II). This shows how their innocent love also dies with their broken marriage.
The Church: The Church represents tradition and faith. Alison and Helena see it as comfort, but Jimmy hates it. He angrily says, “Oh, hell! Now the bloody bells have started.” The bells symbolize his rejection of religion and middle-class values.
The Trumpet: Jimmy often plays his trumpet. It shows his longing for freedom and his way of releasing anger. The trumpet symbolizes escape, passion, and his need to express emotions when words are not enough.
In Conclusion, through ironing, the Bear–Squirrel game, the Church, and the trumpet, Osborne shows love, pain, escape, and frustration. These symbols reveal the deep struggles of post-war British life and Jimmy and Alison’s broken relationship.