Look Back in Anger - John Osborne
[alert-success] Look Back in Anger - John Osborne [/alert-success]
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Act I
Almost everything that happens in Look Back in Anger comes from Jimmy Porter's rants, not from the outside forces. The play takes place in the Midlands of England in a one-room attic apartment. Jimmy Porter, his wife Alison, and his partner and friend Cliff Lewis live in this big room. Cliff has his own bedroom across the hall.
At the beginning of the play, Alison is ironing, and Jimmy and Cliff are sitting in easy chairs and reading the Sunday paper. Jimmy is upset that half of the book review in his "posh" newspaper is written in French. He asks Alison if that makes her feel stupid, and she says she didn't hear the question. One of the main themes is brought up right away when Jimmy yells at Alison and the rest of the English middle class for not doing anything.
Jimmy makes fun of Cliff for not being smart or educated, and Cliff agrees with him in a good-natured way. Alison agrees with Jimmy when he says that she hasn't had a thought in years. Jimmy is sad about what they do every Sunday and says that they are losing their youth. He says, "Let's act like we're real people and that we're alive." Cliff doesn't like the smoke coming out of Jimmy's pipe. Jimmy says that Alison would get used to anything in a few minutes if she said she was used to it.
He then complains about how "Nobody cares or thinks about it. There are no beliefs, convictions, or passions." He says England has lost its soul and that living there is boring "American Age." People talk about the outdoor market candy stand that Jimmy and Cliff own and run. Jimmy talks about Alison's brother Nigel, who is a Member of Parliament and whom he calls "the chinless wonder from Sandhurst."
Jimmy dislikes Nigel and everything he stands for, including the fact that he will do well in the world despite being stupid and insensitive because of his social class and the schools he has gone to. He then says that Alison is "the Lady Pusillanimous." Jimmy tries to listen to a concert on the radio, but Alison's ironing and Cliff's newspaper rustling are too loud. He then goes on a rant about women in general, Alison, and even their landlord, Mrs. Drury.
Then, Cliff and Jimmy start to playfully fight, and Alison and the ironing board fall over by accident. Alison's arm is burned, so she finally tells Jimmy to leave. Cliff treats Alison's burn and makes her feel better. She tells him she's expecting. She doesn't want Jimmy to think she planned it if she tells him. Jimmy comes in as Cliff holds Alison.
As Jimmy gets himself back on track, there is teasing and play. Cliff goes outside to get a smoke. Jimmy tells Alison he wants her, and the two of them play a private, sweet game of "Cliff comes back to say that Helena Charles, an actress friend of Alison's, is on the phone downstairs. Alison is about to tell him that she is pregnant.
When Alison comes home, she tells Jimmy that she has asked Helena to stay with them while she is in a play at a local theatre. Jimmy then goes on his most shocking rant yet. He tells Alison that if she had a child and that child died, she might feel enough pain to turn into a human. Jimmy says of Alison at the end of the act, "She'll keep sleeping and eating until there's nothing left of me."
Act II, scene 1
It's evening after two weeks. Helena and Alison are about to go to church and are getting ready. Jimmy is practising jazz on his trumpet in Cliff's room. The story talks about Jimmy's friend Hugh and Hugh's working-class mother, who gave the money to start the candy business. Alison talks about being cut off from the kind of people she had always known. She hasn't told Jimmy yet that she's expecting.
When Cliff and Jimmy walk in, Jimmy goes on another rant against the Establishment and Alison's mother in particular. He then says that he stayed with his dying father for months and "learned at a young age what it was like to be angry, angry and helpless."
Jimmy gets a phone call. Helena tells Alison that she has sent a message to Alison's dad to come pick her up and take her home. Jimmy comes back and tells Hugh that his mother has had a stroke and that he will go to London to take care of her. He tells Alison that he can't go anywhere without her. She is going away with Helena.
Act II, Scene 2:
At the beginning of the play, Alison is ironing, and Jimmy and Cliff are sitting in easy chairs and reading the Sunday paper. Jimmy is upset that half of the book review in his "posh" newspaper is written in French. He asks Alison if that makes her feel stupid, and she says she didn't hear the question. One of the main themes is brought up right away when Jimmy yells at Alison and the rest of the English middle class for not doing anything.
Jimmy makes fun of Cliff for not being smart or educated, and Cliff agrees with him in a good-natured way. Alison agrees with Jimmy when he says that she hasn't had a thought in years. Jimmy is sad about what they do every Sunday and says that they are losing their youth. He says, "Let's act like we're real people and that we're alive." Cliff doesn't like the smoke coming out of Jimmy's pipe. Jimmy says that Alison would get used to anything in a few minutes if she said she was used to it.
He then complains about how "Nobody cares or thinks about it. There are no beliefs, convictions, or passions." He says England has lost its soul and that living there is boring "American Age." People talk about the outdoor market candy stand that Jimmy and Cliff own and run. Jimmy talks about Alison's brother Nigel, who is a Member of Parliament and whom he calls "the chinless wonder from Sandhurst."
Jimmy dislikes Nigel and everything he stands for, including the fact that he will do well in the world despite being stupid and insensitive because of his social class and the schools he has gone to. He then says that Alison is "the Lady Pusillanimous." Jimmy tries to listen to a concert on the radio, but Alison's ironing and Cliff's newspaper rustling are too loud. He then goes on a rant about women in general, Alison, and even their landlord, Mrs. Drury.
Then, Cliff and Jimmy start to playfully fight, and Alison and the ironing board fall over by accident. Alison's arm is burned, so she finally tells Jimmy to leave. Cliff treats Alison's burn and makes her feel better. She tells him she's expecting. She doesn't want Jimmy to think she planned it if she tells him. Jimmy comes in as Cliff holds Alison.
As Jimmy gets himself back on track, there is teasing and play. Cliff goes outside to get a smoke. Jimmy tells Alison he wants her, and the two of them play a private, sweet game of "Cliff comes back to say that Helena Charles, an actress friend of Alison's, is on the phone downstairs. Alison is about to tell him that she is pregnant.
When Alison comes home, she tells Jimmy that she has asked Helena to stay with them while she is in a play at a local theatre. Jimmy then goes on his most shocking rant yet. He tells Alison that if she had a child and that child died, she might feel enough pain to turn into a human. Jimmy says of Alison at the end of the act, "She'll keep sleeping and eating until there's nothing left of me."
Act II, scene 1
It's evening after two weeks. Helena and Alison are about to go to church and are getting ready. Jimmy is practising jazz on his trumpet in Cliff's room. The story talks about Jimmy's friend Hugh and Hugh's working-class mother, who gave the money to start the candy business. Alison talks about being cut off from the kind of people she had always known. She hasn't told Jimmy yet that she's expecting.
When Cliff and Jimmy walk in, Jimmy goes on another rant against the Establishment and Alison's mother in particular. He then says that he stayed with his dying father for months and "learned at a young age what it was like to be angry, angry and helpless."
Jimmy gets a phone call. Helena tells Alison that she has sent a message to Alison's dad to come pick her up and take her home. Jimmy comes back and tells Hugh that his mother has had a stroke and that he will go to London to take care of her. He tells Alison that he can't go anywhere without her. She is going away with Helena.
Act II, Scene 2:
It is the next evening, and Alison's father, Colonel Redfern, is coming to visit. Redfern is confused by modern England because he worked for the British government in India from 1913 to 1947. He agrees with Jimmy on some things and was shocked by how hard his wife tried to stop Alison from marrying Jimmy. He says that he and Alison have a lot in common "enjoy sitting on a fence.It feels pretty good."
Alison tries to explain why she married Jimmy: "I'd lived a happy, simple life, and then this—this spiritual barbarian—threw down a gauntlet at me." Helena comes in, and then Cliff comes in not long after. Helena will stay one more night so that she can go to a nearby audition. Cliff says no when Alison asks him to give a letter to Jimmy.
Cliff soon follows Alison and her father out the door. Helena sits on her bed and looks at the stuffed animal bear. Jimmy shows up. He reads Alison's letter and scolds her for being polite and "wet" instead of emotionally honest. Jimmy doesn't care when Helena tells him that Alison is pregnant. He saw Hugh's mother die, so he doesn't feel sorry for Alison. He turns on Helena and calls her a "little evil-minded virgin." She slaps him in the face, and as he cries in pain, she passionately kisses him.
Alison tries to explain why she married Jimmy: "I'd lived a happy, simple life, and then this—this spiritual barbarian—threw down a gauntlet at me." Helena comes in, and then Cliff comes in not long after. Helena will stay one more night so that she can go to a nearby audition. Cliff says no when Alison asks him to give a letter to Jimmy.
Cliff soon follows Alison and her father out the door. Helena sits on her bed and looks at the stuffed animal bear. Jimmy shows up. He reads Alison's letter and scolds her for being polite and "wet" instead of emotionally honest. Jimmy doesn't care when Helena tells him that Alison is pregnant. He saw Hugh's mother die, so he doesn't feel sorry for Alison. He turns on Helena and calls her a "little evil-minded virgin." She slaps him in the face, and as he cries in pain, she passionately kisses him.
Act III, scene 1
Several months have passed. It's early Sunday evening. Jimmy and Cliff are slouched in their armchairs reading the Sunday paper, and Helena is at the ironing board. All seems very relaxed They talk about an article in the newspaper, and then Jimmy brings up religion and politics. Then they do a vaudeville act, which Helena joins in on.
Jimmy and Cliff sing and dance, and then they playfully fight at the end. The shirt Cliff is wearing gets dirty, so Helena goes to wash it. Cliff says he's leaving and giving up the candy stand. He says he might meet his own woman. When Helena brings his shirt back, Cliff hangs it in his room over the gas fireplace. Helena tells Jimmy that she has always wanted him and that she loves him. When the door opens, Alison comes in looking sick and very thin. Jimmy leaves, and the two women are left to look at each other.
Act III, scene 2
It's just after that. From across the hall, Jimmy's trumpet can be heard. Alison lost the baby she was carrying. She says she doesn't know why she's there and doesn't want to make Helena and Jimmy fight. Helena says that she and Jimmy are done. She says that she knows what she's been doing is wrong and that she can't live with that. She calls Jimmy and tells him she's leaving, and then she leaves. Alison says that she is going.
Jimmy is angry with her because she didn't send flowers to the funeral. Then he calms down and talks about how the old bear is alone in the forest of life. He thinks back to the first time they met and says, "I may be a lost cause, but I thought it didn't matter if you loved me."
Alison cries and says that the fact that she couldn't protect her unborn child has given her strength. She is now on her knees in the mud. Jimmy gives her a soft hug. They start playing bear and squirrel again, which seems to be a sign of love between them.
Several months have passed. It's early Sunday evening. Jimmy and Cliff are slouched in their armchairs reading the Sunday paper, and Helena is at the ironing board. All seems very relaxed They talk about an article in the newspaper, and then Jimmy brings up religion and politics. Then they do a vaudeville act, which Helena joins in on.
Jimmy and Cliff sing and dance, and then they playfully fight at the end. The shirt Cliff is wearing gets dirty, so Helena goes to wash it. Cliff says he's leaving and giving up the candy stand. He says he might meet his own woman. When Helena brings his shirt back, Cliff hangs it in his room over the gas fireplace. Helena tells Jimmy that she has always wanted him and that she loves him. When the door opens, Alison comes in looking sick and very thin. Jimmy leaves, and the two women are left to look at each other.
Act III, scene 2
It's just after that. From across the hall, Jimmy's trumpet can be heard. Alison lost the baby she was carrying. She says she doesn't know why she's there and doesn't want to make Helena and Jimmy fight. Helena says that she and Jimmy are done. She says that she knows what she's been doing is wrong and that she can't live with that. She calls Jimmy and tells him she's leaving, and then she leaves. Alison says that she is going.
Jimmy is angry with her because she didn't send flowers to the funeral. Then he calms down and talks about how the old bear is alone in the forest of life. He thinks back to the first time they met and says, "I may be a lost cause, but I thought it didn't matter if you loved me."
Alison cries and says that the fact that she couldn't protect her unborn child has given her strength. She is now on her knees in the mud. Jimmy gives her a soft hug. They start playing bear and squirrel again, which seems to be a sign of love between them.
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