Concetti Chiave
- Osborne's play "Look Back in Anger" introduces the "Angry Young Man," reflecting the rebellious post-war generation of the Fifties.
- Jimmy Porter, the protagonist, is portrayed as an anti-hero who protests against the Establishment but directs his frustrations towards his wife, Alison.
- Despite being educated, Jimmy is dissatisfied with his stagnant life, sharing a squalid flat with Alison and his friend, which fuels his neurotic behavior.
- The relationship between Jimmy and Alison lacks communication, with Alison eventually leaving him in search of a better life, showcasing her inner strength.
- Alison's return after losing her baby brings the narrative full circle, highlighting the contrast between her silence and Jimmy's intense monologues.
Osborne in his play “Look Back in Anger” refuses the traditional mores and introduces the figure of the “Angry Young Man” whose rebellious nature is typical of post-war generation of Fifties.
Jimmy's Rebellion
Jimmy porter, the protagonist, embodies perfectly this youth and is considered also an anti-hero, because even if he is a protester, an outsider rebel against the Establishment, he never does something and vents his violence, frustration and useless complaints on his wife Alison, the daughter of a retire colonel, symbol of the System, which he does not accept and symbol of that high class that he has never managed to reach .
What is the Relationship with Alison?
So Jimmy even if he is a university graduate, is forced to live and share a squalid flat with his wife and his friend Cliff. He is not satisfied because his education has not brought any economic income and behaves in a nevrotic way. Between husband and wife there's no communication, Alison is completely passive, but in the second act, she reveals the stronger of the two because she has the courage to choose: she leaves him and looks for a better life.
Alison's Return
However she comes back because she has lost her baby and everything returns as before. In this way the plot is circular, structured according to a conventional way, and it is also dramatic because there's the distinction between the silence of the woman and an hard monologue of the man.
Domande da interrogazione
- What characterizes Jimmy Porter as the "Angry Young Man" in "Look Back in Anger"?
- How does the relationship between Jimmy and Alison evolve throughout the play?
- How does the play's structure contribute to its dramatic impact?
Jimmy Porter is portrayed as the quintessential "Angry Young Man" due to his rebellious nature against the Establishment and his status as an outsider. Despite being a university graduate, he is frustrated by his lack of economic success and vents his anger on his wife, Alison, who symbolizes the high class he resents.
The relationship between Jimmy and Alison is marked by a lack of communication and Jimmy's neurotic behavior. Alison, initially passive, eventually shows strength by leaving Jimmy in search of a better life. However, she returns after losing their baby, reverting the relationship to its original state.
The play's circular structure enhances its dramatic impact by highlighting the contrast between Alison's silence and Jimmy's intense monologues. This conventional plot structure underscores the ongoing tension and unresolved issues between the characters.
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