Paper 4, Module 30: Text

1 Paper 4, Module 30: Text Role Name Affiliation Principal Investigator Prof. Tutun Mukherjee University of Hyderabad Paper Coordinator Prof. Hariharan Institute of English, University of Balagovindan Kerala Content Writer/Author Ms. Rekha Mathews, Bishop Kurialacherry College for (CW) Women, Amalagiri Content Reviewer (CR) Dr. Jameela Begum Former Head & Professor, Institute of English, University of Kerala Language Editor (LE) Prof. Hariharan Institute of English, University of Balagovindan Kerala 2 John Osborne Look Back in Anger- A Play in Three Acts I.1. Introduction: Historical Background John Osborne appeared at a time (in the 1950s) when the British theatre had settled down to the style of comedies written by Noel coward and Terence Rattigan. When it was staged Look Back in Anger created a new sensation, though most critics attacked the play as unpromising. The play became popular mainly because it gave theatrical voice to the frustration and disillusionment of the young generation of Britons in the1950s. At that time the British society was coming to terms with the realities of the Post World War II era. Though victorious in the war against Hitler and his allies, Britain had to pay dearly for it. After the war, Britain was faced with the reality of devastated towns and cities, loss of a large section of youth, the tremendous loss of resources and the eventual loss of world supremacy. The emergence of the two power blocs, led to the period of the cold war. The world had become divided into two contesting power blocs. The western ‘Free world’ led by the U SA and the Eastern ‘Socialist Socialist( Soviet) Bloc’ led by the U SS R contested for world supremacy and there was the Nuclear arms race which created a global alarm-the possibility of a nuclear holocaust. One defining moment of this period was The Suez crisis in 1956, in which Egypt refused to renew the British-owned Suez Canal Company's concession and which resulted in a disastrous and humiliating intervention by England which simply emphasized the lack of power wielded by Britain in the Post World War II world. Within British society new trends were appearing. In the midst of new affluence, the middle and lower classes of British youth were 3 frustrated by the spiritual emptiness of the period. There had also been incursions into the power structure since early Victorian times, with the ruling classes resisting every inch of the way. All these led to the rise of a new generation of writers who attacked the social and political institutions, through their literature. These young writers who gave voice to that generation came to be known as the ‘Angry Young Men’. The mood of this generation is effectively captured by the play. I.2. John Osborne- Biography John James Osborne was born on December 12, 1929 in Fulham, South West London. His father, Thomas Godfry Osborne, was then a commercial artist and copywriter; his mother, Nellie Beatrice Grove Osborne, worked as a barmaid in pubs most of her life. Much of Osborne's childhood was spent in near poverty, and he suffered from frequent extended illnesses. He was deeply affected by his father's death from tuberculosis in 1941.He also remembered vividly the air raids and general excitement of the Second World War. Osborne attended state schools until the age of twelve when he was awarded a scholarship to attend a minor private school, St. Michael's College, in Barnstaple, Devon. He was expelled at the age of sixteen after the headmaster slapped Osborne's face and Osborne hit him back. After spending some time at home, he took a series of jobs writing copy for various trade journals. He became interested in theatre while working as a tutor for children touring with a repertory company from 1948. Soon he began to act on stage and worked as stage manager with the company. He collaborated with Anthony Creighton in writing two plays Personal Enemy and Epitaph for George Dillon. His friend Stella Linden, an older repertoire company actress encouraged Osborne to write. Look Back in Anger, his first play was sent to several theatre companies in London. But each time it 4 was rejected. Finally the newly formed English Stage Company accepted it. Its performance was met with hostile reviews. But the play had something in it that caught the imagination of the 1950s generation. Thus it became popular especially with the post war British youth. It was originally produced at London's Royal Court Theatre, with the press release calling the author an ‘angry young man’. This phrase came to represent a new movement in 1950s British theatre. Kenneth Tynan gave the play an encouraging review. He wrote: 'I could not love anyone who did not wish to see Look Back in Anger'. He spotted Osborne as a promise of the future and gave a more detailed analysis of the play than anyone else.. Arnold Wesker described Osborne as having “opened the doors of theatres for all the succeeding generations of writers. In terms of effect, Osborne never surpassed Look Back in Anger, but his plays included huge successes such as The Entertainer and Inadmissible Evidence. When we look back upon Osborne’s plays at now after half a century, we will have to admit that Look Back in Anger is more a ‘mood play’ or a period piece’ than anything else. I.3. Angry Young Men (or ‘Angries’ for short) is a journalistic catchphrase applied to a number of British playwrights and novelists from the mid-1950s. The phrase was originally used by British newspapers after the success of Osborne’s Look Back in Anger to describe young British writers. It has changed meaning over time, and has become a cliché when used more generically, to refer to a young person who strongly criticizes political and social institutions. The ‘Angry Young men’ of Britain were a group of writers who emerged in the post war (1950s) decade. This group included Harold Pinter, John Braine, Alan Sillitoe, Kingsley Amis, Philip Larkin, and John Wain. William Cooper, the early model Angry Young Man, though Cambridge- educated was a "provincial" writer in his frankness and material and is included in this group. Their political views were seen as radical, sometimes even anarchic, and they described social 5 alienation of different kinds. They also often expressed their critical views on society as a whole, criticizing certain behaviours or groups in different ways. The term was rejected by most of the writers to whom it was applied. I.4. Autobiographical elements: Look Back in Anger was a strongly autobiographical piece. It was based on Osborne's unhappy marriage to Pamela Lane and their life in cramped accommodation in Derby. While Osborne aspired towards a career in theatre, his wife Lane was of a more practical and materialistic persuasion. She did not take Osborne's ambitions seriously while cheating him with a local dentist. It also contains much of Osborne's earlier life .For example Jimmy’s wrenching speech on seeing his father die is a replay of the death of Thomas, Osborne's father. What is best remembered is Jimmy's tirades against the mediocrity of middle- class English life, personified by his hated mother Nellie Beatrice. Madeline, the lost love Jimmy pines for, is based on Stella Linden, an older rep-company actress who first encouraged Osborne to write. Osborne began a relationship with one of the play's stars, Mary Ure and divorced his wife to marry Ure in 1957. 1.5. Production History: On May 8, 1956, Look Back in Anger opened at the Royal Court Theatre as the third production of the newly formed English Stage Company. Although the first production of Look Back in Anger was not initially financially successful, after an excerpt was shown on BBC the box office was overwhelmed. Osborne was publicized as the "Angry Young Man" and the success of Look Back in Anger opened the doors to other young writers who dealt with contemporary problems The following year, the production moved to Broadway under producer David Merrick and director Tony Richardson starring Alan Bates, Vivienne Drummond, and Mary Ure. The movie version featured Richard Burton in one of his first starring roles, with Claire Bloom as Helena 6 and Mary Ure reprising her stage role as Alison. The screenplay was written by Nigel Kneale. The film was nominated for both BAFTA and Golden Globe awards, although many critics felt Burton aged 33 was too old for the role of Jimmy Porter. I.6: Setting The play provides a glimpse into the lives of working class people in the provincial British towns of the post war period. The action takes place in the Porters' one-room flat, a fairly large attic room. The furniture is simple and rather old: a double bed, dressing table, and book. The atmosphere is cramped with three people sharing the meager space available. I.7.Imagery Two sound images from off-stage are used very effectively in Look Back in Anger: the church bells and Jimmy's jazz trumpet. The church bells invade the small living space and serve as a reminder of the power of the established church, and also that it doesn't care at all for their domestic peace. The jazz trumpet allows Jimmy's presence to dominate the stage even when he is not there, and it also serves as his anti-Establishment "raspberry." 1.8. Language: This being a realistic play the language used is plain prose. Osborne and his followers came to be known as the "kitchen sink" dramatists. Their style of domestic realism came to be known thus because they set their plays in lower middle class homes and portrayed the struggles of the marginalized in society .They sought to convey the language of everyday speech, and to shock the audience with its bluntness.

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