AUTHOR: John Osborne

TITLE OF THE PLAY: Look Back In Anger

EDITORIAL: Faber & Faber

YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 1957

PLACE OF PUBLICATION: London

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

JIMMY PORTER: This character seems to be rude, wicked, serious and firm. His appearance is good and quite smart, but his character is not great. We can see how he always expresses what he thinks, but he is not afraid of hurting his wife and Cliff. He complains because he does the same on Sunday: reading newspapers, drinking tea and talking about common topics as politics, religion and economy. His behaviour with Alison is distant. He does not seem to be in love with his wife. It is surprising to see that Helena and Jimmy are together at the end of the play when we know Jimmy practically hates her.

CLIFF LEWIS: He is a much more polite, peaceful and sympathetic man. His personality is great and his behaviour is suitable. He appreciates Alison and treats her as a gentleman when she burns her arm on the iron. He argues a lot with Jimmy because they really are two different men. There is a moment in the play where his good humour deserts him when he is talking to Helena about Jimmy.

ALISON PORTER: This woman seems to be kind, patient, calm and sweet. But, she sometimes looks anguished and nervous. Her attitude is correct and inspires trust. She treats her husband kindly, whereas he does not. She is worried about her pregnancy because she is not able to tell him it. For this reason, she decides to leave.

HELENA CHARLES: She is a friend of Alison. Her character is stronger and she is not as great as Alison is. They are different. Helena is not married and it seems to go out where she wants. However, Alison is married to Jimmy and does not go out anywhere. She is at home doing anything as ironing or reading. Helena loves Jimmy although it seems to hate him; and when Alison leaves, she stays with him.

COLONEL REDFERN: He is Alison's father. His attitude is reasonable when he is talking to his daughter. He feels disappointed because Alison is not happy. His relationship with Jimmy is not good and he thinks that her marriage is a mistake.

DEVELOPMENT

This play starts with the presence of Jimmy, Cliff and Alison, who are reading. In this scene, we can see how characters are. Jimmy is a rude and proud man, Cliff has a good humour and a nice attitude and Alison looks a peaceful woman. Jimmy and Alison are husband and wife, but he is very hard with her. He complains about his life and his humour is not good. Alison really is in love with Jimmy. One day, she discovers she is pregnant, but she does not want him to know it. So, she decides to leave with her parents. Before it, Helena, a friend, goes there to stay a week. Jimmy disagrees with that idea, but she finally arrives there. Several months later, Alison comes back. Helena has kept her place. Jimmy, who hated Helena, seems to be in love with her. He appears more caring with Helena. Suddenly, Helena wants to leave as Alison did. Cliff has also left that house and Alison has lost the baby that Jimmy rejected. At least, Helen leaves and Alison stays there with him.

SPACE: This play takes place in one space: the house where Jimmy, Alison and Cliff live. It is a closed space.

TIME: The play is developed at present. There are no jumps.

PERSONAL OPINION: The most characteristic of this play is the performance of two characters: Jimmy and Alison. They are two very different persons. I dislike very much how Jimmy talks to Alison. He looks a very unbearable man and Alison is very tolerant. They are two contrary extremes. It surprises me. He often humiliates her and Alison carries on loving him after leaving her life there. These two characters are very interesting.