NAME- SAHER HIBA KHAN (20185826), SEM-4

SUBMITTED TO- PROFESSOR BARAN FAROOQI

DEEP ANALYSIS OF CHARACTERS IN LOOK BACK IN ANGER

- BY JOHN OSBORNE
There are few characters, but all of them have a very important role in the understanding of
this play.

The Protagonist Jimmy Porter, who comes from the working class, has seen and suffered all the
adversity of life is shown as ‘An Angry young man’. My understanding of character tells me that Jimmy is
selfish, misogynistic and someone who has some serious anger issues. Further reading more about this
character, I come to know that he wants everyone around him to suffer as much as he has and thinks no
one has felt a greater deal of loss and pain more than him. He abuses his wife Alison to such extent that
she has become ‘used to it’ which he totally hates, whereas she doesn’t give a damn and ignores his
rude behaviour and as a mean of retaliation and keeps quiet. Jimmy thinks that the upper class people
can never understand the problems of the working class. There’s no doubt that Jimmy is educated, witty
and knowledgeable. In his monologues which mostly include his hatred for the upper class and how the
world is going crazy includes quotes from Wordsworth, Shakespeare and many other prominent names.

I feel that this character has suffered so much that has forgotten all about empathy and for him his class
of people are the only ones who have the ‘real problems’. He keeps taunting his wife and hates her that
she comes from the upper class and has no sense of suffering. For him Alison hasn’t yet tasted pain and
sadness and in his anger, curses her that she may as well get pregnant and loses the child afterwards.
We know while reading the play that Alison is actually pregnant and only she, cliff and Helena know
about it.

All that Jimmy wants is that the upper class people as Alison and her family should suffer and know the
meaning of loss, face their problems rather living selfishly and with ignorance.

Now we will talk about another main character which is Jimmy’s wife Alison Porter. We see how
Alison is always doing the household chores such as ironing etc. Alison comes from the upper class
society and still hasn’t forgotten her ideals even after being married to Jimmy for such a long time.
Alison stays quiet to most of the angry remarks made on her by Jimmy. She completely ignores his
ranting which makes Jimmy unheard and sad. So, just to get her attention he keeps taunting her and her
parents whom he hates the most. According to me, Alison’s way of retaliating is a good way of trying not
to have a fight with Jimmy but at some points, such as when Jimmy calls her mother, a bitch and talks
vulgar about her parents is when she should have taken a stand. We can say that this shows Alison’s
cowardice in dealing with things in her life whether it may be related to anything. She doesn’t pay much
heed and just ignores everything. For Jimmy, Alison has no emotions at all and we may as well agree
with Jimmy over this. Alison’s way of dealing with Jimmy is a bit harsh as well but Jimmy’s way of
showing his love through is anger and ranting can’t be justified either.

Our next character is Cliff Lewis whom we can say is very versatile, both Jimmy and Alison have loads
of affection for Cliff and vice-versa. Cliff in this play has been shown a very down to earth character. He
is of good nature and doesn’t take Jimmy’s insults of him seriously and retaliates with sarcastic
comebacks. Cliff relates with Jimmy a great deal because both belong to the working class, but at times
finds Jimmy too harsh. He doesn’t say anything because he is dominated by Jimmy’s intimidating
character just like Alison. They both don’t have the guts to stand against Jimmy’s clever yet rude
remarks. Cliff is the only character around which Jimmy and Alison both are comfortable. When it comes
to the sky wide difference between the upper class and the working class, Cliff and Alison are quite
close. Cliff roaming half naked around her and flirting with her shows their affectionate bond and Jimmy
not minding it shows how in working class all this is normal whereas upper class societies don’t allow all
this. Cliff serves as a protector or buffer between Alison and Jimmy. Alison and Cliff’s affection both
amuses and annoys him.

Another Character is Helena Charles who is an actress and a very old and close friend of Alison,
whom Jimmy hates from the bottom of his heart as she belongs to the middle class society. She is an
excellent example of middle class people. Helena knows how Alison is suffering in her marriage and asks
her to leave Jimmy. Both her and Jimmy have quiet nasty arguments in which they both threaten to
physically hurt each other. However, she seduces Jimmy and replaces Alison in the household. When
Alison returns, Helena realizes that her affair with Jimmy is wrong and decides to leave.

Colonel Redfern, Alison’s father, is a retired army officer who served in India from 1913 to 1947.
During that time he seldom spent any time in England. He represents the values and beliefs of another
period, a time of British Empire. His values are those of duty, honor, and loyalty to one’s country and
one’s class. His world ended with the independence of India. He is a reasonable man somewhat
bemused by the post-World War II England. He does not approve of Jimmy, but he does find things to
admire in him and even agrees with Jimmy in some instances. He is critical of Jimmy and Alison's
relationship, but accepts that he is to blame for many of their problems because of his meddling in their
affairs.