General Overview of the Non-African Drama "Look Back in Anger" by John Osborne - SS1 Literature Lesson Note

Character Analysis

Major Characters:

Jimmy Porter: Jimmy is the protagonist of the play. He is an intelligent and angry young man of working-class origin. He is frustrated with his life and with the state of the world. Jimmy is often rude and abrasive, but he is also capable of great tenderness and love.

Alison Porter: Alison is Jimmy's wife. She is from a more privileged background than Jimmy. She is quieter and more reserved than Jimmy. Alison is often caught in the middle of Jimmy's anger and frustration. She loves Jimmy, but she also struggles to cope with his behavior.

Minor Characters:

Cliff Lewis: Cliff is Jimmy and Alison's friend. He is a kind and gentle man who is often the peacemaker between Jimmy and Alison.

Helena Charles: Helena is Alison's friend from her upper-middle-class background. She is intelligent and attractive. Helena has an affair with Jimmy, which further complicates the relationship between Jimmy and Alison.

Analysis of Major/Minor Characters

Jimmy Porter

Jimmy Porter is a complex and well-developed character. He is intelligent, articulate, and passionate. However, he is also angry, frustrated, and disillusioned. Jimmy's anger is often directed at the upper-class establishment and the values that it represents. However, his anger also turns inward, and he often takes it out on Alison.

Alison Porter

Alison Porter is also a complex and well-developed character. She is intelligent, sensitive, and caring. However, she is also insecure and vulnerable. Alison is often caught in the middle of Jimmy's anger and frustration. She loves Jimmy, but she also struggles to cope with his behavior.

Cliff Lewis

Cliff Lewis is a minor character in the play, but he plays an important role. He is the peacemaker between Jimmy and Alison. He is also a good listener and a source of support for both of them.

Helena Charles

Helena Charles is another minor character in the play, but she also plays an important role. She is the catalyst for the affair between Jimmy and Alison. Helena is intelligent and attractive, and she represents the world that Jimmy and Alison come from.

The Relationship Between the Major/Minor Characters

The relationship between the major and minor characters in Look Back in Anger is complex and nuanced. Jimmy and Alison's relationship is the central relationship in the play. Their love for each other is often tested by Jimmy's anger and Alison's insecurity. Cliff and Helena play important roles in Jimmy and Alison's lives. Cliff is a source of support for both of them, while Helena represents the world that Jimmy and Alison come from.