ANGRY YOUNG

MEN, 1950S
DRAMA
 Historical
• Writers/novelists during the 1950s expressed their dissatisfaction on
Britain’s social and political system.
• The Angry young men questioned society as a whole and became fed up

background •
of the failures in the British institutions.
They weren't angry literally but they were rather contempt in getting
their opinion to the wider audiences through the use of sarcasm and
Irony.
• Osbourne intended to write ‘Look Back in Anger’ to express and provide
a voice for these men in the 1950’s. Especially for those that did not want
to evolve into society’s regulations, and be apart of a ‘bankrupted
society.’
• ‘Look Back in Anger’ presents the concept of post-war youth, repelling
against the older generation (Kenneth, T.)
• The play’s political views sides with the left wing.
• ‘Angry Young Men’ were a breed amongst the lower classes. Although
some came from well educated backgrounds.
• At the time of production less attention had been given to literature that
illuminated the treatment and living circumstances experienced by the
lower classes. As the Angry Young Men movement began to articulate
these themes, the acceptance of related issues was more widespread.
Jimmy Porter
• Signifying the post-war, rebellious youth (P.55 example), Jimmy is portrayed as a very decisive protagonist, his
views illuminate the realistic concept of a society that’s bound to rules and regulations.
• his father died for fighting for democracy in the Spanish civil war. Believing it would leave an equalized society.
• The caricature expresses and emphasises his degraded position in British society believing its reason as why
people dishonour him. the character refers to how his wives parents(middle class background) dislike him all
due to his inheritance. Even though hes well educated.
• Jimmy’s anxiety is expressed through his anger, he discusses British ideology with a negative viewpoint,
conveying declaratives on how dull and trapped he feels with the social and political system. Highlighting the
idea of isolation.
• Jimmy’s reference to the article based on how the middle class are more valued and his sarcastic jokes on
Alison’s parents by condescendingly referring to them as ‘Mummy and Daddy’ highlights the perception of
isolation for the protagonist.
• 'There's no place for people like that any longer- in sex, or politics, or anything. That's why hes so
futile'(p.90).
‘Look Back in • Alison isn’t given an strong narrative voice, especially
in comparison with her husband Jimmy, demonstrating

Anger’ 1950s women’s position at the time.

• The character discusses and highlights a range of
topics involving current social and political affairs.
Although his views are biased (unreliable narrator), and
discusses society as if its in the 'french revolution'.
• Jimmy is even critical of the newspapers that the upper
and middle classes read, calling them ‘posh’
newspapers and throwing them down in a dismissive
manner, questioning, ‘Who buys this damned thing?’
(p. 13).
• 'We both come from working class family's', this
declarative illustrates how divided society truly is,
furthermore this attitude opposing the opposite class in
Analyzing
a reluctant and unsympathetic manner is further
embraced, 'mother's relatives are pretty posh, but he
Extracts
hates them as much as he hates yours'. Portraying these
Angry men to be rather critical and judgemental of
upper class civilians even though they haven't directly
provoked this reaction.
• Arguably 'Cliff' in contrast doesn't represent these
angry young men during the 1950's but symbolises
those that followed the 'social norms'. The character
doesn't appear perplexed about current affairs . 'Oh why
doesn't he shut up?'. rhetorical question is used to
demonstrate Osbourne's perception on how society
perceived these angry men. And the socio-political
intention to silence these men.
 Stage • The play contrasts the lower and middle classes.
• Use of props, the use of different newspapers. 'wet'
directions and 'posh'
• Differences in costumes and entrance of Helena
Charles.
• The 'Ironing board', symbolises and highlights
stereotypes illuminating the traditional housewife role,
played by Alison.
• Osbourne purposely places Alison and Cliff next to each
other to portray the social expectation of the husband
and wife role. Jimmy positioned at the side as the
outsider.
Other texts • Other novels including ‘Loneliness of the Long Distance
Runner’, produced in the same decade, deals with similar
themes and contextual influence.
• Produces an ideology surrounding the concept of social
division.
• Both texts involve a clear working class male point of view on
post-war Britain.
• The concept of isolation for these Angry men is enticed in both
texts.
• Both protagonist demonstrate strong hatred towards those
apart of the upper class.
• 'A Taste of Honey', 1959, depicts at working class lives also.
Although the audience view this 1950's drama from a female
perspective.
• The play deals with themes surround racism, family
dilemmmas, alcoholism, prostitution, poverty. All portray the
cultural forume for those in the 1950's working class familys.
Thank you for
listening
Bibliography • Kenneth, T. ‘The voice of the young’, the observer,
(2003), p.11
• Osborne, John. Look Back in Anger. London: Faber and
Faber, 1989.
• Sillitoe, Alan. The Loneliness of the Long Distance
Runner. London: Harper Perennial, 2007, pp. 7-54.
• http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/7633432/
Alan-Sillitoe-Who-are-you-calling-angry.html