LOOK BACK IN ANGER: ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

Occupants in the Flat

It is chilly April evening when the play opens. In a one room flat in a large midland town, three persons, Jimmy Porter, his wife Alison, and Cliff Lewis, their mutual friend are present when the curtain goes up. Jimmy and Cliff are busy reading newspapers seated in chairs. A heap of other newspapers and magazines are lying around them. Alison is busy ironing clothes on an ironing board. All three of them are almost of the same age, about twenty five.

Jimmy’s Complain About Newspapers The silence is broken by Jimmy who complains that the book re-

views carried on by the newspapers have no variety. The books that are being reviewed are different no doubt, but the reviews are all the same. He has just completed reading three who columns on the English novel. He complains that instead of imparting knowledge, the Sunday papers make one feel ignorant. He asks Cliff about his opinion, if he agrees with Jimmy. When Cliff gives a negative reply, Jimmy calls him an ig- norant peasant. Alison who has been ironing all the time and did not pay any attention to their talk now asks about the topic of discussion. When Jimmy repeats his statement, she says that she has not yet gone through this Sunday’s papers. Jimmy complains somewhat irritatively that his wife hardly pays any attention to what he says. He says that when he begins to talk his wife begins to yawn. When Cliff tries to pre- vent his criticism of Alison, Jimmy repeats that Alison always feel sleepy when he talks. Cliff once again asks Jimmy to stop bothering his wife, then Jimmy snatches away the paper from his hand. Cliff now says that he wants to be left alone as he is reading the paper in order “to better himself. When Cliff says that Jimmy’s criticism, his sarcastic remarks make it difficult for Alison to think, Jimmy humiliatingly remarks that Alison has not had a thought in her head for years.

Cliff Calls Jimmy a Glutton

When Jimmy says that he is getting hungry, Cliff calls him a glut- ton, who will set up some kind of record for eating. Calling him a food main Cliff warns that he might be caught stealing vegetables and get arrested. Jimmy hence forth says that he eats in order to live. To Cliff’s comment that his eating has not helped him to put a little more weight,

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Jimmy replies that people like him do not get fat because they just burn up everything in their bodies. Then Jimmy asks for some more tea and Cliff points out that he has drank most of the tea while he and Alison have taken only one cup each.

Jimmy’s Criticism of the Newspapers and Some News Items

Jimmy expresses his wish to read the newspaper, the one that Cliff has been reading. According to him there are only two “posh” papers on Sunday the one that Jimmy himself reading and other being the one in Cliff’s hand. Cliff says that he was just reading a statement by the Bishop of Bromely in which the Bishop has made a moving appeal to all the Christians to do everything they can to assist in the manufacture of the hydrogen bomb. To this Jimmy ironically says that he would like to send a subscription to the Bishop. Then Jimmy also reads the same article and finds that the Bishop is upset because someone has accused him of being partial to the poor. Jimmy cynically suggests that probably all this stuff has been written by Alison’s father under the nomde plume of the Bishop of Bromely-suspecting that Alison might be hurt, Cliff urges her not to take any notice of Jimmy’s comments as Jimmy is de- liberately trying to be offensive. Another news item catches Jimmy’s attention. This news is about a woman who had gone to a mass-meeting of a certain American evangelist and who, in an effort to get near the evangelists was seriously injured while trying to go past the large crowd Nobody had taken any notice of her yelling and groaning in pain. The crowd was noisily shouting slogans to show their support to the evange- list. Jimmy was moved by the touching incident of the women and nar- rated this to Alison and Cliff in order to evoke some response. But both of them show indifference, he feels disappointed and ironically says that

there must be something wrong with himself. Jimmy’s Weariness with Routine Life and Depression

Alison continues her ceaseless ironing and Jimmy becomes impa- tient. He complains about his feeling of boredom and depression on Sundays. He complains about the monotony of Sundays. The routine remains the same every Sunday: reading the papers, drinking tea, and ironing. Their youth is slipping away in this manner. Since neither Cliff nor Alison responds, he angrily shouts: “Damn you, damn both of you, damn them all.” Then Cliff proposes to go the picture to which Alison refuses while Jimmy opines that he would not like his equipment of a film being ruined by the kind of crowd that visits a cinema on Sunday nights. Continuing his grumble he says that he is merely wasting money on Sunday papers because nobody reads them except he himself. Jimmy accuses Cliff and Alison of being lazy and says that neither of them can come out of their slothfulness. He further complains that the two of them are driving him mad by their indifference and passivity. They lack

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ordinary human enthusiasm and he goes on to say that they are not even human being who can be considered to be alive. He laments that it has been long since he has met anyone who showed any enthusiasm about anything.

Alison is Capable of Promptly Getting Used to Things

Cliff asks Jimmy as to what Mr. Priestly has said in his article this week. Jimmy replies that nothing is unusual. He has said what he has said before, the same things. Jimmy compares Mr. Priestly to Alison’s father who according to him keeps casting his glance back to the Edwardian times. He then suddenly asks what Cliff has done to his new trousers. Alison asks him to take off his trousers so that she can press them. Cliff complies to her suggestion. When Jimmy asks for some more matches in order to light his pipe, Cliff objects saying that the whole place is already stinking with the smell of the pipe. Cliff smokes ciga- rettes only. On Alison’s saying that she has got used the smell of Jimmy’s pipe, Jimmy remarks that she is great one for getting used to things. He further says that if she were to die and wake up in a paradise, she would get used to the new place within five minute.

Jimmy’s Complain with the Routine Jimmy’s advice to Cliff not to smoke cigarettes as they cause ulcers

goes unheeded much to his annoyance. Jimmy promises that he will never make any effort to stop him and adds that he is sick of doing things for people without any return for them. He complains that no- body thinks and nobody cares. That nobody has any beliefs or convic- tions or enthusiasm. It is just another Sunday evening with the same routine. He then thinks of listening to a musical concert on the radio by

Vaughan Williams.) – Jimmy’s Sarcastic Comments on Alison’s Father

The musical programme on the radio is truly English. Jimmy ap- preciates it in the view of the criticism made by someone that the En- glish people get their cooking from Paris, their politics from Moscow, and their morals from Port Said. He then again refers to Alison’s father, saying that he can understand how that man must have felt on his return from India after spending so many years there. He says that Alison’s father must have been very happy in imperialist India on home- made cakes, bright ideas, bright uniforms, the long days in the sun. small books of poetry, and so on. It must be a romantic life indeed though quite phoney (not genuine). He says that the regret of Alison’s father on saying adieu was fully justified. Jimmy himself regrets the passing away

of that life and says that if one has no world of his own its pleasant to

regret the passing of someone else.

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Jimmy Praises Webster and Madeline and Criticises Nigel On leaving that Webster, Alison’s friend might drop in that evening,

Jimmy wishes that he would not, because he was in no mood to tolerate him despite his great liking for the fellow. In Jimmy’s opinion Webster has got bite, edge and dive. He feels exhilarated in his company. Though Webster does not like Jimmy, he gives him (Jimmy) something which he fails to get from most people. Alison then sarcastically comments that perhaps Jimmy felt equally exhilarated in the company of his ex mistress Madeline. She further says that he owes everything to her Jimmy replies that she had more animation in her little finger than both Alison and Cliff have in their whole bodies. Praising her he says that her curiosity about people and things were so delightful that with her he felt awake and watched. Jimmy quietly recollects and continues with his talk that just to be with Madeline was an adventure. Even common things like sitting on the top of a gas was as exciting as setting out for an adventurous journey with Ullysses calling Webster a ‘sort of female Emily Bronte’, Jimmy says that he is the only friend of Alison who is worth anything. Webster not only has guts, but is sensitive as well, a mere combination which none of Alison’s friend has got. At this point Alison pleads to him not to continue his verbal assault on her friends. Even Cliff joins in to support her and asks him to let Alison iron his trousers. Jimmy mockingly says that he can do nothing to provoke his wife. Even if he falls dead would not be enough to provoke her. Show- ering his verbal abuse he says that her friends are all either millitants like her parents or all vague. Alison is somewhere in the middle of this two extremes. Cliff tries to stop Jimmy from attacking Alison’s friends and relations, but Jimmy turns his assault to Nigel, Alison’s brother. He describes Nigel as “the straight backed, chinless wonder from Sandhurst.”. Jimmy recalls the only occasion that he met Nigel when he challenged Jimmy for a fight after Jimmy called his mother an evil minded lady. Jimmy had not accepted the challenge as Nigel was too strong for him. Jimmy wastes a lot of energy and uses his whole stock of strong vocabulary to attack Nigel. Calling him the “Platitude from Outer says”, he says that one that he would end up in the cabinet. He further says that Nigel and his friends have been fooling everybody for a long times with their vague knowledge. Nigel lacks the proper knowledge of life and ordinary human being and does not have any conscience at all. Jimmy’s Cruel Attack on his Wife

In spite of the harsh criticism of her family members Alison does not

retaliate, instead she fully concentrated on her ironing. Cliff also re

mains silent and stares at the floor. A sense of triumph overcomes him,

but disappointed that he has failed to provoke her to lash out at him. He

makes another attempt to test Alison’s patience by rhetorically condemn

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ing her family members once again. He says that Alison’s parents are full of spite. “Sycophantic, phlegmatic and pusillanimous” these are the words he uses to express his bitterness against Alison and her brother. Cliff in an effort to change the topic reminds him of a music concert on the radio, but in vain. But Jimmy continues and asks Cliff if he knew the meaning of “pusillanimous”. Cliff replies in negative and Jimmy admits that even he did not know but now has discovered that this word sums up the nature of his wife. He refers to Alison as “a monument to non- attachment” and describes her as “Lady Pusillanimous” and himself as sixties. He says in a cynical manner that “Lady Pusillanimous” and her husband sixties are on their way to the games. Poor Old Sixties! He says in a tone of self pity. Not satisfied he carries on his rhetoric fury if he were to be put in a Hollywood film, his character would be so unimpressive that the producers would make some poor British actor to play his part. Cliff looks troubled by Jimmy’s mockery of Alison, which Alison closes her eyes in dismay and helpless. Jimmy resumes his attack and says that lady Pusillanimous has been promised a brighter world than her hus- band can offer. He asks Alison in the same tone of mockery if she would accompany him to the arena to offer themselves to the fierce and hungry lions. Now slightly provoked Alison retaliates in desperation that if Jimmy does not stop his talk, she will go mad. Jimmy however seems pleased as he succeeded in provoking his wife and was not ready to relent. He says that she certainly should go mad. In order to provoke her more, he picks up a dictionary and reads out the meaning of the word, “wanting of firmness of mind, of small courage, having a little mind, mean spirited, cowardly and timid.” He says that the description really suits his wife. Alison stops herself from reacting to these remarks as she is quite used to these “carefully rehearsed attacks.”. She carries on with her ironing. while Jimmy switches on the radio to listen to the programme by Vaughan

Williams. In the meantime Alison completes ironing Cliff’s trousers and hands them to him. Cliff shows his gratitude by putting his arms around her waist and kissing her affectionately. They both then light their ciga- rettes and Alison returns to resume her work at the ironing board. Jimmy’s objection to Alison’s ceaseless ironing saying that it disturbs his enjoyment of the radio programme. Alison assures that she will fin- ish with her ironing very soon. Jimmy turns off the radio and complains that everyone is making noises and he is unable to hear the concert. Annoyed with his continuous gumball Alison tells Jimmy not to behave like a child. Jimmy retaliates immediately calling her clumsy. He taunts her saying that she is so clumsy that she jumps on the bed as if she was stamping on someone face and draws the curtain with a great clatter- ing sound. Her way of doing things is so noisy that it can be compared with the launching of a battle ship. He then generalises and says that

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all women are noisy. They kick the floor instead of simply walking on it and in equally violent way they sit down at their dressing table night after night he has observed his wife behaving in the noisy manner while sitting before her bedroom mirror. He compares Alison’s behavior with the bad table manners of ‘dirty old Arab’. In his words a clumsy and noisy women is basically insensitive. He then recalls staying in a flat above which a couple of girl lived. They were so noisy that their day to day activities were like an assault on his sensitibilities. They turned a deaf ear to his requests and pleadings and continues with their war like activities, ultimately he had to shift. He ironically says that those girls must be married by now and they must be a source of great torment to their husbands.

Alison Gets Hurt

At that time the Church bells start ringing and Jimmy gets irri tated by the sound and shouts “stop ringing the bells!. Theirs somebody going crazy in here!”. His target now shifts to Miss. Dury, the landlady of the flat, who according to him must have gone to the Church and must be swinging on these bloody bells. Cliff tries to calm him down by offering to take him for a drink but he declines. Then Cliff playfully catches hold of Jimmy and asks him to apologize for being so nasty to everyone. Jimmy struggles with Cliff and they both fall down to the floor. Though this is routine for the men, Alison gets to the point of breaking down. She shouts that the house is becoming more like a zoo everyday. Jimmy and Cliff continue their mock wrestling and in the process hit the iron board and strike against Alison. Alison cries out in pain as her arm comes into contact with the hot iron. Alison hits out at the men for her pain. Cliff rushes to the bathroom to get soap to soothe her burning sensation. Cliff returns and applies the soap on her burnt arms. Jimmy leaves the room and goes to Cliff’s room where he lies down in the bed reading. Alison thanks Cliff and he kisses her head affectionately. He tells Alison that he is so fond of Jimmy and her that he would not be able to live away from them. Alison pessimistically states that the feeling of love has deserted her long time back and says that she can hardly remember what it was like to feel young. Jimmy has told her the same thing the other day about himself. Cliff says that he does not know how long he can go on watching Alison and Jimmy tearing each other apart.

Alison Confides in Cliff

Cliff puts a bandage over Alison’s wounded arms. Alison now hesi-

tatingly reveals to Cliff that she is pregnant. She confessed that it came

quite as a shock to her after three years of their married life to have

ultimately been caught. She said that looking at their financial position

and the small accommodation, it had been out of question and Jimmy

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

always resented it. She says that Jimmy is totally unaware of it and will most probably resent it, and it was already too late to go for an abortion. Cliff assures her that everything would be fine and urges her to tell him because after all Jimmy loves her. Alison thinks that Jimmy will suspect her motive at once if she tells him about her pregnancy. He may not react immediately but when he watches her growing bigger and bigger she would not dare to look at him. She tells Cliff that Jimmy has got his private morality which according to her mother is “loose”. Surprisingly Jimmy got quite upset on learning that she was a virgin till her marriage with him. He actually used to taunt her with her vir- ginity. He seemed quite angry as if she had in some strange way de- ceived him. Alison asked Cliff if Jimmy was right in his view about everything. Cliff replies that Jimmy and he think the same about a lot of things because they both belong to the working class. Jimmy’s mother had some rich relatives whom Jimmy despised as he hated Alison’s rela- tives. He further says that Jimmy gets along with him only because he is very common, “common as dirt”. When Alison asks him again if she should tell Jimmy about her pregnant state, he replies in affirmative. Jimmy returns the room. Cliff has just kissed Alison to show his affec- tion. Jumping to Jimmy Cliff asks him if she is not beautiful and adds that he cannot understand why she married a man like Jimmy. At this Jimmy asks Alison if she would have been better of as Cliff’s wife to which Cliff replies that she is not her type. Cliff suggests that they should go to bed and have done with it. Alison says that Jimmy really means it. Jimmy points out that Alison and Cliff looks pretty silly slobbering over each other. He says that Alison’s parents opposed her marriage to Jimmy and if they saw all this going on with Cliff will definitely collapse or perhaps send for the police.

Moment of Tenderness between Jimmy and Alison Cliff goes out to get some cigarettes. Jimmy and Alison are alone in

A the room. Jimmy’s mood now suddenly changes. He takes hold of her bandaged arm and injuries and asks her how she is feeling and apologises saying that fooling about can get a bit dangerous sometimes. He gets somewhat emotional and goes on to tell how much he loves and wants her. He affectionately puts his face against her belly and she strikes his head. He raises his head and they kiss passionately, Jimmy then asks her what did Cliff mean by urging her not to forget. She replies that he wanted her not to forget to tell Jimmy what she had been planning to. Jimmy kisses her passionately and asks her if she is fond of Cliff. Alison replies in affirmative. Jimmy says sadly that he is the only friend left. He recalls that he had in school. Who had gone out of his life. He speaks affectionately about Hugh’s mother who has been a good friend to him. The elderly woman had established him in his sweet stall. She has prom-

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ised to let Jimmy buy the sweet stall when he will have enough money for it. Jimmy then asked Alison why she did not like the lady. Alarmed that it might take a higher turn, Alison requested him to change the subject. Jimmy lovingly calls her “a very beautiful great eyed squirrel.” Alison also reciprocates with affection and calls him “a jolly super bear” Jimmy remarks that bears and squirrels are marvellous to which Alison adds that not only marvellous but beautiful as well. Alison feels happy and began to make the kind of sounds and movements that squirrels make when they are happy. At this moment she gets ready to reveal her pregnancy to Jimmy, just then Cliff returns and informs her that there is a phone call for her down stairs. The name of the caller is Helena. Jimmy apprehends that it must be Helena Charles and Cliff confirms.

Alison goes to receive the call.

Helena Charles, Jimmy’s Sworn Enemy

Jimmy tells Cliff that Helena is one of Alison’s friend and one of his “natural enemies”. Jimmy wonders what Helena wants from Alison. He concludes that it can not be for something pleasant. He then says that he is no longer interested in any women because he had plenty of love affairs and did not desire any sensual love. He takes out a letter from Alison’s handbag and tells Cliff that this is what happening behind his back. Alison corresponds with her mother where his name is never men- tioned as if it were a dirty word. Alison returns and gives the news that Helena is coming to stay with to which Jimmy objects. He sarcastically asks Alison if she had told Helena to bring her aromour as she is going to need it to defend herself from Jimmy’s attack.

Jimmy’s Insulting Remarks on his Wife’s Passion

Alison vehemently reacts to her husband’s harsh criticism of Hel- ena. Jimmy turns to his wife now and causes her saying that he wished something terrible would happen to her which will wake her up from her beauty sleep. He wished if she would have a child that dies, this kind of experience would make her more of a human being. Continuing his scathing attack he goes on to describe her sexual passion in the most insulting manner. He says that she has the passion of a python and devours him whole as if she were an over sized python during their love-making. Alison is hurt but remains silent.

Introduction

CRITICAL COMMENTS ACT-I

In the act all the main characters are introduced though we meet only three physically and at the same time get acquainted with the situ- ation of the Porter’s flat. The most dominating character is Jimmy Por- ter, a keenly dissatisfied man, who gives vent to his anger by constantly lashing out at people or thing. Throughout this act we find Jimmy mak-

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ing seathing remarks, criticizing his friends and in-laws and denounc- ing his wife

Jimmy: The Angry Young Man

Jimmy is introduced to us as a tall, thin young man of about twenty five. He is addicted to smoking a pipe. He is a disturbing mixture of sincerity and cheerful malice. He is restless and proud. From his seath- ing attack on everything under the sun, it seems that he is a man disil- lusioned with life.

When the play opens Jimmy and Cliff are reading the Sunday news- paper. He makes a lot of fuss about the news items. After reading a news item by the Bishop of Brambly he makes fun of him. Jimmy’s dissatisfaction with things and persons becomes more evi-

dent when he starts talking. He snubs Cliff as an ignorant man at the slightest excuse. He is annoyed at Alisons’s ceaseless ironing. He loses his coolness at the ringing of the Church bell. The slightest sound or careless answer is enough to provoke him. He grumbles over the sameness and routine activity of the Sunday. He is fed up with every- thing and anything. He accuses Alison and Cliff of having no enthusi- asm, for being dull and sarcastically asks them to play a game and behave like human beings for sometime. He hits out at everybody by his civet comments and does not spare even his wife from his attack. He behaves in a sadistic manner. He curses his wife, “if only something-something would happen to you and wake you out of your beauty sleep. If you could have child, and it would die”. From this it can be assumed that like a sadist he takes pleasure in inflicting pain on others. His constant provocation of his wife to the point of break down and retaliation proves that he is a sadist. His verbal assault on Alison’s family more particu- larly on Alison’s mother seems to be out of his hatred against the middle class

Jimmy’s Mocking Comments on his Wife Though marked by sarcasm and bitterness most of Jimmy’s com

ments are witty. We cannot help but marvel at his rhetorical speeches used to condemn other though pity’s the target of his attack. He re- serves his harsher possible words to condemn Alison and her family. He tries to provoke his wife early the act by criticising her for remaining silent. He asks her “you can talk, can’t you? You can express an opinion. Or does the white women’s Burden make it impossible to think?”. Fail- ing to get a response from his wife in spite of his brutal assault he says to Cliff, “Nothing I could do would provoke her. Not even if I were to drop dead”. He crudely refers to Alison as “this monument to non-at- tachment” and calls her “Lady Pusillanimous”. Not satisfied with sim- ply this he goes a step further to torment his wife. He picks up a dictionary and reads out the meaning “Pusillanimous Adjectives. Want- ing of firmness of mind, of small courage, having a little mind, mean

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spirited, cowardly, timid of mind”, and as if pleased with himself blurt out, “That’s my wife ! That’s her isn’t it?” he takes pleasure in making cruel comments on his wife. He criticises her for her noisiness, her con- stant ironing of clothes etc.

Jimmy’s Attack on Alison’s Family

Jimmy is more hostile in his opinion about Alison’s family. He makes the most scathing remarks on his in-laws more particularly his mother- in-law, i.e. Alison’s, mother. He speaks about them in most insulting manner without showing the least concern for Alison’s feeling. He re- fers to her parents as militants, arrogant and full of malice. He sarcas- tically says the Bishop of Brambly is actually her father writing offending articles under an assumed name. He cruelly condemns his wife for cor- responding with her family in spite of his disapproval. “Letters from her mother, litters in which I’m not mentioned at all because my name is a dirty word”. His remarks about brother Nigel is equally venomous. He calls him “the straight backed chiless word from Sadhurst”. Calling him “The Platitude from outer space”, he mocks at Nigel’s vague knowl. edge: “Nigel is just about as vague as you can get without being actu ally visible”. Carrying on his rhetoric condemnation Jimmy says that Nigel should get a medal for vaguery because Nigel’s knowledge of life and ordinary human beings is very lazy. Jimmy’s whole speech con- demning Nigel is a master piece of irony, sarcasm and invective. Al- though we do not approve of his strong criticism of others; yet we marvel at his eloquence and choice of words.

Jimmy’s Hatred for Helena

Helena Charles is another character who arouses Jimmy’s wrath. The mere mention of her name is enough to anger him. He calls her “That bitch” without the slightest hesitation and courtesy. The news that she is coming to stay with them throw him into a fit of anger. He considers her as one of his “natural enemies” and sarcastically asks his wife to tell Helena to bring her armour because she will need it to pro- tect herself against Jimmy’s harsh attacks.

His Praise for Webster and Madeline

The only people who are lucky enough to be spared of Jimmy’s sharp tongue are Webster, Alison’s friend and Madeline, his ex-mistress. Webster, says Jimmy speaks the same language as himself though in a different dialect. He gives due credit to Webster for possessing qualities as dive and enthusiasm. He tells Alison that Webster is the only friend of her who is worth something. Madeline, his mistress when he was only eighteen also interestingly escapes his harsh language. Jimmy says that she had more life in her little finger than both Alison and Cliff put together. Praising her lively disposition and enthusiasm he says “with her, it was simply the delight of being awake and watching”.

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Jimmy’s Love for his Wife In spite of being cruel in his condemnation of Alison Jimmy has

renuine care for his wife. In his mock fight with Cliff, Alison acciden- ally burns her arm by the hot iron. His most immediate reaction is a “Darling, I’m sorry”. The ever condemning sadist husband almost im- mediately apologises and reasserts his genuine regret. “I’m sorry, be- lieve me. You think I did it not on pur”. When Cliff goes out liming the two alone we see a tender and passionate moment between the couple. He tells her that there is hardly a moment when he is not watching and wanting her. Even after four years of their married life, he can not stop sweating when he sees her doing some ordinary work like ironing.

He says that even her trivial actions have become indispensable to him. He becomes quite sentimental and puts his face against her belly and she strikes his head kissing him passionately at this crucial mo- ment.

Jimmy’s Condensation of Alison, his Wife At the end of this Act Jimmy condemns his wife in the most cruel

and hostile manner. He says that Alison has got much to learn and that he only hopes that she will learn it one day. He contemptuously wishes that something terrible would happen to her which would wake her up to the shocking reality from her “beauty sleep”. If she could have a child that dies, only that would make her sensitive and more human. He humiliates her in front of Cliff saying that she has the passion of a python and that she devours him as if he was an over sized rabbit. In the terrifying speech where he wished her to have child that dies, pos- sesses tragic irony because subsequently she loses her child in a miscar- riage.

Alison: A Tolerant Wife

The first act gives us a good purview of the important characters. We learn a good deal about Alison. We are amazed by the most sticking quality of her personality-her power of tolerance. She hardly loses her coolness in spite of Jimmy’s extremely offensive and abusive manner of criticism. She hardly retaliates to Jimmy’s scathing comments on her and her family members. Throughout the act she displays a remarkable spirit of forbearance and tolerance. Jimmy’s deliberate attempt to pro voke her to retaliate, hit back fails as she silently continues her work turning a deaf ear to him. Angered more by her silence he blunts out, “Don’t think I could provoke her. Nothing I could do would provoke her. Not even if I were to drop dead”. She does sometimes become desperate, yet like any other woman she does not fly into a fit of rage. She is so used to Jimmy’s well rehearsed attacks that she carries on with her ironing. Sometimes Jimmy’s criticism becomes too unbearable for her and she breaks her silence. “God help me, if he doesn’t stop, I’ll go out of

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my mind in a minute”. In Jimmy’s absence she confides in Cliff that she cannot take any more of Jimmy and she feels rather sick. Her married life with Jimmy is in jeopardy and she is disillusioned with life.

Alison’s Attachment to her Parents and with Cliff

Jimmy’s accusation and reference to Alison as “this movement to non-attachment” is ironical in view of the fact that she was deeply at tached to her family members. Alison still keeps in touch with her par ents through regular correspondence despite Jimmy’s opposition. Her attachment with her family member is one of the causes of Jimmy’s irk and he torturously condemns her for it. Alison is quite attached to Cliff also. She has a deep affection for him and openly displays it. She has great faith in him and confides in him about her greatest fears and secrets. When Jimmy hurts an abusive remark at his wife, Cliff imme- diately comes to her rescue: “leave the poor girl alone. She’s busy”. His concern for Alison is quite evident. Their mutual affection is often ex- pressed in caresses. Cliff shares an affectionate, rather than passionate relationship with Alison, of a gentle caring friend rather than a lover He is her confidant, a person with whom she shares many of her secrets and problems. Alison unhesitatingly confides in him the secrets she treads to reveal to her husband. This attitude of Alison regarding the two men makes their contrast more apparent.

The Contrast between Jimmy and Cliff

“If Jimmy alienates love, Cliff seems to exact it he is a sooth- ing, natural counterpoint to Jimmy”. Nothing contrasts the two charac ters more perfectly than this. Cliff’s behaviour, his talk, his conduct emphasises the contrast between him and Jimmy. While Jimmy with his crude offensive manner constantly torments his wife, Cliff serves as a balm, an antidote to Alison’s pain and suffering; making life tolerable for her in Jimmy’s one room apartment. He is a fool to Jimmy, bringing out his distinctive qualities by sheer contrast. Although he is no match to the rhetoric outburst of Jimmy, yet in his own simple and uncompli cated way he tries to oppose his (Jimmy) attack on Alison at the very beginning.

Jimmy is Playing on his Trumpet

The scene I of act II opens at evening time. Two weeks have passed. Alison and Helena talk to each other in absence of Jimmy. Alison says that it is wonderful to have someone in the house to help her with the household duties. He replies that she has enjoyed doing the works but complain that she has not been used to going to the bathroom every time she needs some water. In their heart to heart conversation Helena mentions that looking after one man is tough but two men are a diffi- cult undertaking. Alison says that Cliff does not need any looking after, he takes care of himself. From the hall Jimmy, is playing his

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53 trumpet in intermittent burst much to the irritation of the two ladies and Alison speaks out her mind that she wished that Jimmy would lose the damned trumpet. Helena joins in and says that Jimmy is playing the trumpet just to annoy her. Alison is relieved that the land lady was not present, otherwise she could have given them the notice to vacate the house. Alison comments cynically that the whole neighbourhood will soon gather at their door if Jimmy did not end his playing. Helena thoughtfully says that the way Jimmy is playing the trumpet, it seems that he wants to kill someone and adds that it may be to kill her par- ticularly. She exclaims that it’s rortifying and that she has never seen so much hatred in anyone’s eyes before. Alison casually informs her friend that Jimmy had his own jazzband once. He might give up his sweet stall to start a jazz band.

Helena’s Curiosity over Alison-Cliff Relationship Helena, rather abruptly asks Alison if Cliff was in love with her.

This question catches her off guard and replies that she does not think so. Alison says that she and Cliff are fond of each other, its simply that and nothing more. Helena is not convinced. Alison repeats that though physically they are attached and openly hugs and kisses each other, there is no sexual passion in their attachment. “It’s just a relaxed, cheer- ful sort of thing, like being warm in bed”. Helena is anxious to know how Jimmy reacted to Cliff and Alison’s attachment. Alison says that it is difficult for her to explain the position. Jimmy, according to her is very particular about allegiance, and expects everyone to be loyal to him. He not only expects his friends to be loyal to him but to all the things that he believes in not only of his present and future but his past as well. She says that her relationship with Cliff has worked out be- cause he is kind and lovable and she is genuinely fond of him, not sim- ply because he were Jimmy’s friends.

Alison’s Account of her Marital Life

Alison then narrates her story after marriage. Her parents strongly opposed her marriage with Jimmy. Jimmy was without a job, without money. And after marriage they had no place to live in either. They lived with Hugh, Jimmy’s childhood friend and his mother Mrs. Tanner in a flat in Poplar. Hugh and Alison disliked each other at the very first meeting and Jimmy saw it. She had been alienated from her family friends and the kind of people she was used to. They had a little celebra- tion and yet she felt lovely and depressed. She was at loss at what to do as she had married against her parents will and so could not approach them and her brother, the only person who could have turned to was busy with the election. Alison narrates her nightmarish stay at the place of Hugh. The whole place was like a jungle. Both Jimmy and Hugh were extremely uncompromising and behaved like savages. Hugh was

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54 ga war. Th even more crude and unrefined than Jimmy. They regarded her hostage of the middle class against which they were waging had a tight financial position. Apart from the small income that she some getting from the few shares she had, they had no money. Her moth sible fo had made her sign everything else to herself when she learnt abo nothin Alison’s decision to marry Jimmy. Hugh and Jimmy thought of way can fe get out of their financial difficulty. They would go uninvited relative’s and friend’s place. They would drag her along to Alison mothe and in her name would attend all the parties, cocktail, dinners etc. at avail the hospitality they showered for Alison’s sake. Taking advanta of their hospitality they would go plundering them, eating their food making merry with their drinks and thoroughly enjoying themselve They behaved just like barbarians, Alison wished that someone woul slam the door at them, but nobody did either out of their politeness out of pity for Alison. (Once they were nearly thrown out of a hous after Hugh tried to seduce a young girl.)

P

The Circumstance Under which Alison Married Jimmy

Helena was shocked to hear all this and asked why she married man like Jimmy. Alison explains that her parents return from India after her father’s retirement everything in England seemed to have undergone a tremendous change to her father. Her father seemed rather remote and irritable and her mother had always been difficult to deal with. She was only a carefree girl of twenty one when she met Jimmy at a party. The man at the party distrusted him while the ladies showed their contempt for Jimmy. He came to the party on a bicycle and his dinner jacket was smeared all over with oil. He looked very young and frail. Somehow this odd creature at the party attracted her and she decided to marry him. Her parents were furious when they heard about it and their opposition strengthened her resolve to marry him. Her par ents did everything to stop the marriage but in vain. Jimmy too in spite of his frail body, was full of fire and went into the battle with her par ents. Jimmy seemed to her at that time a knight in shining armour whe were hell bent on winning his lady love, “except” sadly comments Alison “—-that his armour didn’t really shine very much”.

Separation From Hugh’s Family Continuing her talk from the past Alison tells Helena how she and

Jimmy separated from Hugh with whom they stayed for a few months in Poplar. Hugh had been writing some novel and made up his mind to go abroad. He was dissatisfied with England and wanted to try his luck in some other countries. He wanted Jimmy and Alison to go with him. Since Jimmy did not agree with him, there was a bitter quarrel be tween them. Jimmy pointed out that it would be wrong on Hugh’s part to leave his old mother behind. They broke up and as a result, Jimmy

ACT WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

55 and Alison came to this particular flat in Poplar, while Hugh went to some other country. Alison says that Hugh’s mother held her respon sible for her son’s departure and Jimmy also blamed her though he said nothing. She confesses that whenever the old woman looks at her she can feel her thought blaming Alison for her son’s departure. Hugh’s mother is a sweet lady. Jimmy adores her because she is poor and igno- rant. Alison confesses that it stands snobbish, but it is the truth.

The Bears and Squirrels Game

Heaving the account of Alison’s nightmarish life after marriage Helena advises her to make up her mind. She tells Alison as a new responsibility i.e. the lady awaits her she should decide about her fu- ture. Things have got to change. Alison cannot go on living like this at this condition. Helena asks Alison why she has not told Jimmy about her pregnancy. Alison replies that she does not know and then antici- pating Helena’s thought she says the baby is Jimmy’s and there is no doubt about it. She suites and says that she never really wanted any other man in her life. Helena seems concerned with Alison’s plight and suggests that Alison should give an ultimatum to Jimmy either Jimmy should been to behave and look after Alison properly, or she will get of this “mad-house”. Helena contemptuously says that Jimmy does not know what love means. Alison points out to a chest of drawer, to two stuff toys, one bear and a squirrel and says the bear is Jimmy while she is the squirrel. Alison explains the bears-and-squirrels game, the game that she and Jimmy plays. (They imagine themselves to be bears and squirrels) Astounded, Helena asks if there is something wrong with Jimmy. Alison replies that he was perfectly all right and that it was only to escape from the sordid reality that she and Jimmy began to imagine themselves as bears and squirrels and play. In this world of fantasy they behaved like carefree creatures and showered their un- complicated affection for each other. Alison sadly says that now even the bears and squirrels are dead. Helena firmly tells her that she has got to fight Jimmy otherwise he will dive her to death.

Helena Cliff enters and enquires about tea. Alison replies that it is ready and asks him to call Jimmy. Cliff calls out to Jimmy and tells him to stop playing the bloody trumpet and come for tea, Jimmy comes and Joins them for tea at the table and says that people who does not like jaz has no feeling either for music or for human beings. Helena dis- Iniuses this as mere rubbish and Jimmy replies that it confirms his state- pant. Jimmy complains that no one in the house knows how to keep the Papers except himself because he is the one who pays for it. When Cliff liepthief because the back calling him “wells brash” that Chif has no intellect wheretorno business to read the news paper. He

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

57 tempt was limitless. Very contemptuously he remarks that the middle aged had done everything and anything to protect her daughter against ruflians like him. She would resort to all sort of vices, cheating, lying, bullying and blackmailing to protect her daughter from him. He carried on his verbal assault on her comparing her to a “rhinoceros in labour” and “as a night in Bombay brothel” Cliff tries to stop him but in vain. Helena tries to stop him but his attack becomes more aggressive. Con- demning Alison’s mother he says that the old bitch should be dead. He repeats this with an intention to infuriate and provoke Alison. Alison does not react. Continuing his onslaught he says that even the worms in the grave of that old woman will get indigestion problem after eating her dead body. Though as usual Alison keeps mum, Helena reacts say- ing that she feels sick to hear all this. Not satisfied with all the words of contempt he proceeds to tell that one day after he retires the sweet stall he would write a book. The material of the book is already in his mind. He adds that it will be a book written in flame. His book will be recol- lected in fire not tranquility. Now Helena intervenes saying that how a simple thing like Alison’s going to the Church calls for such an aggres- sive outbursts. Helena says that perhaps Jimmy thinks that the world has been unfair to him. Alison at this breaks her silence and ironically urges Helena not try and take away Jimmy’s suffering because he would be best without it.

Jimmy’s Talk of his Marriage

Jimmy bluntly asks Helena the purpose of her stay when she had finished her play at the local theatre. Helena replies that she has ex- tended her stay at Alison’s request. Jimmy turns to Alison and asks why is she allowing herself to be influenced by Helena. Irritated by his ques- tion Alison bursts out saying that the word “why” is troubling her all the time. Jimmy replies that as long as she is around he would go on using it. Then he addresses to Helena from behind and says that the last time Alison was in the Church was at the time of her marriage with Jimmy. He would not have gone to the Church even to marry, but the local registrar was a friend of Alison’s father and he anticipated that the information of the proposed marriage would reach her parents and they might have taken steps to stop it. However, when Jimmy and Alison had gone to the Church, her parents were already present there as they came to know about it.

Helena’s Threat to Jimmy

Helena asks Jimmy if he has finished his talk. Ignoring her Jimmy asks Alison if she is allowing herself to be deceived of “this saint in Diers clothing” i.e. Helena. He contemptuously calls Helena a sacred cow. When Cliff tries to stop him, he accuses Cliff of taking Helena’s side like Alison. Then in a long speech he ridicules Helena’s philosophy

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of life. In his long speech of condemnation he says that Helena is an expert in “the New Economics” which is “the Economics of the Super natural”. She is one of those mysterious “share-pushers who are spread. ing all those rumours about a transfer of power. All the old traditions are crumbling under the impact of the philosophy of people like Helena He sarcastically remarks that people like Helena advises others to hope for gain in the next world. She thinks that future progress lies, in going backwards. The only place where she can see light is the Dark Ages Annoyed at Jimmy’s criticism, Helena calmly responds saying that had he been sitting near her, she would probably have slapped him. She warns him that if he comes near her she would definitely slap him Jimmy retorts that if she slaps him he would lay her out in retaliation He reminds that he has no public school scruples about hitting the fairer sex. Helena casually remarks that she would not be surprised if he be haved in that crude manner. Jimmy says that he detests physical vio. lence, but, that does not mean that he would sit idle when some women take the undue advantage of his philosophy.

Jimmy’s Account of his Dying Father

Jimmy asks Helena if she has watched anybody dying. When Hel- ena replies in negative Jimmy mockingly says that anyone who has never seen somebody dying “is suffering from a pretty bad case of vir- ginity”. He then gives a pathetic and rather painful account of his father’s death. When he was just ten years old, his father came back from the war in Spain. For twelve long months he watched his father dying. Ev eryone waited for him to die. His mother looked after him without com- plaining perhaps she pitied him. Nobody seemed to care for him. Jimmy was the only one who really cared and suffered.

Everytime he sat by his father’s bedside and listen to him talk, Jimmy had to fight back his tears. His father used to pour his heart out to Jimmy who could hardly understand half of what was said to him yet he could feel the despair and the bitterness of the dying man. He says that he knew more about love-betrayal and death at the tender age of ten than Helena would probably know all her life.

Jimmy Accuses Alison of Being Indifferent

Jimmy’s account of his dying father hardly seems to affect anyone. Helena in an indifferent manner says that it is time she went to the Church. She goes downstairs and asks Alison to join her. Jimmy en raged by their indifferent attitude, thus his wrath on her and asks her why she was behaving in that manner after he had given her every thing. But as Alison pays no attention he became abusive calling her “you judos you phlegm”. He accuses her of being influenced by Helena and therefore agrees to go to the Church with him. Alison unable to bear any longer strongly reacts. She hurls a tea cup to the floor and says

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

59 softly that she wants some peace. Jimmy sarcastically says that when his heart is full and he feels ill, Alison is seeking peace. He further when that Alison can attack someone with her silence. Whenever he feels up set or enraged, she instead of offering him any comfort remains silent. Either he is crazy and mean and stupid or she is. He asks Cliff which one of them is crazy, cruel and mean. As Alison gets ready to go, he curses her saying that he will wait for the day when she falls at his feet, groveling and cringing in an abject manner.

Helena Accuses Cliff

Helena at this moment returns and informs Jimmy there is a phone call for him. Jimmy goes to attend the call. Helena asks Alison what Jimmy was raving about. She says that she feels like claiming his hair by the roots. He has no idea what Alison would be going through all this months as she was expecting. Helena then turns to Cliff and accuses him of being a silent observer and doing nothing to protect Alison. Cliff replies that he is not a police officer. He says that though he does not hate her like Jimmy, yet he is not on her side either. He says that the situation in the porter’s home have worsened since her arrival. Defend- ing himself he says that the Porter’s love has always been a battlefield and had he not been there everything would have been over between the couple. Commenting on his role in their minds he says that he has always been a no-main island, a neutral point between the two. Some- times their life has been quite peaceful and happy, but most of the time it has been hell. He says that he loves both Jimmy and Alison and pities all that includes Helena also. Helena surprisingly asks if he is pitying her as well and then to avoid his reply goes on to say that she neither understands Jimmy nor Cliff. All that she knows is that none in the house seems to know how to behave in a decent and civilized way: Helena then rather abruptly informs Alison that she has sent a tele- gram to her father. Alison is rather taken aback and exclaims “oh?”. Helena asks Alison if she would go with her father when he comes to take her. Alison gives a positive reply. Helena says that after Alison is gone, Jimmy will come to his senses and be in a position to face the realities of life.

Jimmy is Sad at the News of Mrs Tanner’s Illness Jimmy returns and informs Alison that the telephone call was from

a London Hospital. He tells Alison that it was about Hugh’s mother that

she had a stroke. Alison responds with sympathy and says that she is

sorry. Jimmy says that she may not survive and that he must go to visit

her. Cliff asks if he should accompany Jimmy. Jimmy politically declines

saying that Cliff hardly knows that lady. Jimmy however wanted Alison

to accompany him. He tells Alison that the first time the old lady saw

her photograph she was greatly moved and repeatedly kept exclaiming

how beautiful Alison was. He softly and hesitatingly asks Alison to come

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with him. Alison instead of giving any reply to him gets ready and goes towards the door to join Helena to go to the Church. Jimmy can hardly believe when he sees Alison leaving him alone to face the situation. He picks up the teddy bear and throws it to the floor where it lands with a thud making a rattling and groaning sound. Jimmy then drops on the bed and buries his face in the sheet.