Look Back in Anger Details Summary (ACT-II)

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

CRITICAL COMMENTS ACT II SC. I

Developments in the plot

The Telegram to Alison’s Father

Helena’s arrival contributes to the development of the plot. She over. stays with the Porter’s than planned. A woman of guts, Helena hits back at Jimmy whenever the latter exceeds the limit in his abusive talk and obviously earns his wrath. She interferes with the married life of Alison and Jimmy with aim to help her friend out. She feels that the atmosphere in the Porter’s house is not congenial for a pregnant woman and with an air of authority advises Alison to leave Jimmy. She even takes the liberty of sending a telegram to Alison’s father asking him to take away his daughter and inform Alison about it later.

The News of Mrs. Tanner’s Illness

Another development in the plot is the news of Mrs. Tanner’s ill. ness. A phone call informs Jimmy that Mrs. Tanner has had a stroke and is dying. Jimmy, who is indebted to the old lady and has the highest respect for her decides to visit her in the London hospital where she is undergoing treatment. He wanted Alison to accompany him. But to his utter disappointment Alison ignores his wish and goes away to the Church with Helena. Here we encounter a very sensitive person in Jimmy. The harsh and abusive Jimmy pleads to his wife in a soft voice and shattered at her declination drops to the bed and buries his face in the sheet.

Helena’s Inquisitiveness Regarding Cliff and Alison’s Relationship

We have already noticed the close bond shared by Cliff and Alison There is a deep bond of affection between them and they are often seen kissing and hugging each other even in the presence of Jimmy whe doesn’t seem to mind. This obviously does not escape Helena’s notice and she bluntly asks Alison about the nature of relationship. She is not convinced when Alison says that there is nothing physical in their rela tionship. On learning that Alison is hesitant to reveal her pregnancy to Jimmy, her doubt seems to rise. Alison almost reading her mind refutes her doubt saying that the child belonged to Jimmy. She admitted that she had never wanted anyone else.

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

61

Helena, A Woman of Spirit and Guts Helena is a contrast to Alison. She is described in the stage direc-

tion as a woman of Alison’s age group, of medium height and expen- sively dressed. She serves a perfect antithesis to Jimmy unlike Alison. She is not a passive listener who would tolerate Jimmy’s constant abuses silently without retaliation. She is depicted as strong courageous woman who commands a respect from everyone including the women. She pleads Alison to defy her husband to follow her to the Church. Under her influence even the feeble Alison dares to defile her husband. In a rare moment of anger irritated by his lashing courageous at her she picks up a tea cup and hurls it down which lands with a thud on the floor. Al- though Jimmy tortures Alison, she in her own way loves him deeply but never thought of deserting him. But Helena is a woman of strong con- viction and puts the idea of defiance into Alison. She not only convinces Alison that it would be wise on her part to leave him to bring him to his senses. She acts very authoritatively. She bluntly offers to slap Jimmy if he does not stop his verbal onslaught. Acting on good faith though she does not escape our doubts she even sends telegram to Alison’s father to fetch his daughter home without prior consultation with Alison. She deliberately interferes with Alison’s marital life and even pushes Alison to take a drastic step to teach her husband a lesson.

Alison’s Awakening

Alison as usual continues to be a passive sufferer. Though she hardly reacts or retaliates to Jimmy’s verbal assault yet a slight change in her attitude can be noticed. In the beginning of the scene she along with Helena condemns Jimmy’s blowing of the trumpet. Alison describes Jimmy’s fierce resolve to marry her inspite of her parents’ opposition in the following manner: “Jimmy went into battle with his axe swinging round his head frail and so full of fire”. It was like the old story and sarcastically adds that only his armour did not shine very much. In defiance of Jimmy’s anti Church attitude Alison under Helena’s influ- ence agrees to go with Helena which infuriates her husband. Once irri- tated with her husband’s abusive assault she loses her cool and flings a cup at the floor thus giving vent to her anger. She is so much influenced by Helena much to the disapproval of her husband that Jimmy accuses her of being feeble and weak. She lets Helena interfere in her private matters and though shocked to learn that Helena has sent a wire to her father without her knowledge says nothing.

Jimmy’s Rhetorical Condemnation of Alison’s Mother Jimmy seems to take special effort in denouncing his mother-in-

law. He says that the moment he saw Alison’s mummy for the first time

he developed a keen hatred for her because he could see through her,

LOOK BACK IN ANGER: A CRITICAL EVALUATION

62 that she was a kind of woman who would stoop to any level, either cheat, bully or blackmail to achieve her goal. In a strongly worded rhetorical speech he condemns Alison’s mother calling her a bitch. His condemna tion speech of Alison’s mother is a fine proof of his eloquence and rheto. rics ability. By the wonderful use of similes he describes the callousness and rigidity of Alison’s mother. He says that she is as rough “as a night in a Bombay brothel” and “as tough as matelol’s arm. His hatred for Alison’s mother is so overwhelmingly keen that Helena is aghast at his condemnation of the elderly woman. Cursing her and wishing her death, he says that the worms in her grave will develop a pain in their bellies after eating her flesh. His vicious attack that Alison’s mother “will pass away, leaving a trail of worms gasping for laxative behind her from purgatives to purgatory”. Hearing his vicious attack Helena feels sick. The World of Fantasy

Alison’s conversation with Helena brings some facts of Jimmy’s char- acter to focus. Alison says that Jimmy expects complete allegiance from his friend to his beliefs and convictions-allegiance not only to his present and future but to his past as well. But unfortunately Alison has not been able to adapt herself to Jimmy’s expectations. She has not been able to bring herself to feel the way he does about things. But, in spite of their difference in attitude, their belief, and outlook Jimmy and Alison had arrived at an adjustment in their relation. To escape from the harsh world of reality where everything seems to fall apart they had created an imaginary world of bears and squirrels. It served as a relief to both of them tired of their worldly agony. In the fantasy world they showered their uncomplicated affection for each other, the kind of affection which animals in their cosy 200. But now Alison admits sadly that even the world of bears and squirrels seems to be disintegrating i.e., even the imaginary animal relationship between her and Jimmy is strained.

Jimmy-A Sensitive Person

In spite of his abusive language, crude manner and aggressive tem- per the author has attributed a very human touch to Jimmy’s character. Underneath the tough exterior of a person who declares a crusade against everyone and everything, there lies a very sensitive person who experi- enced the emotion of love-betrayal and pangs of suffering at a very ten- der age. Jimmy’s denunciation, his non-stop verbal assault on others lead us to believe that he is an insensitive person to the point of cruelty But we cannot help but sympathise him when we hear the agonising account of his father’s death. At the tender age of ten, Jimmy watched his father dying. His father had returned from the Spanish Civil War in a miserable condition. Everyone knew that he would not live long, but no one except Jimmy really seemed to care about the dying man. It

ACT WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

63

seemed that the other members were embarrassed and irritated and even his mother, though she pitied her dying husband, did not do much to comfort him. Jimmy used to sit by his father’s bed side and listen to his talk. Though he hardly understood what his father said, he could feel the despair and bitterness of his dying father. After giving an ac- count of his father’s death he sarcastically says to Helena “I know more about love….betrayal…and death, when I was just ten years old that you will probably ever know all your life.”

The news of Mrs. Tanner’s illness also, brings out the sensitive and emotional Jimmy. He is distressed to learn that Mrs. Tanner had a stroke and is dying. He immediately plans to visit her and asks Alison to ac- company him. Alison shows no interest in Jimmy’s request and acting in an indifferent manner accompanies Helena to the Church.

Jimmy is greatly hurt by Alison’s indifference. In anguish he picks up the teddy bear and throws it to the floor. Then he drops on to the bed and buries his face in the bed sheet. This shows the human side of Jimmy. In spite of his vicious comments he is basically a very sensitive person.

Jimmy’s Vicious Comments on Helena and Alison

Jimmy regards Helena as his “natural enemy” and his resentment for her becomes clear even before her entry in the play. He bluntly asks Helena the reason for her stay after her assignment in the town was over. As a representative of the working class he vehemently opposes the ethical and other values the middle class people hold on to. He op- poses Alison’s accompanying Helena to the Church and accuses her of being feeble and that Helena influence her mind. Enraged by Alison’s adamantine decision to defy his resentment he lashes at her “you Judas! You phlegm!”. He does not even spare Helena, a guest in their place from his vicious remarks. He accuses her of influencing his wife to defile him. He does not show the least courtesy towards her. On the contrary he condemns her using the harshest possible language. Irri- tated when Helena threatens to slap him, he retaliates and tells her not to mistake him for a gentleman. He further tells her that he does not have any public school scruple about hitting the fairer sex.

ACT-II SC. II

Colonel Redfern’s Arrival

The next evening receiving Helena’s telegram, Col. Redfern, Alison’s

father arrives. While conversing with his daughter about the situation

in her marital life he says that he cannot understand the reason for the

tension. He admits that Jimmy speaks a different language. On leaving

that Jimmy has gone to see the ailing Mrs. Tanner he enquires whether

she is the same lady who established him in the sweet stall. On his

enquiry what kind of lady Mrs. Tanner is, Alison casually replies that

64

LOOK BACK IN ANGER: A CRITICAL EVALUATION

she is a very ordinary woman from the working class. That Mrs. Tanner was a charwoman who married an actor and struggled all her life to support her husband and son. Alison tells her father that Jimmy and Mrs. Tanner are very close. Alison further tells her father that Cliffi looking after the sweet stall in Jimmy’s absence and that he lives in the same house, in a room across the landing. The Colonel then remarks, that it sounds extraordinary that an educated and intelligent young man like Jimmy should run a sweet stall. Alison explains that Jimmy had tried his hand at many things-journalism, advertising, even vacuum cleaner, and that he seems to be happy running the sweet stall Col. Redfern Defends Jimmy

Alison tells her father that Jimmy resented her correspondence with her family. Her writing to her family was considered by Jimmy to be an act of treachery. Bemused, she tells him how she secretly wrote letters and posted them stealthily without Jimmy’s knowledge. The Colonel asks if Jimmy hates him and his family. Alison confirms his doubt and says that he hates them all. The Colonel comments that the situation is unfortunate and feels that Jimny must have been justified in his atti- tude to a large extent. Alison was rather surprised by her father. The Colonel admits that he and his wife were not entirely free from blame. They were in a way responsible for Jimmy’s attitude. He recalls that his wife Alison’s mother had gone too far over Jimmy. Obviously he and his wife were pretty upset at Alison’s decision to marry Jimmy, but he tried to dissuade her from over-reacting to Jimmy and trying by all means to stop the marriage. She seemed to have come to the conclusion that if Jimmy was going to marry their daughter, he must be a criminal. That was the reason why she hired private detectives to enquire about Jimmy. But he did not approve this idea by her mother. Alison takes her mother’s side and says that probably she acted in good faith only to protect her though in a rather objectionable manner. The Colonel confesses that his wife’s conduct had been horrid. He honestly confesses that though he never approved of Jimmy as his son-in-law, yet he should never have tried to interfere and should have allowed their daughter to do as she wishes. It would have been wiser and more dignified on his and his wife’s part to remain silent instead of preventing the marriage. When Alison tried to assure him that it was not his fault he replies that they were all to blame in one way or the other. Rather surprisingly, the Colo nel opines that Jimmy acted in good faith. He says that Jimmy is an honest man, whatever else he may be much to the astonishment of his daughter, the Colonel puts the blame on himself and Alison.

Father Accuses Alison of Sitting on the Fence

Alison is astonished by her father’s statement blaming himself and her for Jimmy’s objectionable conduct. The Colonel explains that per

dell

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

65

haps Alison takes after himself. She likes to sit on the fence because it is more comfortable and peaceful. Alison was all the more surprised by her father’s accusation and asked him how can he accuse her of sitting in the fence of being neutral when she actually married Jimmy. She reminded her father that she married Jimmy inspite of the humiliation and threats she earned from her family. She also reminds him of his and her mother’s accusation of her for letting them down by going against their will.

The Colonel then says that she should not have written letters to her mother after marriage. Having full knowledge about her family’s disapproval of Jimmy and after everything that had happened she should have refrained from writing letters to them. Looking at her rather un- comfortably he apologises and says that he is confused at the turn of events, the telegram and driving up there etc. In order to defend herself and justify her action she tells her father about Jimmy’s verbal assault on her mother, how he used abusive language to criticize her mother.

Revenge-A Plausible Reason Behind Jimmy Marrying Alison

The Colonel asks Alison about Jimmy’s remark on him. Alison re- plies that he does not say much against him, rather he seems to like him. Jimmy likes him because he can feel sorry for him. Jimmy refers to him as “Poor Old Daddy” and describes him as “just one of those sturdy old plants left over from the Edwardian Wilderness that cannot understand why the sun is not shining anymore”. The Colonel cannot help but agree and admits that Jimmy makes effective use of language. Then he simply asks Alison why did she even have to meet a young man like Jimmy. Alison requests him not to put her to trial again by asking such a question because she has been on trial every day and night for nearly four years. The Colonel then asks her why did Jimmy marry her if he felt the way he feels about everything. Alison replies that it is an unanswerable question. Perhaps Jimmy married her as an act of re- venge. She explains that some people actually marry for revenge, people like Jimmy. Perhaps Jimmy should have been another Shelly who mar- ried Mary, the daughter of the social philosopher William Godwin. Jimmy has again for love and friendship only on his own terms. Alison repeatedly says that for twenty years she had lived a happy, uncompli- cated life, and suddenly thereafter this spiritual barbarian had stormed into her life and threw a challenge at her. Alison further adds that even Helena is puzzled by Jimmy’s behaviour and his attitude towards her The Colonel says that he is justified. He says that Jimmy has taught Alison a great deal whether she realises it or not. He says that what the whole thing means is beyond his understanding. He had always be- lieved that people marry because they were in love. But that has be come too simple for young people now a days. He cannot believe that

LOOK BACK IN ANGER: A CRITICAL EVALUATION

66

love between a man and a woman has anything to do with challenges and revenges. Correcting her father Alison says that it is applicable not to all but to some men and women. The Colonel asks why his own daugh. ter should have got changed in such a situation. He admits that Jimmy perhaps was right in describing him as “an old plant left over from the Edwardian Wilderness”. He says that he really cannot understand why the sun is not shining anymore.

The Colonel’s Reminiscence of his Past Life The Colonel then explains the reason of his feeling as he does. It

was March 1914 when he has left England for India and did not see much of his own country till he came back in 1947. During the years of his absence things have greatly changed. During his stay in India, he had memories of England that he uses to know before 1914 and had gone on remembering his country in that way. Besides, he held a presti gious position as a commander of the Maharajalis army. That was his world and he loved it. It seemed that his life would go on forever like that. But now when he thinks about his life in India, it seems to have vanished like a dream!. He wanted that life to continue forever. He can never forget those cool evenings they spent up in the hills, everything purple and golden. Both he and his wife were happy then. It seemed that they had everything they wished for. But everything came to a stand still after their departure from the Indian state. It was as if the sun had stopped shining for them. Everything came to an end that day when the army band played at an Indian railway station to bid them farewell.

Alison, after leaving her father’s account remarks that he feels sad because everything has changed while Jimmy is hurt because every- thing is same. Neither he nor Jimmy can face the reality and accepts the truth. She comments that something has gone wrong somewhere. The Colonel agrees to his daughter’s view.)

Alison Prepares to Leave Jimmy Alison gets ready to go away with her father and packs her things.

She picks up; the toy squirrel and is about to put it in her suit case, then changes her mind and puts it back. Suddenly she leaves against her father and begins to weep softly. Her father softly warns her that it is big step on her part and asks her if she has really made up her mind to come back with him and is that really what she wants. At that moment Helena enters and asks Alison if she could help her to pack. Alison re plies that she has finished and in case something is left behind Cliff can send them later on. Her father picks up the suitcase to put that in the car. He says that they must hurry now otherwise Alison’s mother will be worried. Helena asks if her telegram had upset him and his wife. The Colonel says that they are grateful to her for sending the telegram. He

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

67

asks if he should put her luggage in the car too. But much to the sur- prise of Alison Helena replies that she would not be going with them. Alison thought that Helena would accompany her to her parent’s home.

Alison Leaves a Note for Jimmy

Cliff now returns from the sweet stall. Helena offering explanation says that she has an appointment on the following day in Birmingham regarding a job. Since it is an important appointment that she cannot miss, she would therefore have to stay here for the night. Alison intro- duces Cliff to her father, and both the men greets each other. The Colo- nel bids good bye to Helena and Cliff. Cliff asks Alison if she is really going and if she would not wait for Jimmy’s return who is expected very soon. Alison replies that she is leaving Jimmy and that she would not wait for him Helena offers to tell Jimmy about Alison’s departure but Cliff suggests that Alison should herself tell Jimmy about her decision. Alison hands over an envelope with a note inside and asks Cliff to pass it on to Jimmy. Cliff sadly remarks that after she is gone, the place will lose much of its charm. Alison kisses Cliff good bye and promises to write to him. She asks Cliff to look after Jimmy. Cliff replies with a tone of sadness that he would keep the old mad house going on somehow.

Cliff Leaves Helena to Face Jimmy

After Alison’s departure Helena and Cliff are left alone in the apart- ment. For the first time in the play, Cliff’s good humour seems to have deserted him. He unwillingly replies to Helena’s enquiry regarding Jimmy. He then gets ready to go out. He tells Helena that it is possible that Jimmy might have come back by the latest train that has arrived and is going out because he would not like to be present in the house when Jimmy returns. He further says that he would not be able to see Jimmy getting hurt when he leaves about Alison’s departure. He would like to go out and enjoy himself with food and drink.

He then gives Alison’s note to Helena and asks her to pass it on to Jimmy expressing the desire that he will ram it up her nostril.

Jimmy Reads Alison’s Letter

A little after Cliff goes out, Jimmy enters in a furious mood. He says that he was almost run over by a car in which ironically enough his wife had been a passenger. And a little later Cliff practically walked into him while going out. Instead of greeting him he pretended not to see him at all. He asks Helena if she is the only one who is not afraid to stay. Hel- ena gives him the letter. He reads a few lines and sorts out with disbe- lief. Alison writes that she is going away because she desperately needs peace and in order to get peace she is willing to sacrifice everything at this time. She asks him to be a little patient with her.

She also writes that she will always have “a deep, loving need of Jimmy”. After reading the letter aloud Jimmy mocks at the content. He

LOOK BACK IN ANGER: A CRITICAL EVALUATION

68

wonders why did not she writes bluntly that she was getting out of the house in the hope that Jimmy will rot there. As for her “deep loving need” of him, her refuses to believe it. He sarcastically asks Helena if she is the one who has dictated the letter to Alison. Enraged by Alison’s decision he brings out his wrath on Helena. He asks her what she was doing there and warns her to keep away from him if she does not wished to be knocked down by him.

At this point Helena calmly tells him that Alison is going to have a baby. Contrary to Helena expectation Jimmy was not excited. He does not feel overwhelmed by emotion to collapse on his feet with remorse He becomes ruthless and says that he does not care if his wife has a baby, or a monster with two heads. He warns her that if she slaps him, she should be ready to get one in return.

Helena’s Reaction to Jimmy’s Physical Threat

Jimmy tells Helena that for eleven hours, while he was in London he had watched Mrs. Tanner dying and that he was the only one by her side at that time. He would again be alone walking behind the coffin when Mrs. Tanner’s body will be taken to the graveyard for burial. As for Alison she would not even send a bunch of flower as a mark of re- spect for the old lady. Alison rejected Mrs. Tanner as an ignorant woman who could not be taken seriously. He could not overcome with awe be- cause “that heartless and foolish woman” as he calls her angrily is going to have a baby. He then turns violent and seizing Helena by her shoul- der asks her to get out of the house. At this Helena slaps his face sav- agely. An expression of horror and disbelief appears on his face and next moment is that of pain. His hand goes up to his head and a muffled cry of despair escapes him. Helena further surprises him by kissing him passionately and drawing him down beside her.

CRITICAL COMMENTS ACT II SC. II

Colonel Redfern’s Arrival

There are some important developments in this scene. In the first place, Alison’s father arrives and after a good deal of hesitation takes her away with him. Alison leaves a note for Jimmy, a very touching letter which infuriates him rather than console. Helena instead of go ing away with Alison as expected stays on at the Porter’s flat on the pretext of some important appointment. The most important dramatic development being the shocking incident in which reacting to Jimmy’s physical threat, she savagely slaps him and seeing the expression of pain and anguish and much to everyone’s astonishment kisses him pas sionately and draws him down beside her.

Dramatic and Suspenseful Moments in this Scene

This scene is full of dramatic and suspenseful moments. A feeling of uncertainty prevails when Alison’s father brings to justify Jimmy’s atti

N ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

69 tude towards himself and his wife. He believes that there is sufficient ground for Jimmy to show hostility towards them. He confess sufficient and his wifposed but sible for Jimmy’s hostile attitude beces that he not only opposed but tried their best to prevent Jimmy and Alishey marriage by any means Like a wise father concerned with the welfare of his daughter Col. Redfern warns Alison softly that she is taking a big step.

We encounter a very moving scene between Cliff and Alison at the time of her departure. Cliff requests her to tell Jimmy about her deci- sion herself and unbelievingly asks her if she really is going away. An- a other dramatic moment comes when Cliff for the first time in the play loses his balance, temperament and speaks somewhat rudely to Hel- ena. But the most intriguing scene is when Helena in retaliation to Jimmy’s threat slaps Jimmy savagely and then the very next moment kisses him passionately drawing him beside her. It arouses awe and doubts as to the motives of Helena Cliff, a sincere and true friend.

Cliff’s Concern for Alison and Jimmy

In this scene the real and genuine friend in Cliff comes to the fore. His genuine concern for Jimmy and Alison becomes apparent in the scene where Alison is about to leave with her father. He unbelievingly asks her if she really was going away. On getting an affirmative reply he suggests that she should wait till Jimmy returns and tells him about her decision herself. When Alison declines to stay on, he rather sadly says that the place would lose much of its charm without her. He is really upset after Alison’s departure. For the first time in the play we find him getting irritated. Helena’s question on Jimmy irks him and he shouts at her, “why the hell should I know!”. He is in a despair, he is unwilling to face Jimmy for he cannot bear to see his friend hurt. He in a way holds her responsible for Alison’s decision to go away. He plans to go out in order to avoid confronting Jimmy. He says “I’ve had a hard day, and I don’t think I want to see anyone hurt—“. He tosses Alison’s note to Helena and says “Here! You give it to him! He’s all yours”. And vehemently adds “And I hope he rams it up your nostrils!”. He is loyal to both Jimmy and Alison, is concerned about their welfare and would always like to see them live happily together. The fact that Alison is going to separate herself from Jimmy greatly upsets him and unable to accept the reality that he loses his temperament even.

Helena’s Designs-Doubtful

This scene throws some further light on the character of Helena. Alison had been a very tolerant wife who silently bears all the tantrums of her husband. But after Helena’s arrival we notice some change in her character. As accused by Jimmy Helena’s influence over Alison cannot be overlooked. Helena is to great extent responsible for Alison’s depar

70

LOOK BACK IN ANGER: A CRITICAL EVALUATION

ture. She constantly reminds her that she would never survive under

that condition and that she should go away to teach Jimmy a lesson

She even takes an upperhand and sends a telegram to Alison’s father

asking him to take away his daughter. At first it was understood that

Helena would accompany Alison to her parent’s home, but at the last

moment, she announces that she would stay for one more night as she

had an important appointment. Her decision astonishes even Alison who

could not conceal her surprise” “Aren’t you coming with us?” she asks

We are clueless as to what prompted her to stay on even for one night in

the apartment of the man whom she detests and that too in the absence

of his wife. The incident when reacting violently to Jimmy’s threat she

first slaps and then kisses him passionately naturally justifies our doubt

regarding Helena’s motive. But it is difficult to pin point her motive

Whether she has been in love with Jimmy all the time right from the

beginning and was masking her feeling and intentionally separated the

couple to have Jimmy for herself or after slapping him, seeing his ex.

pression of pain she felt sorry and, kissed him on impulse to make up

for her act it is difficult to judge. This incident gives rise to the suspicion

that perhaps Helena had sent Alison away deliberately to start her af-

fair with Jimmy. Or perhaps there had been a mingled feeling of love

and hatred in her attitude towards Jimmy and with Alison gone, the

feeling of love comes to the fore pushing back the feeling of hatred.

Helena unlike Alison is a woman of complex nature. After Alison’s de-

parture, she asks Cliff what Jimmy would do, whether he would look

for one of his girlfriend. This certainly provides sufficient ground to our

doubts about her intentions.

Alison-her decision to leave and her concern for Jimmy

This scene also throws considerable light on Alison’s character. Fed up with her husband’s torturous behaviour and provoked by Helena she decided to walk out of Jimmy’s life, but at the same time she is ex tremely upset at the thought of her separation with her husband. While giving her father an account of their torrid marital life she pours her heart out and tells him that probably Jimmy had married her only to take revenge on the middle class. She calls Jimmy a barbarian whe stormed into her peaceful life and thrown a challenge at her. In spite of her father’s warning that she is taking a big step, she is determined to go away. But she is extremely sad and unable to control her feeling leans against her father and weeps. She takes hold of the toy squirrel the symbol of her love for Jimmy is about to put it in her suitcase, and again changes her mind. She is so concerned with Jimmy that her last thought while leaving the house is about him. She says to Cliff, “Look after him”. Provoked by Jimmy’s constant criticism and Helena’s inter ference she decides to walk out on him. Left to herself alone perhaps

ACT-WISE, SCENE-WISE SUMMARY WITH CRITICAL COMMENTS

71 she would have gone on living with Jimmy forever tolerating every- thing in silence. While leaving, she leaves a note for Jimmy where she mentions her desperate need of peace and explains the reason of her leaving. When Cliff asks her if it would be better if she herself should tell her husband about her decisions, she replies, “I’m a conventional girl”.

Col. Redfern-A Wise and Concerned Father

This scene introduces us to Col. Redfern, Alison’s father. A retired army officer, he is a large, handsome man about sixty. As an army com- mander, he exercised immense authority and received great respect he realises that he no longer has the authority and feels somewhat uneasy. He is an intelligent man who is never puzzled by the realities of life. He is nostalgic about his past life of comfort and finds it difficult to accept the facts that life has changed for him. During his conversation with his daughter Alison, he regrets his wife and his opposition to her marriage with Jimmy. He feels that he and his wife were in a way responsible for the disturbance in their marital life. He admits that it would have been dignified on their part if they would not have interfered with Alison and Jimmy. Surprisingly he defends Jimmy by saying that he had some amount of right in his side. Impartially judging the situation he even accuses Alison of sitting on the fence, of being neutral. He tells his daugh- ter that knowing about Jimmy’s disapproval, she should have refrained from writing to her family members. On learning that Jimmy had de- scribed him as “just one of those sturdy old plants left over from the Edwardian wilderness,” he agrees saying that: “he has quite a turn of phrase”. He reprimands Alison, when she tells him that perhaps Jimmy married her only to take revenge. Expressing shock he says that he always believed that people married because they were in love. Like a wise and loving father he advises Alison to think over her decision again and softly warns her that she is taking a big risk. We cannot help but admire him for his wise advice, for his polite manners.