ACT-I

Jimmy Porter, an Angry Young Man

The story of the play involves Jimmy, his wife Alison, his friend Cliff, and Alison’s friend Helena. Jimmy is the central character on whod the play is based He is a complex personality. He is keenly dissatisfied with life in general and who is unable to reconcile himself to his ene ronment and to the people around

A Social Rebel

The action of the play takes place in a flat in a town in the English Midlands. When the play first opens, Jimmy, Alison and Cliff are shown in a room in their flat. Both Jimmy and Cliff are from the working class background while Alison belongs to the upper class. The social disparity between the husband and wife is the cause of tension in their marital life. All the three are of the same age. In spite of being a university graduate Jimmy earns his livelihood by running a sweet stall in which he is assisted by Cliff. When the play opens on a Sunday evening, Jimmy and Cliff are reading the newspaper while Alison is ironing clothes. Jimmy makes a lot of fuss reading some news items and criticises the newspaper and makes fun of the contributors. He snubs Cliff as an ig- norant person and criticises his wife for her ceaseless ironing. We can get a fair idea of his temperament in the very opening scene. He is annoyed even when the church bell rings.

Jimmy’s Criticism Of People

Jimmy is dissatisfied with the routine kind of life which he has to lead. He complains about the monotony of Sunday and criticises Cliff and Alison for not showing any enthusiasm for anything. Most of his comments are marked by bitter sarcasm. He especially shows his bitter wit in the condemnation of his wife’s family. He calls Alison and her brother Nigel “sycophantic, phlegmatic and pusillanimous”. He mocks at Alison’s father who, he says, was very happy in imperialist India, but who is leading a life of regret at having lost the benefits he was used to as the commander of Maharajah’s army. He can never forgive Alison’s mother for having opposed his marriage with Alison and because of her higher social status.

The Bears and Squirrels Game Revives Love between the Couple Jimmy’s constant verbal abuse have affected the sensitive Alison. She is pregnant and so much in the tension that she hesitates to reveal her pregnancy to Jimmy. As she is pretty close to Cliff, she confides in him about her fear. Cliff admires her to disclose the fact of her pregnancy to Jimmy. When Cliff goes out for a little while, there is a tender scene between Jimmy and Alison. This scene shows that in spite of his bullying, Jimmy is basically in love with his wife. They play the game of bears and squirrels and express their love for each other. Jimmy calle Alison “a beautiful squirrel”, and Alison lovingly responds calling him “a really marvellous bear”. Alison at this moment of happiness was about to disclose her pregnancy when Cliff comes in.

Helena, Alison’s Friend will Come to Stay as a Guest

Cliff informs Alison about a phone call for her. Helena, a friend of Alison tells Alison that she would be coming to their place as a guest Jimmy loses his temper when he learns about Helena’s impending visit He regards her as his natural enemy. Act I closes with the most offen- sive speech that Jimmy makes towards Alison. He viciously wished that something horrible should happen to Alison which would wake her up Clift from the “beauty-sleep”. For instance she should have a child that dies, he says viciously, only that will make her more humane. He insults her in front of Cliff by describing her as a woman with the passion of a python caring little for her sensitiveness. He says that every time they to leave J make love, she devours him like an oven-sized rabbit.