The Historical and Socio-Political Context of “Look Back in Anger” By John Osborn

Abstract

George Orwell at the end of the Second World War said that the next 10 years would show whether Britain remains a great power. This thesis argues how two world wars weakened Britain’s empire and how within twenty years, Britain’s imperial night passes into history. The first chapter offers a depiction of the British society before and after the Second World War which was quite difficult to be systematic about its history; one could digest consummately satisfactory data albeit gathered in different ways and in every aspect hard to harmonize. The first chapter identifies the changes brought during the war time which in fact destabilized the normal chronology of exposing events. The second chapter demonstrates how Look Back in Anger emerged as a landmark in the history of the British theatre; it analyzes the theme of anger and the reasons behind the protagonist’s rage, how was it difficult for him to withdraw the romantic golden age, covered by the glitter of a long hot summer with big hats, and how John Osborne felt angry to swallow the page of the past where the right to rule. The third chapter concludes that Look Back in Anger can be understood through an approach which relates the loss of power to the loss of British manliness and soldierly authority which once gave Britain a great image.