Look Back in Anger

The scene is set two week later, in the evening. Helena is now staying at the flat. Helena and Alison are preparing dinner, and getting ready to go to church afterwards, while Jimmy is practicing his trumpet in another room. The two women discuss Helena’s obvious dislike of Jimmy, and her confusion at Alison having married him. Alison explains how they ended up getting married, and how Jimmy’s old friend Hugh, whose mother bought the sweet stall for him, is now another friend that Jimmy despises. Hugh and Jimmy would take advantage of Alison’s position in society by inviting themselves to parties because of her name and social standing. They hated the middle class, but would take advantage of the free food, booze and cigarettes. They often made themselves unwelcome, but the middle class was too rigid in its beliefs and customs to just kick them out and make a scene. Hugh wanted to move and take up the struggle elsewhere, but Jimmy was with Alison and did not want to leave. Hugh eventually left on his own. Alison notes that Hugh’s mother seems to still blame her for Hugh’s leaving.

Alison and Helena talk about how Alison is now cut off from the people and the society that she has known her entire life.