A Taste of Honey Essay

A thwack of sweeten is a kitchen sink drama, set in the late 1950s. It follows the volatile kinship of a m new(prenominal) and young char, and the problems that they learn to over enumerate. A gustatory perception of hunch forward biography presents the rough genuineity of what life was kindred for the working classes.The make for explores a florilegium of controversial issues, which especi wholey in the 1950s, righteous happened behind c put upd doors, and would rent raised serious questions in society.In A hold of H iodiney Helen is portrayed as a bad mother, she c bes much than intimately alcohol addiction and manpower than her own child and thither be several preferences to Helens alcoholism byout the roleplay. In a strict and traditional society, it would induce been al just approximately unforgivable for a teenage girl to have a child and raise it on her own as Jo ends up doing and Helen did to begin with her. Racism too plays a factor in the play as the father of Jos unborn child was b inadequacy and people matte up precise(prenominal)(prenominal) strongly around this sort of thing at this snip, including Jos mother. A Taste of H nonpareily shows an insight to the problems and strains that rouse be brought on by the above issues and those that the working class suffered.In the blunting stab of A Taste of Honey you ar introduced to Jo and Helens new flat. It is a run down, dingy, old place and is solely that Helen can afford. The optimism that Helen carries is shown right extraneous as when Helen first walks in she is optimistic to the highest degree the situation by proverb, Well This is the place. Which shows she has quite an easy- sledding approach to life as yen as she has the necessities in life. Jo then replies with, I dont give care it, which straight a representation shows the conflict among the pair and how assorted their personalities argon from one a nonher. You can cl wee visualize form the dia logue among the pair that Helen has neer taken business organization of Jo properly, Jo I dont owe you a thing, and Helen Do you want me to carry you around? which is basically saying look after yourself.At this point Helen is already drinking and Jo says, You make me sick, in reference to her drinking, which shows that, she disapproves and that it sickens her. It too makes you get hold of the question, w here(predicate)fore does Helen drink? Jo also addresses her mum as Helen, this shows us that there is nothing maternal between the two and Jo patently doesnt conform to her as a motherly figure. They also both talk to the reference in third person just rough one another saying things such as, Helen Wouldnt she get on your nerves and Jo Shed lose her head if it was loose, you cannot see an inch of respect between them and although fewwhat people dont always have a very correct mother and daughter descent there isnt a trace of any bonding or pity between them. furth er you do see Helen show a genuine interest in Jo when she sees how good her art work is, although as she stumbles upon it by mistake it shows the outdistance they have from one another as Jo has neer shown her the work before and Jo is quite taken a keystone by the interest from her mother and says, wherefore are you so suddenly interested in me anyway? which reflects the lack of support that Jo has received. Though actors line, humor and sarcasm used between them you can see the lack of respect and their clear differences such as Helen beingness a standoff more optimistic and dead to Jos more realistic and practical approach to life. You can see Helens wild side through her drinking problem, references to men, Handsome, colossal-legged creature just the way I like em, her outbursts of singing and the basic fact that she was obviously out doing her own thing when she should have been taking care of her daughter and not kicking her out of bed when she had male company ov erly when Helen finds out that her daughter stole the bulbs she is happy and approves, this shows Helens true colours and how she goes about life she doesnt mind taking things that arent hers as long as she gets what she wants. Helens life runs along the same lines as you only live once, as she permits nothing set her affirm and she also makes incessant comments about death and doesnt look upon it as a cosmic thing truly. This contrasts to Jos comment in Act 2, shooting 2 where she says, We dont ask for life, we have it thrust upon us. I hazard that Jos out look on life is that it is hard-fought and unfair she has always had to fight for her self as Helen has never been there for her, and so she doesnt expect the good things to happen in her life.Jo and Helens relationship about men in Act 1, word-painting 1 is also very strange, as Helen has cl first had more men in her life as when scape is introduced Jo says in a very thing of fact way, Whats this one called? Jo doesn t seem to think of men as a necessary object in life and seems to think of men in a more romantic way than Helen and mentions hump as intimately. However in Act 2, scene 2 she has Geoff and although she isnt linked to him in a romantic way at all she still likes the st top executive of a man looking after her in her life and would rather have a man than a woman present at the birth of her child.In Act 2, scene 2 where the birth of Jos child is looming, Helen isnt there however comes choke off before she has it and she shows a variant approach towards Jo. Although she shows her true side by being nasty to Geof for no reason when she owes it to him to be nice as he has been taking care of her daughter, she does show genuine concern for Jo, How are you, love? and makes enquires about the birth and her pregnancy. She has also made an effort to buy things for the baby and seems to be a lot more motherly towards Jo now. This time round it is Helen making the effort to make the plac e look nice, and Jo doesnt seem to care about her living arrangements which is a mirror to the spot of Helen in Act 1, scene 1.Helens effort that she puts into her relationship with Jo is more than more motherly and dong things such as, stroking her hair, caring for her, also by saying things such as, well get morbid, this is showing a different side to Helen as in Act 1, scene 1, she is very open about death and talks about it on a uniform basis. This is also ironic as she is usually the one that is being morbid, not Jo. Also by talking about the children outside shows a union change in face and you see the nice side of Helen. Whereas Jo seems to have turned more like her mum, by not rattling caring and expecting others to do things for her, such as Geof although Jo is never nasty towards him.Although Jo and Helen dont get on with one another in Act 1, scene 1 and Act 2, scene 2 you can see the differences between them. In Act1, scene 1, Helen is very distant from Jo, which D elaney shows through the dialogue and language used between them. She also shows this through the use of talking in the third person, wouldnt she get on your nerves? However in Act 2, scene 2 she seems to be trying to come circumferent to her daughter, by taking an interest in her and just genuinely being more caring. You also see a change in character with Jo, who in Act 1, scene 1 Delaney portrays her as the parent, with her doing things such as cleaning, yet by Act 2, scene 2 when she is about to mystify a mother herself she is more childlike, this can be shown through the re-create directions of Jo throwing the pretend doll that Geof gets her because its the wrong colour. She acts like a botch up child who comes across as ungrateful and shows no maturity in her at all.I think that in Act 2, scene 2 their relationship has progressed form Act 1, scene 1 as Helen is more of a mother figure towards Jo. However I dont think that they will have a good relationship, as Helen isnt very supporting when she finds out about the colour of the baby. When she is asked what shell do she replies, submerge it, and she goes backside to her old ways of drinking. This also suggests that she drinks to drown her sorrows. Also she leaves Jo on her own at a time that she needs her and there is some uncertainty about whether or not she is coming back. This sums up their relationship as one that is rocky and that there is no stability at all.A Taste of Honey EssayAct two, scene one is an important part of the play because Jo is near the end of her pregnancy and Helen comes back to visit her provided only because Geoff had asked her too.Previously in the play Helen had hook up with Peter and had gone to live with him, Jo got engaged to a black son in the Navy, she became pregnant but he didnt come back after going away with the Navy. Jo didnt have a very good relationship with her mother and they had moved about a lot as Helen ran every time she couldnt pay the rent. Jo met Geoff who is a homosexual. He hasnt had sexual relations with a man but he knows he is gay because he has had liaisons with other men. Jo has left school and was going to work in a pub part-time.The play is A Taste of Honey and I am doing part of Act two scene one where Jo, Helen and Geoff are the main characters. This play is mainly set in Jo and Helens flat where the time is around the 1950s. Helen and Jo werent very well off so the flat is in a poor conformation. It is change and there is a lot of dust. The house looks like it is uncared for because wearing apparel are on the floor and the bed isnt made. It is a comfortless flat. If I was in the audience I would see the settee in the optic of the flat with Geoffs bedding on it, to the left of the stage would be Jos unmade bed it might have some clothes lying untidily on top of it. To the right I would see the kitchen, the sink full of dirty plates and cups, and there would be lots of things baffled about the kitchen sides.I n this section of the play the characters use actions in different ways to portray their emotions and flavorings. For example at the beginning of this section Geoff says allow me kiss you this lets us know that Geoff likes Jo as more then a booster unfortunately she does not feel the same way. This is shown when she struggles as Geoff forces himself on her. Another show of Geoffs feelings towards Jo are when he asks her to marry him, Jo just dismisses the idea and tells Geoff Im not marrying anybody.When Helen arrives she tries to be motherly towards Jo but Jo doesnt really want to know as Helen hasnt really been there for her whilst she has been growing up. I dont think she understands why Helen suddenly wants to be a proper mother so Jo starts an melodic phrase by saying what blew you in as soon as Helen comes in to the room. But Helen still tries to by friendly by asking about Geoff, she also tries to change the subject at that point when Jo asks her how she came to know abou t her pregnancy she replies Come on, arent you going to introduce me to your boy friend? Who is he?. I think at that point Helen hadnt come to argue with Jo and had come to see if she was alright.When Jo and Helen are angry they both sing their mind and tend to shout when arguing. Jo talks in a sweetheart enunciate and when speaking to Geoff she talks in a soft voice but her voice is stern when she is speaking to Helen as I feel she is resentful towards her. Helen talks to Jo as if she regrets having her and wishes shed aborted her like all the others, in this scene though Helen starts off friendly but finishes by chasing Jo around the room trying to hit her. Geoff is the calm one he doesnt stand up for himself much but tries to protect Jo. When Geoff is told to do something he does it without complaining.This play is important to theatre history, as it was the first play ever seen about real life and the problems that came with it like poverty, racism, teenage pregnancies and ho mophobia. This play had them all in. At the time this play was scripted Britain was just retrieve from shortsightedages and rationing, the rationing ended in 1952. Housing was scarce so many people had to live in flats even if they could afford better and neglect sites were still derelict. Shelagh Delaney was the author of this play and she was 19 years old when she wrote it. It was written in 1956 and censorship from the stage was removed in 1963. A Taste of Honey is what you would call a kitchen-sink drama because it is based on real life, problems, poverty and the working class.A Taste of Honey EssayThis analyse is about a young woman called Jo. Jo has a mother cognize as Helen and her boyfriend peter Jo also has a boyfriend called son and a close friend called Geoff who is gay. Jo is pregnant with her boyfriend Boy, Boy is a black sailor, and it was common in those days for sailors to have girlfriends for a short while and then leave them as they go on to other places, and as Jo says Hes gone away. He maybe back in six months, but then again, he may here she gave the impression that he may not be back. In this sequel he left her pregnant as well which just adds to Jos problems. At the beginning of the play all Jo could think about is the condition of the flat and Jos first words were And I dont like it as Helen said, Well this is the place. At the beginning their opinions of the flat are very different as Helen tries to see the better side as Jo just keeps on criticising the flat, which in way brings them closer together rather than further apart, they just need to respect each other more.Jo is really serious about her thoughts of the flat whereas Helen is trying to look at the good side although she knows its horrible and even gives into Jo by and by and says, It is a bit of a mess isnt it. The author uses Helens cutting to revel Helens character by the words that she uses like Its running like a tap she says about her nose. Both characters rely o n men to get affection as they dont really get it from each other. Helen does care about Jos future as she shows when she discovers the drawings that Jo had drawn she says, I didnt assoil I had such a talented daughter. As Peter enters Helens response is an unwelcoming one, and she even says, Look what the winds blown in. Helen wants Jo to go away now that Peter had entered and she said to Jo Turn yourself into a bloody termite and crawl into the groyne or something. The first impressions of peter are that hes very arrogant and he treats Jo like a slave as he is telling her what to do as soon as he walked through the door. Jos behaviour tells us that she doesnt like Peter. Helen thinks that Jo is jealous of her because she has a man as Helen says, shes jealous They then admit that they never given each other affection as Jo says, Youve certainly never been affectionate with me.Act two, scene one. Jo suspects that Geoff wants to move in as he said, Isnt this place a bit big for on e Jo? but I think Jo wants Geoff to move in as she invites him to stay the night. Jo subsequent denies the fact she wants marriage as Geoff asked, You want taking in deal an she replied with, no, thanks even though shes been asked. When Jo told Geoff about the baby he kept asking questions like, how are you going to manage then he says this to suggest that he wants to help. Jo has changed since the start of the play as she is beginning to let some of her feelings out to Geoff. When Helen came back she called the flat the same old low-toned hole despite at the beginning of the play she said it was good.A Taste of Honey EssayHuman festering is a never-ending process, but there may be critical periods in our breeding during which adaptational success or failure heavily influences the course of later schooling in the life cycle. Adolescence clearly is one of these critical developmental transitions. The number of extent of changes that occur simultaneously during adolescence pres ent major challenges to the development of mature and effective coping strategies. In Shelagh Delaneys A Taste of Honey, we can observe this insubstantial development or the stages of adolescence in the life of the protagonist, Jo.In the beginning, the protagonist is already able to demonstrate some characteristics of early adolescents. She starts to show an attitude where an individual is easily frustrated and anxious. Jo tells her mother, Why should I run around after you? Her mother responded Children owe their parents these little attentions but she instantly defended herself and said I dont owe you a thing. Somehow, Jo has a rigid concept of what is wrong or right, reflecting traces of being in the early adolescence stage. The protagonist in the story is seventeen years old. At this age, she would express characteristics or behaviors of those in the position adolescence stage. Usually, at the pith adolescence stage, most of the changes due to puberty already took place. Cons idering this, Jo would already be very implicated with her living environment, especially with regards to how she looks or how she is presented in the society. Jo states in the beginning fundamentt be soon complete for me, Im cold and my shoes let water. Then she adds What a place and were suppositious to be living off her immoral earnings. This emphasizes a characteristic of middle adolescents who are able to use speech in order to channelize their feelings. When Jo was driven out of their apartment, she manages to confide in the arms or care of a black sailor and she engaged in a one night stand. Due to conflicts at home, the protagonist tried to find love from other people. In addition to this, it can be said that because of her followers for love, the risk for sexual intercourse increased. Later on, she was forced to find a job and move to a new place. She had enough with her mother and her interferences and opinionated to live an independent life part of being at the mid dle adolescence stage. In her new place, she was able to meet a homosexual named Geoffrey who was also like her shy and lonely. Eventually, she finds out that she is pregnant. A good thing about it is that she gains a sense of maturity from the mistake which she committed irrationally. At an early age, she begins to think of her future and her childs future as well. So she works hard in order to keep herself and her baby alive. At this time, she is already able to make independent decisions for herself and takes pride in everything that she does. Geoffrey on the other hand, despite being homosexual, gains further understanding or development of his sexual identity. He proposed a marriage to Jo, taking full tariff of the child she is bearing something which is really admirable for a homosexual. The reappearance of Jos mother in their lives stirred the peace, but Jo was already strong enough to defend herself and her new found family. She has greater ability to tell the things which she feels and thinks. Her ability to embrace causes with conviction made her step up the ladder of adolescent development. When her mother volunteered to change their flat to the way she (Jos mother) likes, Im going to make it just the way you (referring to Jo, which is a form of irony) like it. Jo steps up and tells her Oh no She tells her that she likes their place the way it is right now. Somehow, Jos experiences and maturity definitely honed her up to stand to challenges and cope with life.Works CitedDelaney, S. (1956). A Taste of Honey. New York Grove Press.