Question: Can Jimmy Porter in Look back in Anger be Seen as an Anti-Hero?
Introduction
One of the most challenging anti-heroes is Jimmy Porter who came out of the 20th Century Theater. He is a frustrated man. Although he is extremely intelligent, the strict English class structure prevents him from getting qualified jobs in his talent. As desirable jobs are still reserved for those born in middle or upper-class reproductive families. Although it is difficult to determine the features of an antihero, the fundamental phenomena of an antihero exist within Jimmy Porter.
Jimmy Porter as an Anti-Hero
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Badass, maverick, or screw-up
An anti-hero is often a badass, a wanderer, or a fool. Jimmy also experiences great trauma from losing his father at an early age. He is isolated from the other members of his family and feels that no one else exists caring for him. Immediately upon his father’s death, Jimmy started leading a life without direction.
Rebellious in search of justice or freedom
Anti-heroes can be a rebel in their quest for freedom or justice. The hero here is deeply involved in what is called the “class-war”. Jimmy serves as the mouthpiece of the playwright in denouncing the church, the royalty, the conservative government, the upper class, and traditional morality. He also embodies Osborne’s detriment of the English notion of detachment and apathy and lack of enthusiasm that is why he complains:
“Nobody thinks, nobody cares. No beliefs no convictions and no enthusiasm”.
In the sense of rejection, Jimmy is the paragon of a perfect anti-hero.
Vehement disagreement for upper-class
One of the most important qualities to remember is that anti-heroes rarely reflect society’s higher values. Jimmy is totally and intensely against the upper class. He opposes everything related to it. He even disregards the moral values and ethos which are typical in the middle class. The middle-class people were rather strict with morality and respectability demands the virtue of virginity in unmarried women because sex is prime in their life.
“They all sit around feeling very spiritual ….. discussing sex as if it were the art of fugue”.
Jimmy believes that the middle-class people lack solidarity which he considers to be working-class virtue. One reason for his getting fine with Cliff is due to Cliff’s low working-class origin. Jimmy claims that he has a deep sense of solidarity which is lacking in Alison and other upper-middle-class people. This type of bigotry about the upper and middle classes is nothing but autobiographical.
Underlying pathos
Anti-heroes always possess an underlying pathos. Most characters come with flaws, neuroses, and “issues.” But with an anti-hero, these problems are more noticeable and troublesome. “Look Back in Anger” represents the mentality of the post-war generation. After the second world war, there was no peace in the conjugal life of England. There were always quarrel and dissatisfaction in familial life. Jimmy and Alison live in a leaky apartment in Midland along with Jimmy’s close friend Cliff. Although they have a love marriage, they are not happy in their conjugal life. Jimmy insults and attacks his upper-class origin wife without any reasonable cause. Such depiction of conjugal life is starkly pathetic. So, we can consider Jimmy as an antihero.
Obnoxious, pitiful, or charming
Anti-heroes can be obnoxious or rude, gracious, or charming. Despite the fair displeasure of the class and his emotional wounds, Jimmy expresses his indignation at those who do not deserve it. Especially those who are weak such as his wife Allison. From what is seen in the play, Allison does very little to upset Jimmy: she is loyal to him, but she always becomes the victim of her husband’s anger. Now it is transparent that Jimmy belongs to the class of antihero.
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Conclusion
In short, considering the above discussion, Jimmy Porter is not a traditional satirical hero. He is not the story of the angry youth of his generation. He is rather a very exceptional person, an oppressive spirit who himself suffers from the havoc of warlike rest of the world.
