John Osborne and His Age:-
A British playwright, screenplay writer, actor, and theatre director, John Osborne (1929-1994) was born on 12 December 1929 in Fulham, London. His father Thomas Godfrey Osborne, was a lower-middle-class commercial artist and copywriter from Wales, and his mother, Nellie Beatrice Grove, belonged to a working-class family of publication. His father died of tuberculosis in 1941, and his death left an impact on Osborne and his writing.
He began his education in a State school but was transferred to Devon, a lesser public brooding school, in 1943. In 1945, he was expelled from school because he hit the headmaster.
He worked as a journalist on trade papers suck as Gas, World, Nursery World, and Miller, but always dreamed to work in theatre. Eventually, he joined the theatre as an assistant stage manager touring with a repertory company. In 1950, his acting career flourished when he visited Ilfracombe and the London areas. 1956 was crucial for Osborne because he got an acting job in a newly formed English Stage Company at the Royal Court Theatre. In the same year his play "Look Back in Anger" was accepted at the theatre and premiered in May. Then, in 1957 "The Entertainer" appeared, and in 1958 an early play "Epitaph for George Dillon"
Osborne's plays in order of their performances:-
"Look Back in Anger"
"The Entertainer"
"Epitaph for George Dillon"
"The World of Paul Slickey"
" A Subject of Scandal and Concern"
"Luther"
"Plays of England"
" A Portrait for Me"
"Inadmissible Evidence"
"A Bound Honoured"
"Time Present and The Hotel in Amsterdam"
His last play "Deja Vu" a sequel to "Look Back in Anger" was premiered at Comedy Theatre, London, in 1992.
He also wrote screenplays like "Tom Jones (1963)", and " The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968)".
Osborne married five times. In 1951 he married Pamela Lane. In 1957 they divorced and married Mary Ure. In 1963 he divorced her and married Penelope Gilliet; a film critic of "The Observer". In 1967 he and Gilliet divorced and he married Jill Bennett in 1968. In 1977 he divorced Jill Bennett and the following year married Helen Dawson.
His Age and its influence on his writing:-
Osborne belonged to the generations that experienced the horror of two world wars and their effects and aftermath on people and society. In addition, he witnessed first-hand the distrustful and pessimistic nature of people. He also witnessed the impact of his father’s death. As a result, his life and plays were strongly influenced by his experience as well as the social and political situations of the time. This makes him angry. He is known as the leading member of a group named Angry Young Man.
Different decades in Britain brought about different changes and problems. Such as- In the 1940s, Britain witnessed dreadful devastation due to World War 2. Physical and emotional damage spread like fire in the country's cities and in her public respectively. But this turmoil also led to changes in social structures, gender roles, and the connection between the public and the State. These changes were further concreted by the political and economic context of the country.
With the victory of World War 2 in 1945, Clement Attle of the Labour Party formed a government intending to establish a welfare state. Under this scheme lower middle class became educated and the difference between the elite and middle class shortened. For the first time, women were working in the domain of men. The whole country was united with nationalist feelings. Despite the efforts and such unification among people, the decade didn't come out from the post-war turmoil.
However, the 1950s was a period of stability and recovery for Britain. People experienced improved living standards and new consumer goods like television, washing machines, and cars became the new symbols of prosperity. The typical gender roles also changed. But at the same time, the decade also saw the tightening of social conformity. Despite such changes issues like sexuality, gender roles and class distinction were still deeply entrenched in British society with the help of churches and traditional institutions.
The blurring distinction between the elite/ minority and the lower-middle class created havoc among elite people. Eventually, the resentment of minorities and the failure to put social welfare programs effectively into practice resulted in the transfer of power into the hands of the Conservatives under Churchill in 1951. He continued some of the welfare agenda but primarily focused on the elite class.
The state had no place for an educated middle class. In spite of their education middle class was forced to be confined to the traditional roles. That is why the whole middle class particularly the educated ones became extremely angry. Osborne's character Jimmy became frustrated and ranted continuously because he had no power to enter the elite class.
The elite class was also angered because Britain lost its occupied territories. Osborne also mentioned Alisson's father Colonel Redfern who was upset after coming back from India.
Osborne's plays predominantly deal with the so-called changed social structure and also examine the effect of this change on different classes. He never directly refers to the political, and social conditions as well as the religious beliefs of the country but his plays are full of references that directly point toward the situations and beliefs, and their impact on people. For instance, his play "Look Back in Anger" has such references.
Further reading:-