WAEC Literature in English 2022 Theory — Question 14

Model answer

Points to develop: i. Relation to theme; ii. Character identification; iii. Jimmy's attacks on Alison's family; iv. Alison's reaction to Jimmy's attacks; v. Significance of Alison's reactions. The play deals with the conflict between the social classes which is highlighted in the marriage between Jimmy and Alison. Jimmy and Alison suffer psychological or emotional chaos due to class difference. Jimmy belongs to the working class while Alison belongs to the upper or middle class. Their marriage is full of conflict due to class difference. This conflict has a devastating effect on the marriage to the extent that Alison loses what is supposed to be their first baby. Alison Porter is Jimmy Porter's wife. She is the daughter of Colonel Redfern. She is from the upper class. Alison is described in the play as 'elusive personality, tall, dark'. She is about the same age (twenty five years) as Jimmy and Cliff. She is a friend of Helena. She is Cliff's best friend and confidant. Jimmy Porter is Alison's husband. He is well educated and informed; he is a university dropout. Jimmy runs a sweet-stall together with Cliff. He (Jimmy) is described as a 'tall, thin, young man of about twenty five years of age'. He is a 'disconcerting mixture of sincerity and cheerful malice, of tenderness and freebooting...cruelty'. Jimmy derisively asks Alison if she feels the papers make her so brilliant. He often insults Alison for her inability to react to the problems of her social class. He calls Alison 'Lady Pusillanimous...wanting of firmness of mind, of small courage, having a little mind, mean, cowardly, timid of mind...' He disparages Alison's brother, Nigel and calls him 'straight-backed, chinless monster who went to Sandhurst'. Jimmy condemns Nigel's lifestyle. He attacks Nigel and Alison, labeling them 'sycophantic, phlegmatic and pusillanimous'. Jimmy also insults Alison's Mummy and Daddy, calling them 'militant, arrogant and full of malice.' He condemns Alison's father's disposition to re-live the romantic past. Alison takes Jimmy's attacks or tirades calmly without saying anything but ignoring him. She shows she is 'used to these carefully rehearsed attacks' and 'carries on with her ironing'. She deliberately attempts to divert attention to other issues such as asking Cliff if he wants to smoke. She subsequently takes Helena's advice to leave Jimmy. Alison's reactions demonstrate maturity and love. Besides, her reactions highlight Jimmy's needless and misdirected anger against socioeconomic problems in the society. Her silence also paves way for her return as this enables Jimmy to take her back to enjoy their true love as bear and squirrel.