Social Conditions in the 1950's Presented in A Taste of Honey

797 Words2 Pages

What does the play A Taste of Honey tell us about social conditions and

attitudes in the 1950's?

The play "A Taste of Honey" is about a group of people who live in

Salford, Lancashire. The main characters are Helen and Jo. Helen is a

woman who has to use her sexuality to get ahead in life. Jo is Helen's

daughter. Geoff and Peter are the men in the play. Geoff looks after

Jo when Helen runs off to marry Peter. Jo is pregnant throughout the

play and there is a possibility that her child will be black. Geoff is

a homosexual, this comforts Jo as he is not sexually predatory towards

her. Peter is a rich businessman, he likes his women and his drink.

The war had a great effect on the lifestyles of people growing up

during and after it. Housing was worst affected, single houses became

flats to accommodate the people whose houses had been bombed. Many

people were living in squalid conditions but paying a lot of money for

them. "I've got to work all day in a shoe shop and all night in a bar

to pay for it," Jo says this to Geoff. Young people began to acquire

spending power. Jobs were available and so teenagers began to rebel

against the ideas of their parents.

In the play the characters experiences differ. Helen and Jo share a

flat and a bed. "Just the dirtiest place I've seen." Peter has a big

house and lots of money. When Helen married him and left Jo was left

to fend for herself. Geoff had been thrown out "Why did she throw you

out Geoff." He moved in with Jo so he could help pay the rent. Between

them they just have enough money to survive. Helen uses her sexuality

to survive. No one can rely upon Helen as she thinks about herself.

"Give me a cup of tea quick." Helen is intelligent but she is unable

to apply this to her career. She is determined to enjoy life and this

pushes Jo aside "I never thought about you." She never does when she

is "having fun."

Jo's life and character has been affected by her mother. Her

insecurity and self-reliance both come from Helen's neglect. Jo is

unwilling to rely upon others as she was never able to rely on Helen

I.e. Jo thinks that her boyfriend will not return even though he says

he will. This mixture of insecurity and confidence give her a view of

life in general

"We don't ask for life, we have it thrust upon us."

The title refers to Jo's life a little bit more than the other

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