Class Conflicts:: Kitchen Sink Realism or Kitchen Sink Drama

Kitchen Sink Realism or Kitchen Sink Drama is a British cultural movement that developed
in the late 1950s and early 1960s in theatre, art, novels, film, and television plays, whose
protagonists usually could be described as the youth disillusioned with modern society. It used
a style of social realism, which depicted the domestic situations of working class. It was for the
first time that the issues of middle class were portrayed as before that in Victorian Era, only the
aristocracy or upper class was depicted in the literary works. The harsh, realistic style of this
kitchen sink drama contrasted sharply with the escapism of the previous generation's so-called
well-made plays.
 Class Conflicts: are painted elegantly in this play. In spite of living together alienation
and loneliness can be observed. Alison comes from a traditional upper-class background
where as Jimmy comes from a working-class background, though he is highly educated.
The couple lives with Cliff Lewis, an affable working-class man and Jimmy’s friend.
Jimmy thinks that suffering is the only way to experience true human emotion, and that
Alison and other upper-class people are therefore less “alive” than him. He insults her
family and complains that all women are out to destroy men.
“Common as dirt, that's me”
Even Cliff said Alison that he and Jimmy understand each other due to their same social class
where as their relation is wobbling due to the evident class difference.
 Angry young men: was the prominent term in the 19 th and 20th century. It represents
the youth of that span, dissatisfied and disillusioned with ultimate dejection. Jimmy was
always nostalgic about the time that has passed. He had also instilled superiority
complex being a university graduate. He often criticized Cliff sarcastically for being less
educated.
“I'm the only one who knows how to treat a paper, or anything else, in this house”
He was a qualified man who desired a prestigious job and social status. But unfortunately, he
could not achieve. This was a prime cause of his infuriated temper and it would be sufficing to
say that it was the reason behind all the chaos. Being entangled in such issues he had the
toppled ties with Alison and his friend, Cliff.
He was also pessimistic due to the prevailed circumstances of his father’s demise. He tells the
story of watching his father die from wounds received fighting in the Spanish Civil war when he
was ten years old, and claims that this taught him more about life than Helena and Alison know
even now. Due to the mishap of his father, he remained exasperated.
 Infecundity of relations: is another aspect that is evident. Alison tells Cliff about her
pregnancy despite his irrelevance. She was reluctant to tell Jimmy due to the frailty of
their ties. Cliff comforts Alison, and tells her that Jimmy loves her. He kisses her. Jimmy
caught them red handed while kissing but he overlooked. This paints the bareness of the
society of that time that even married life was carried in a casual way all the way long.
On the contrary, keeping fidelity in other secondary relations tends to be considered as
a source of joy. It is contemplated by the bond of cliff and Alison.
Secondly, when Alison decides to leave with his father, still Jimmy shows least concern. He does
not even try to settle the disputes in between them. His egoistic and selfish attitude also
entangled the situation.
“I don't care if she is going to have a baby”
Even after Alison has left him, Jimmy Porter learns from Helena that Alison is pregnant with
their child. He is angry Alison has left him, and he lashes out by claiming he doesn't care about
the baby or Alison. This manifests the narcissistic attitude of Jimmy.
 Inferiority complex and lack of enthusiasm: is also one the issue being faced.
Jimmy’s mood immediately darkens when Alison says that Helena wants to stay with
them. In a nut shell, Jimmy was an amalgamation of inferiority complex and superiority
complex. Jimmy became outrageous and insulted his wife as he was of the presumption
that he would lose his importance or worth after her arrival. In the meanwhile, he
cursed Alison about her baby about to born. He said that the death of her baby would
make her experience the true sufferings.
Furthermore, Jimmy and Cliff come in to eat. When he hears that Helena and Alison are going
to church together later that day, Jimmy also becomes convinced that Helena is out to take
Alison away from him without figuring out with rationality. He even rebuked Alison’s mother.
Unfortunately, the miscarriage of Alison’s baby inflicted her to realize the circumstances by
putting on the shoes of Jimmy.
“I want to be a lost cause. I want to be corrupt and futile!”
Alison Porter tells Jimmy that losing the baby was a suffering she never knew she could
experience, and she wanted to die. Now it was easy for her to understand Jimmy and move on
by understanding each other.
Concludingly, it would be sufficing to say that “Look Back in Anger” is embellished with kitchen
sink realism while considering the aforementioned discussion. It portrays the domestic as well
as the social elements subtly without any superficial approach. The play suggests that to have
any depth, whether as individuals or in relationships, people must be willing to share each
other's pain. The panoramic depiction of this type of society enables the reader to introspect
the vicinity in a better way.

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Kitchen Sink Realism or Kitchen Sink Drama is a British cultural movement that developed

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