A Taste of Honey was first performed in 1958. It was set in Manchester Essay

A Taste of Honey was first performed in 1958. It was set in Manchester. Manchester at that snip was an industrial town. thither were lots of working class people like in that respect is today as well as poverty. The play is ab expose a stick and daughter relationship, Helen and Jo, their problems and their attempts to cope with life. The play is controversial because Helen is a semi-whore which at that time was maybe wasnt unusual, that wasnt acceptable. She is divorced and a single p bent, according to statistics in 1958 1 in 100 marriages ends in divorce. It was difficult to get divorced and divorce was frowned upon. In the 1950s single parents were a tiny minority of the population because divorce at that time was uncommon.Helen had Jo at a young age. The community would of thought bad about Helen. Conversation between Helen is like verbal sparring. Helen is actu bothy self-centred. Jo be bewilders increasing central to litigate. Helen is a whore, she goes out for sex in ret urn for bullion. She is thoughtless, poor and unromantic. We rump promise this from act 1 scene 1 because she only ciphers about herself, she is need of money and she doesnt unify for romance, but for money. This shows she is poor and unromantic. Jo is argumentative, mature and responsible at times She is arrogant, she can get angry, she has feelings. Jo is also stubborn, poor, serious, negative, uncertain and self-sufficient.The flat is in a poor condition. When Helen and Jo go in to the flat, Jos first impression is bad. She doesnt like it. well this is the placeand I dont like itThis quotation shows us that she doesnt like the flat. Helen says thatthats all I can affordThis shows us that Helen is poor. They have to serving the seat with the community (the people in the building). This takes away a source of privacy. It is very cold and has no heating. god its freezingHelen and Jo have to share one bedroom and even worse they have to share one bed. This has effect on the a udience, they surely know now that Helen is poor. This shows Helen and Jo dont have in that respect own space.The view out of the window is appalling. A slaughter house and gas works which Helen seems to think of it as a very good thing. She says theres a amiable view of the gasworks, but Jo doesnt approve of it. She says It will smell in the pass.I wonder what itll be like here in the summer? Itll smell.Helen is just exhausting to make best of the situation. The window is in a poor state as well. It is giving out a cold draught. The light bulb has no shade, which Jo doesnt approve of. She puts her scarf around it.Jo privy I have that chair Helen? Ill put my scarf around itJo is trying to sort things out. at that place is a reversal in role. Helen says she will get one the next day, but there is no evidence that she does get it the next day. Jo is acting like a fuss. She has to be free-living as her mother doesnt look after her. This shows us that Helen is short of money and also is not very domesticated and does not act like a typical mother. The flat is a union ruin.The stage directions have a big effect on the audience. There are right acts contingency at all times, that gives the play a good atmosphere. The audience see that Helen and Jo are just so argumentative which shows historical life. The lightning is dim and dark which causes tension in the audience. There is jazz music in the background which makes the play look all loud which is right because the play is loud most of the time due to the dislikes and arguments of Helen and Jo. Also jazz music was associated with working class and has black influences. This was a little suppressive.The characters in act 1 scene 1 Helen, Jo and dig are always in close conversation. They are always on the right track when talking. The play is centred around conversation rather then action. This gives an quotidian life feel to it. All three characters are argumentative as well. Jo and Helen mostly because as mother and daughter they are constantly arguing. Jo has a lot of dislikes she is completely different. Helen doesnt bother about anything, she gets money for sex and then wastes it on unnecessary things when really, she should be looking after her daughter Jo. ray of light enters adept the end of the scene. He is the man who Helen had previously left. He is a brash car salesman. He has come back for Helen which means he is after more sex and Helen is after more money. Peter has a dislike for Jo who is trying to ruin his relationship with Helen.Peter enters the scene as a typical salesman. He is smartly dressed and has a cigar in his mouth. He has come back for Helen, but unfortunately Jo turns him away. Peter acts all posh and rich after looking at the state of the flat and at the tenements, cemetery and slaughter house. Peter is offering to marry Helen, who is in turn is old enough to be his. We can tell this because it says in the book.There is a lot of conflict between Pete r and Jo as she doesnt want him interfering with her mother. There is a lot of conflict between Jo and Helen all throughout the scene for various reasons. Helen isnt looking after Jo as she really should.The scene ends by Peter leaving and Helen and Jo talking properly about one thing which they havent make all through out act 1 scene 1. They have a typical mother and daughter chat in which Jo admits to being scared of the dark, but Helen comforts her by saying you shouldnt be scared of the dark.A Taste of Honey is a typical kitchen and sink drama because there are poor surroundings. The everyday language is different. There are constant conflicts and arguments which causes tension and all the action takes place in one room. A Taste Of Honey surely doesnt reflect real life.