Look Back in Anger

The iron/ironing board motif is seen several times in the play. It represents the womanly roles of Alison and Helena. The motif suggests that a woman’s work is never done, as both Alison and Helena are constantly ironing while Jimmy is constantly asking them if they are done yet. The motif also highlights the roles women play in their own households, which limit their actions to cleaning and looking after the men in their lives. Jimmy knocks over the iron/ironing board several times, suggesting both sexism (in that he is “knocking down” one of the only agency roles that women are given) and a desire to change the role of women. It is suggested that Jimmy wants Alison to be a free thinker, and this could include not always being the submissive woman. In this case, the iron/ironing board is also symbolic of identity crisis.

The bear toy in the attic flat represents Jimmy. He and Alison play a game where he is the loud, reckless bear and she is the timid squirrel. Jimmy later highlights his role as a bear when he mentions that bears are solitary, misunderstood creatures who have no friends.