A taste of honey...info
...ved by Geof and Peter. Geof improves Jo's life by being there for her and bring Helen back by telling her about Jo's pregnancy, he is also there when Jo tells Helen that the child's father is a black sailor boy and Helen describes him as 'Othello' which is a play by Shakespeare. Whereas Peter improves Helen's but only for a while as Hele pregnant, if anything Helen is angry, perhaps because Jo has made the same mistakes she once made. Being the age of 16 some may say she is quite independent, leaving school and home, however she is still a naﶥ child inside with a thirst for attention and affection Jo is not perturbed by her mother's actions, and is still determined to become independent. Her plans to move out are executed, and she decides she would like to marry a black sailor. Jo knows Helen will disapprove, which seems to make it the whole affair better. Jo's relationship with the sailor seems short and casual. They both say that they love each other but are very relaxed. For example, when he leaves and does not come back she is not worried, probably because she is used to moving on and leaving many things behind. Later on though when talking to Geoff, she says "Last Christmas I had him," she obviously misses him, and talks fondly about him especially when the baby is due. Helens departure has little effect on Jo, which is slightly unexpected, as she now has the independence away from her mother that she always wanted. This is likely because she really needs someone to depend on especially with a baby on the way. Geoff, a gay student is her saviour. He becomes Jo's shoulder to cry on, and is keen on becoming a father figure for the baby. Jo seems to take advantage of Geoff's kindness and often makes him do stuff for her. Geoff does not seem to mind, even when she makes fun of his sexuality, which many p s no evidence that she does get it the next day. Jo is acting like a mother. She has to be independent as her mother doesn't 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 total ruin. The stage directions have a big effect on the audience. There are right acts happening at all times, that gives the play a good atmosphere. The audience see that Helen and Jo are just so argumentative which shows real 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 Peter 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 everyday life feel to it. All three characters are argumentative as well. Jo and Helen mostly because as mother and daught ekend. She just leaves Jo to fend for herself with only a quid to live on. HELEN: Can you give us a quid, Peter? I'd better leave her some money. We might decide to make a weekend of it and she can't just live on grass and fresh air. Jo is very insecure and is afraid of the dark. JO: I'm not frightened of the darkness outside. It's the darkness inside houses I don't like This is probably because Helen left her alone a lot of times since she was a child. Jo is very possessive about her mother. JO: You leave me alone. And leave my mother alone too. This also shows she is insecure. As I said at the start of the essay about Jo not having any respect for Helen, Helen also doesn't have any respect for her daughter as she calls her names like a whore. HELEN: You know what they've been calling you round here? A silly little whore Jo craves her mother's love and affection throughout the play and for most of the time she doesn't get it. Helen directs her love and affection to her fancy men and not to Jo, leaving her jealous. HELEN: Can't bear to see me being affectionate with anybody JO: You've certainly never been affectionate with me. You have seen in the above examples about how Helen is not a good mother but Jo is not completely innocent. There are examples of Jo often trying to spite her mother deliberately and annoying her. One example is when she makes her mother's coffee as weak as she can, as she knows she likes it strong. PETER: What sort of coffee is this anyway? It an hardly squeeze itself through the spout HELEN: She always does that. Makes it as weak as she can as she knows I like it strong… Between Helen and Jo there are sometimes fleeting moments of affection shar...