Themes and Issues in a Taste of Honey
Themes and Issues - A Taste Of Honey by Shelagh Delaney
The Themes and Issues
Within A Taste of Honey Love Racism Family Prostitution Alcoholism Single Parenting Abandonment Throughout the text, there are many different types of love which are explored. Throughout the text, the theme of Racism is evident. Throughout the text, the theme of family engages a contemporary audience. During the play it is insinuated that both Helen and Peter are alcohol dependent Helen is presented to the audience as a semi - whore, not a prostitute. Shelagh Delaney said herself :
"The mother is not a prostitute, nowhere have i said she is..."
However, throughout the play, it is insinuated that Helen has sold her body in the past, in desperation:
"I'm thinking of giving it up...
Sex! Men!"
Helen accepts gifts from her lovers as a way of making a living and supporting Jo:
"And we're supposed to be living off her immoral earnings..." The issue of single parenting is explored within the play. Jo is abandoned by several people throughout the course of the play; her mother, Geof, Jimmy and her father. She is surrounded by constant disappointment when it comes to relying on people. This is why she is self dependent ;
"The time to have taken care of me was years ago, when I couldn’t take care of myself." Family Love, displayed by Jo and Helen ;
"It's alright love. I'm here and everything is alright."
Although Helen abandons Jo, she does eventually return with a desire to finally look after her and be the mother that she should have been in the first place. The idea of romantic relationships and marriage ;
It is presumed that marriage is motivated by love. However, this is not the case with Helen and Peter. When Jo asks her mother, why she is marrying Peter Helen's response is somewhat unconventional
"He's got a wallet full of reasons"
This feeling in Helen and Peter's relationship is mutual as Peter only marries Helen as he is physically attracted to
The Themes and Issues
Within A Taste of Honey Love Racism Family Prostitution Alcoholism Single Parenting Abandonment Throughout the text, there are many different types of love which are explored. Throughout the text, the theme of Racism is evident. Throughout the text, the theme of family engages a contemporary audience. During the play it is insinuated that both Helen and Peter are alcohol dependent Helen is presented to the audience as a semi - whore, not a prostitute. Shelagh Delaney said herself :
"The mother is not a prostitute, nowhere have i said she is..."
However, throughout the play, it is insinuated that Helen has sold her body in the past, in desperation:
"I'm thinking of giving it up...
Sex! Men!"
Helen accepts gifts from her lovers as a way of making a living and supporting Jo:
"And we're supposed to be living off her immoral earnings..." The issue of single parenting is explored within the play. Jo is abandoned by several people throughout the course of the play; her mother, Geof, Jimmy and her father. She is surrounded by constant disappointment when it comes to relying on people. This is why she is self dependent ;
"The time to have taken care of me was years ago, when I couldn’t take care of myself." Family Love, displayed by Jo and Helen ;
"It's alright love. I'm here and everything is alright."
Although Helen abandons Jo, she does eventually return with a desire to finally look after her and be the mother that she should have been in the first place. The idea of romantic relationships and marriage ;
It is presumed that marriage is motivated by love. However, this is not the case with Helen and Peter. When Jo asks her mother, why she is marrying Peter Helen's response is somewhat unconventional
"He's got a wallet full of reasons"
This feeling in Helen and Peter's relationship is mutual as Peter only marries Helen as he is physically attracted to