�鶹Լ��

The language Shelagh Delaney uses in A Taste of Honey is extremely realistic and is meant to reflect the way working class people spoke to each other in 1950s Britain. Words and phrases such as “Temperance Society” [Helen to Geof], Snotty-nosed daughter [Jo to Peter], and “moonlight flit” [Helen to Jo], might seem outdated to a modern day audience but to an audience in the 1950s, they were the words and phrases that were regularly heard. Similarly, terms such as pansy or pansified freak to describe a homosexual are no longer tolerated but in 1950s Britain, when people were far less accepting of homosexuality, these sorts of taunts were a much more common occurrence.

Shelagh Delaney was also keen to portray working class characters who were articulate in spite of their poverty and lack of education. The characters in A Taste of Honey all have plenty to say for themselves and do not shy away from expressing their opinions. They often speak in short sentences and regularly jump quite randomly from one topic to another, just as people do in everyday life. There are not many long speeches in the play, as Delaney was determined to be as realistic as possible in reflecting the everyday conversations of the people around her. In reality, people often interrupt and contradict each other and their sentences are short and to the point. The dialogue in A Taste of Honey is meant to reflect these speech patterns.

All of the characters use standard English throughout the play. Apart from a few examples of regional dialect, such as Helen’s use of the word clough to describe a ravine, the words and phrases used can be understood by audiences from all over the country. Shelagh Delaney felt it was important to show that working class people could be understood by people from all classes of society and that most importantly they themselves could be articulate and well-spoken individuals.

There are also examples in the play of characters who talk to the audience or to an invisible third person instead of to the character they have been talking to. There are several examples of this in the first Act in particular, especially between Helen and Jo when they are quarrelling and bickering with each other:

There is also a certain amount of comedy in the play and this is delivered mostly through Delaney’s use of dialogue. Helen and Jo can be especially sarcastic towards each other. For example, in Act one Scene two, when Jo cannot find the heater in the flat Helen asks her Where? What were you given eyes for? Do you want me to carry you about? Even though the themes of the play such as the poor relationship between Helen and Jo are serious, there are also funny moments and much of these are created through Delaney’s dialogue.

When analysing the language Shelagh Delaney has used, aim to:

• Examine words and phrases.
• Think about the sorts of words she chose, (positive, negative, sarcastic).
• Think about her use of comedy.
• How does she convey a character through the words they use?
• Explain the effects of the language used – how does it make you feel?