This question is based on John Osborne's Look Back in Anger. Jimmy's harmatia is

Analyze the question The question asks for Jimmy Porter's hamartia (tragic flaw) in John Osborne's Look Back in Anger. Hamartia is the character trait that leads to a protagonist's downfall or causes suffering.

Explain the concept Hamartia comes from Aristotle's Poetics. It is the defect in a character, such as pride, jealousy, or rage, that drives their actions and brings about conflict or ruin. In a modern play like this, the "tragedy" is mostly emotional and relational.

Work through the options

• A. Infidelity: Jimmy himself is unfaithful to Alison when he has an affair with Helena. But this is a result of his behavior, not the root trait driving the play.
• B. Anger: The title itself points to it. Jimmy rages against the class system, the Establishment, the church, his wife's family, and the emptiness of post-war Britain. His constant verbal attacks on Alison, Cliff, Helena, and Colonel Redfern drive Alison away and destroy his marriage. His anger is the force behind the whole conflict.
• C. Pride: Jimmy has some pride, but it is not the dominant defect of his character.
• D. Jealousy: He shows some resentment of Alison's class background and her family, but this stems from his deeper anger.

Identify the answer Jimmy's defining flaw is his anger, a bitter, destructive rage that alienates the people closest to him. It fits both the title and the theme of the play.

Exam tip For hamartia questions, ask: "What single trait drives the main character's actions and causes their downfall?" For Look Back in Anger, the title often gives the answer away. Always check whether the title hints at the central trait.