Treatment of Social Realism or Issues in the Modern British Drama

"The foaming denouncers of the bourgeoisie, and the more-water-in-your-beer reformers of whom Shaw is the prototype."

-George Orwell Referring to George Bernard Shaw The Road to Wigan Pier

Literature, in general, and drama in particular shows some special characteristics of the present day tendencies in life and literature:

 (1) its reiteration of the old revolutionary formula of liberty, equality and fraternity in a new setting, 

(2) its worship of power rather than of beauty – here it parts company abruptly with the age of the romantic revival and Victorian age  - 

(3) its challenging attitude of the older values in art and life – the challenging attitude now is more persisting and more searching – (Compton Rickett).

 The new note of realism become more and more insistent and received a better welcome on the stage. The two men who became prominent were Henry Arthur Jones and Arthur Wing Pinero. Jones Arthur’s “It’s only Round the Corner” and “The Silver king”. His most notable plays were “Saints and Sinners” (1884), “the Dancing Girl” (1891), “The Case of Rebellious Susan” (1894). “The Triumph of the Phillistines” (1893), and “Michael and His Last Angle” (1896), “The Liars” (1897) and “Miss Dane’s Defence” also succeeded. Henry Arthur Jones's Mrs. Dane's Defense (1900) is most notable as an early realist problem play.

The play “The Liars” elaborates on the need to lie in a hypocritical society. Arthur Wing Pinero wrote two types: 

(1) the farce and 

(2) the social problem.

 Pinere proceeded to write a succession of social dramas highlighting the plight of woman in an unforgiving society, The Second Mrs. Tanqueray (1893) belongs to the latter. His “Trelaway of the Wells” (1898) is a nostalgic celebration of the mid-Victorian theatre. Pinero was a prolific writer of farces and comedies, but his melodramas dealing with ethical and social problems makes him an icon. The tendency of these writers is to follow Ibsen.

As Shaw says “What we might have learned from Ibsen was that our fashionable dramatic material was worm out as far cultivated modern people are concerned; that what really interacts such people on stage is not what we call action – meaning two well known and rather short-sighted actors pretending to fight dual without their glasses or a handsome leading man chasing beauteous leading lady round the stage with threats obviously not feasible of immediate rapine – but of lives discussion of conduct, unveiling motives, conflict of characters in talks, laying bare of souls, discovery of pitfalls – in short -illumination of Life”.

Thus, social realism is a literary and artistic movement that seeks to portray the lives of ordinary people in a realistic and unvarnished way. It emerged in the late 19th century in response to the growing social and economic problems of the industrial age.

In modern British drama, social realism has been used to explore a wide range of social issues, including poverty, unemployment, homelessness, crime, and social injustice. Some of the most famous examples of social realist drama include:

• John Osborne's Look Back in Anger (1956): This play explores the anger and frustration of a young working-class man in post-war Britain.
• Arnold Wesker's The Kitchen (1959): This play depicts the harsh working conditions and poverty of the kitchen staff in a large restaurant.
• Shelagh Delaney's A Taste of Honey (1958): This play tells the story of a young working-class woman who becomes pregnant and struggles to raise her child on her own.
• Alan Bennett's The History Boys (2004): This play explores the education system and the role of teachers in shaping young people's minds.
• Caryl Churchill's Cloud Nine (1979): This play explores gender roles and sexual identity in a variety of settings, from the Victorian era to the present day.

Social realist drama has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the lives of ordinary people and for its ability to raise awareness of social issues. However, it has also been criticized for being too depressing and for lacking in hope.

Despite these criticisms, social realist drama remains an important and influential genre in modern British drama. It continues to be used to explore the social and political issues of our time, and it has the potential to challenge and change our perceptions of the world.

Key Points to Remember:

• Social realism is a literary and artistic movement that seeks to portray the lives of ordinary people in a realistic and unvarnished way.
• It has been used in modern British drama to explore a wide range of social issues, including poverty, unemployment, homelessness, crime, and social injustice.
• Some of the most famous examples of social realist drama include Look Back in Anger, The Kitchen, A Taste of Honey, The History Boys, and Cloud Nine.
• Social realist drama has been praised for its realistic portrayal of the lives of ordinary people and for its ability to raise awareness of social issues.
• However, it has also been criticized for being too depressing and for lacking in hope.
• The use of working-class characters and settings.
• The focus on social problems such as poverty, unemployment, and homelessness.
• The use of naturalism and realism to create a sense of authenticity.
• The use of dialogue that reflects the speech patterns of ordinary people.
• The use of plot and characters to explore social issues.

Ardhendu De

Ref: 

1. The Concise Cambridge History of English Literature

2. Microsoft Students’ Encarta Eric Bentley