Porter is full of anger. He cannot accept the dull, middle-class life around him. He mocks the lifeless society he sees. In Act I, he says:
“Let’s pretend that we’re human beings, and that we’re actually alive.”
This sarcastic line shows his frustration. It highlights people who live without real passion. A heroic man inspires others, but Jimmy only spreads bitterness. His anger makes him more destructive than helpful.
Loss of Purpose and Disillusionment: Jimmy feels his generation has no great causes to fight for. He compares himself to earlier generations who had wars and noble struggles. In Act I, he says:
“I suppose people like me aren't supposed to be very patriotic.”
This shows that Jimmy does not feel proud of his country. Instead of leading with courage like a hero, he feels trapped in boredom and hopelessness. His words reveal a man who has lost purpose, not a hero or a leader.
Cruelty and Abusive Nature: Jimmy often speaks cruelly to his wife, Alison Porter. His harsh words make him unheroic. In Act I, he says to her:
“If you could have a child, and it would die...”
This is his cruelest remark. It shows his bitterness and hidden pain from his own childhood trauma. A hero protects his loved ones, but Jimmy hurts Alison deeply. Later, Alison really loses her baby, and Jimmy’s words become a painful prophecy.
Class Conflict and Marriage Problems: Jimmy married Alison partly to fight against her upper-class family. Alison herself admits this in Act II:
“Some people do actually marry for revenge.”
This shows that their marriage was not built on love alone, but also on class struggle and revenge. A true hero builds, but Jimmy destroys his relationships with selfish motives. His unkind attacks on Alison’s family show his inability to rise above class hatred.
Desire to Escape Reality: At times, Jimmy dreams of escaping his pain. He creates a private world with Alison called the “bear and squirrel” game. In Act III, he says:
“We’ll be together in our bear’s cave, or our squirrel’s drey.”
This is not heroic action but a childish escape. Jimmy cannot face real problems in society or family life. Instead, he hides in fantasy. This makes him weak and unheroic, even though it also shows his need for love. Osborne uses Jimmy to show the frustration of the “Angry Young Men” in post-war Britain.
In short, Jimmy Porter is not a traditional hero. He is intelligent and passionate but also cruel, bitter, and selfish. He mocks society but cannot change it. His anger only damages the people around him. For these reasons, Jimmy is the best example of an anti-hero, not a hero.
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