Masculinity in Crisis: Sexual Tensions and Disillusionment in Look Back in Anger

John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger (1956) stands as a seminal work of post-war British theatre, capturing the voice and temperament of the “Angry Young Man” generation. This paper examines how sexual tensions and the crisis of masculinity intersect in the character of Jimmy Porter, as his frustration arises from personal insecurities, socio-economic stagnation, and the erosion of traditional gender roles in post-war Britain. The analysis highlights how Jimmy’s combative relationships, particularly with his wife Alison, reflect a struggle for emotional dominance that masks deeper anxieties about intimacy, sexual fulfilment, and personal significance. By situating the play within the context of shifting class structures and evolving notions of male identity, the paper argues that Look Back in Anger dramatises the displacement of masculinity in a rapidly modernising society. Ultimately, Osborne portrays sexual anxiety not as an isolated psychological condition, but as a symptom of a broader cultural malaise, where passion is entangled with resentment, and love is overshadowed by the inability to reconcile vulnerability with pride.