Identify and Explain Key Characters and their Development in 'A Taste of Honey'

What do you know about the following characters in Shelagh Delaney's 'A Taste of Honey'?

Helen

Jo

Peter

The Boy

Geoffrey

In the exam you might be asked to write about the presentation of a particular character in the play.

So, to recap on your reading of the play:

Helen: Helen is Jo's mother. We often see Helen leave Jo to go and live with her male friends. She usually returns after the men cheat on her.   

Jo: Jo is a teenager who lives with her mother. She leaves school and gets two jobs. She becomes pregnant and goes into labour at the end.

Peter: Peter is Helen's male friend. He initially says that he wants to marry her, but we see Helen leave him at the end for cheating on her.

The Boy: Referred to as Jimmy later in the play. The Boy is Jo's boyfriend. He is black and a sailor in the Navy. He is the father of Jo's baby and does not return to Jo after his service has ended.

Geoffrey: Geoffrey is an art student. It is hinted that Geoffrey is homosexual and is kicked out of his apartment because of this. He moves in with Jo, but leaves just before the end when Helen returns.

This activity will help you explore each of these characters in more detail, looking at their key attributes in the play.

You should always refer to your own text when working through these examples.  These quotations are for reference only.