Shelagh Delaney: A Taste of Honey- Modern prose and drama – November 2021

How far does Delaney present Jo as a selfish character in A Taste of Honey?
Write about:

• what Jo says and does
• how far Delaney presents Jo as selfish.

Shelagh Delaney portrays Jo as a complicated character in A Taste of Honey who battles the difficulties of growing up in a difficult setting. Although Jo occasionally comes out as self-centered, Delaney also portrays her as a sympathetic figure who must survive on her own in a challenging environment.

Throughout the play, Jo’s words and deeds reveal her egotistical tendencies. She frequently prioritises her demands over those of others, especially her mother. She routinely skips school, for instance, which worries her mother and puts her own future in danger.

Additionally, she declines to assist her mother with cooking or housework, leaving her to fend for herself.