Biography about John Osborne
John Osborne (1929-1994) was a British playwright and screenwriter, best known for his groundbreaking play Look Back in Anger.Born in London to working class parents, Osborne grew up in a difficult household. His father was an abusive, alcoholic man who often took out his frustrations on his family. As a result, Osborne developed a deep anger towards his father and the society that he felt had failed him.
Osborne left school at the age of 15 and worked a variety of odd jobs before eventually landing a position as an assistant stage manager at the Theatre Royal in Stratford-upon-Avon. It was here that he first began to develop his interest in writing, and he soon began to pen his first plays.In 1956, Osborne’s Look Back in Anger debuted on the London stage.
The play was a sensation, and launched Osborne’s career as one of Britain’s leading contemporary playwrights.Over the next few decades, Osborne wrote a number of successful plays, including The Entertainer, Inadmissible Evidence, and A Patriot for Me. He also wrote the screenplays for several films, including The Entertainer, Saturday Night and Sunday Morning, and Women in Love.
In the 1970s, Osborne began to suffer from health problems, including depression and alcoholism. He continued to write and work, but his output slowed down considerably.Osborne died in 1994, at the age of 65.
How to write essay about John Osborne
John Osborne was a British playwright, screenwriter and actor, best known for his groundbreaking play Look Back in Anger. He was one of the first wave of angry young men” who came to prominence in the 1950s, and his work helped change the face of British theatre.Osborne was born in London in 1929, the son of a commercial artist and a dressmaker. He was educated at St. Paul’s School and the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, but he left before completing his studies.
He worked as a journalist and a bit-part actor before finding success as a playwright.Osborne’s first play, Look Back in Anger, was staged in 1956 and was an instant sensation. The play, about a disaffected young man named Jimmy Porter, spoke to a whole generation of Britons who were angry about the state of their country after the Second World War. The play was a critical and commercial success, and established Osborne as a leading voice of his generation.
Osborne went on to write a number of other successful plays, including The Entertainer, Luther and Inadmissible Evidence. He also wrote screenplays for films such as The Entertainer and Charge of the Light Brigade. In the 1970s, Osborne turned his attention to writing for television, penning the hugely successful series Pennies from Heaven and BBC2 Playhouse.Osborne was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1981. He died in 1994, aged 65.
Essay outline on John Osborne
- Introduction
- Brief biography of John Osborne
- His major works
- Themes and style
- Critical assessment
Example of Introduction for essay about John Osborne
John Osborne was a playwright and screenwriter who was known for his scathing social commentary. His most famous play, Look Back in Anger, caused a sensation when it was first produced in 1956. The play’s protagonist, Jimmy Porter, is a disaffected young man who vents his frustration and rage at the world around him. The play was seen as a sign of the times, and its success made Osborne a leading voice of the British angry young men” movement. Osborne went on to write several more successful plays, as well as screenplays for films such as The Entertainer and Tom Jones. He was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1965.”
Example of Conclusion for essay about John Osborne
John Osborne’s Look Back in Anger is an important play for a number of reasons. First, it was one of the first kitchen sink” dramas, which realistically portrayed the lives of working-class people. Second, it was a very controversial play, with its frank portrayal of sex and its use of profanity. Finally, it was a very successful play, running for over a year in London’s West End.”
Best works of John Osborne
- Look Back in Anger
- The Entertainer
- Luther
- Inadmissible Evidence
- A Patriot for Me