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The structure of A Taste of Honey is simple. There are two acts in the play and each act is divided into two scenes. The main character in the play is Jo and the drama unfolds over a period of nine months, from the time she moves into the flat with her mother Helen, to the moment at the end of the play when she is about to give birth to her baby.

When the play begins it is winter and not long before Christmas. However, Act two begins in the summer months, something which is reinforced by the references the characters make to the heat. For example, during Act two Scene one Jo says to Geof, God! It’s hot. The heat makes Jo restless, particularly as she is pregnant and already feeling uncomfortable.

When writing about structure, consider the following:

• How is the text put together?
• What is the significance of this?
• How does the structure reflect the themes of the text?
• What is the overall effect of the structure?

Evidence and explanation of the structure used

Although Jo and Helen seem to lead very different lives, there are moments in the play when there are certain similarities between them. At the opening of A Taste of Honey neither Jo nor Helen is in a relationship, yet before the end of Act one both characters have received a marriage proposal; Jo from the Boy and Helen from Peter. Listen, I’m going to ask you something. I’m a man of few words. Will you marry me? the Boy says to Jo. Peter’s proposal reveals him to have slightly more self-confidence, Marry me, Helen. I’m young, good-looking and well set up. I may never ask you again. However, only Peter and Helen’s relationship results in marriage, as the Boy does not return to Salford after working away for six months.

Whilst Peter and Helen set up home together in Act Two, Jo is left alone in the flat. However, she is soon joined by her friend Geof who does all he can to turn the flat into a home. Interestingly, when Helen is thrown out of the house she shares with Peter, she returns to Jo and, in order to reinforce her position in Jo’s life, she taunts Geof to the point where he is forced to leave the flat. The play ends where it began, with Helen and Jo alone in the flat. Helen seems different in that she offers to care for Jo during her pregnancy. She seems more loving towards her than she was at the start of the play, when she told her daughter, When you start earning you can start moaning. However, as soon as Helen discovers that Jo’s baby is black she leaves to have a drink, echoing previous moments in the play when she leaves Jo alone.

The structure of the play is also highlighted by the use of musical instruments, singing and dancing

At the opening of Act one Scene one jazz music plays as Jo and Helen enter the flat for the first time.

During Act one Scene two when Jo’s boyfriend waves goodbye, he sings to the audience and Jo dances dreamily. This reinforces the loving mood Jo is in because of her relationship with the Boy.

During Act one Scene two Peter enters carrying a bouquet of flowers and music accompanies his entrance.

During Act one Scene two when the Boy stays with Jo, music plays and they dance together, reflecting the tender moments they share when they are together.

At the end of Act one Scene two Here Comes the Bride plays to signify Helen’s forthcoming marriage to Peter.

Peter in particular tends to sing songs during the play and these often help signpost certain events which are about to happen. For example, he sings Who’s got a bun in the oven? Who’s got a cake in the stove? when he accompanies Helen on a visit to see Jo.

I’d give the song birds to the wild wood is sung by Helen In Act one Scene one when she is remembering how popular she used to be when she had her first job in a pub. At this point Helen is feeling nostalgic.

Walter, Walter (Lead me to the altar) is sung by Peter in Act one Scene one when he first mentions marriage to Helen.

My Blue Heaven (I see a quiet place, a fireplace, a cosy room) is sung by Peter in Act one Scene one when he is continuing to persuade Helen to marry him.

That wild, destructive thing called love is sung by Peter in Act one Scene two when he is explaining to Jo why he wants to be with Helen. It is a suitable song lyric as their love is certainly destructive.

At the start of Act two Scene two fairground music plays to set the scene for the audience.

Black Boy is sung by Jo in Act two Scene one when she reminisces about her relationship with the Boy. This emphasises the fact that she sometimes wonders about where he is now.

Getting to know you is sung by Peter in Act two Scene one when he is being sarcastic about the fact that Helen is visiting Jo, something he does not approve of. The more aggressive side of Peter’s personality is very clear to see at this point in the play.

How to analyse structure

How important is the overall structure of this play?

Although the structure of A Taste of Honey is relatively straightforward, it still enhances the audience’s understanding of Jo and Helen and the difficult relationship they have. For example, at the opening of the play it is obvious from the characters’ constant bickering that the audience is meant to infer they do not get along with each other.

During the course of the play their relationship changes very little. Helen leaves Jo alone to marry Peter and returns to Jo only when she has nowhere else to go. However, Helen seems to have changed when she offers to look after Jo during her pregnancy.

Her concern is short lived. When Jo tells Helen her baby is black, Helen is shocked and finds the news difficult to take. Immediately she says she needs to leave in order to have a drink. Jo is once again left alone in the flat. The only difference is this time there is a suggestion that Helen will return having stated in the last moments of the play, But these last few weeks I’ve known I should be with you. However, she has also admitted that she has only thought about Jo because she has been unhappy with Peter.