A Taste of Honey Symbolism

Jo's flower bulbs

Stolen from a park. Jo hopes that they will grow.

Symbolises Jo's optimism and hope for a better life.

She is interested in aesthetics and tries to make the flat look nice.

reveals how Jo takes on a more nurturing role than Helen.

Unfortunately the bulbs get neglected and are found under the sofa in Act 2, having never grown. This could symbolise the futility of Jo's life and the experience of working class people being unable to escape the cycle of poverty.

The mop

Symbolises Geof's domesticity. He takes on the stereotypically female role in his relationship with Jo. This would have been particularly unusual for a man in the 1950s.

Geof dances with the mop and chases Jo with it, revealing how he and Jo have a happy and fun relationship and cohabit happily together until Helen arrives.

The boy's toy car

Jo and the boy play with it when they meet up in Act 1. Symbolises their immaturity. Reveals that neither of them is ready for a serious relationship or marriage.

Peter's cigar

A symbol of Peter's wealth and masculinity.

A phallic symbol. Unlike Geof, Peter represents the stereotypical 1950s male character.

Contrasts with Helen and Jo's poverty as they are unable to afford basic supplies never mind luxuries like cigars.

Ostentatious and 'brash', Peter uses his cigars to impress others, particularly women. Ties in with the fact that he is a self made man and wants to show off that he is doing well for himself.

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balloons

Noted that Geof and Jo have been playing with them in the stage directions at the start of Act 2.

Symbolises Jo's happiness with her new friend Geof. Shows the childish, fun side of their relationship.

Now that Jo is away from Helen she is able to relax, have fun and be a teenager.

Helen's whisky

Throughout the play Helen turns to drink whenever she has bad news. She even offers some to Jo, who sensibly refuses.

Symbolises Helen's neglect of motherhood. She does not take her role seriously and Jo is left to take much of the responsibility.

Also symbolises Helen's need to escape reality and the poverty that she faces.

the engagement ring

Given to Jo by the boy when he proposes marriage. Symbolically we learn that it has been purchased from Woolworths, a cheap novelty shop, revealing that his intentions towards Jo are not serious.

Used as a symbol to legitimise their sexual relationship.

Significantly the ring does not fit Jo, revealing that the boy does not really know enough about her.

Jo wears the ring on a ribbon around her neck. This symbolises that she keeps the seriousness of her relationship secret from her mother, suggesting their lack of closeness and perhaps that Jo knows Helen would not approve.

Helen spots the ring around Jo's neck and is furious with her.

honey

A biblical reference to the First Book of Samuel, Chapter 14, Verse 43 where Saul says to Jonathan, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.

Symbolises the moment of sweetness/happiness that all of the characters in the play experience before it is taken away.

Jo's drawings

Symbolises Jo's talent and artistic aspirations. Helen is dismissive of them and jokes about them but offers to send Jo to art school. Jo refuses saying she has had enough of school.

Geof later finds the pictures and is critical of them, being an art student himself.

Symbolises how difficult social mobility was for working class people in the 1950s.

Gives us the sense that Jo could have had a different life, if only she'd had better circumstances.

the baby doll

Geof gives it to Jo to practise her parenting skills on. Jo gets angry that it is the wrong colour and throws it to the floor.

Symbolises Jo's fear and reluctance about becoming a mother.

Jo does not have a good model of motherhood to follow and fears she may not be up to the job, like her mother.

Could suggest Jo's concerns about the racial abuse she or her baby may receive, given that mixed race relationships were generally frowned upon in the 1950s.

the bare lightbulb

Symbolises Helen and Jo's poverty and the dismal conditions they live in.

Jo tries to make it look nicer by tying a scarf around it. This symbolises Jo's desire to make things nicer and try to improve her surroundings. This also hints at her desire for a better life.

the flat

the big white house

Peter's wallet

Filled with photos of women that he has had affairs with. Jo finds it and questions him on it, although Helen seems to be unaware (or chooses to ignore it).

Peter refers to the women by number.

Symbolises Peter's misogynistic attitude.

Peter represents the stereotypical 1950s male.