Live Like Pigs: historical context

Section: Historical Background

John Arden wrote Live Like Pigs in the late 1950s, a time characterised by post-war rebuilding and a rapidly changing socio-political climate in Britain.
At this time, the British government enacted significant urban planning reforms and public housing projects, aiming to provide “homes for heroes” in the aftermath of World War II.
However, this period also saw many problematic displacement and resettlement issues. Forced relocations often caused clashes and tensions between communities and the authorities.

Section: Post-War Britain

The play explores key aspects of post-war Britain, including the rise of consumerism, urbanisation, and the ideal of a welfare state.
The 50s were also a period of increased immigration to Britain, adding to the social tensions and cultural clashes explored in the play.

Section: The “New Wave” of British Drama

In the 1950s, works by playwrights such as John Osborne, Arnold Wesker and John Arden (known as the Angry Young Men) represented a turning point in British drama.
Labelled as the “New Wave”, these works were renowned for the direct, realistic portrayal of contemporary social realities and the questioning of traditional values.
Live Like Pigs fits into this tradition, presenting a stark, unsparing vision of the clash between entrenched societal norms and the realities of modern life.

Section: Social Class and Housing

The play critically captures the societal divide and class prejudice prevalent during the period.
It alludes to the largely unsuccessful attempts to integrate new housing estates into the social fabric of post-war Britain.
Arden presents these new estates as a façade of progress, obscuring the deeper social issues that they failed to address, like the marginalisation of low-income families.

Section: Individual and Community

Arden’s characters personify the struggle between individual desires and the pressures of conformity within the wider community.
The play is also a commentary on the emergence of sub-cultures, representing the various social, ethnic and age groups that emerged in Britain post-war.