Jerusalem: historical context

Jerusalem: Historical Context

Influence of Past English Periods

  • Jerusalem is deeply rooted in the traditions and legends of bygone English eras, reflecting sentiments of Romanticism and a longing for the past.
  • The character of Johnny Byron denotes the idealised past, encapsulating elements of ancient mythmaking and folklore which suggests a nostalgic yearning for a time when nature and man were more closely intertwined.

Contemporary Issues

  • The play was first performed in 2009, during a time of increasing gentrification and urbanisation of English countryside. These themes are mirrored in the play’s conflict of the rural trailer park life being threatened by housing developers.
  • Social issues such as drug use, under-age drinking and the ‘dropping out’ culture are also depicted, reflecting sentiments of disenchantment with establishment, societal norms and laws.

Economic Context

  • Jez Butterworth depicts the economic struggles faced by many lower-income families in Britain, raising concerns on poverty, unemployment and the wealth gap.
  • This is particularly evident in the characters who dread the loss of their homes and the constant struggle of Johnny to accumulate funds to fight for his trailer park home.

Influence of Britain’s Colonial Past

  • The presence of the character Wesley, a morris dancer, symbolises the marginalisation of local traditions in the wake of Britain’s colonial past.
  • This reflects the dilemma of the English identity, torn between its deep-seated native past and the aftermath of its colonial history.

Cultural and Technological Shift

  • A recurring theme in Jerusalem is the demise of rural traditions and old-fashioned fraternity, as the story unfolds in a time of significant cultural and technological shifts.
  • Johnny’s struggle against the local council to keep his trailer park home can be seen as a clash between the traditionalist and the modernist ideologies in society.

With understanding of these historical contexts, one can appreciate the multifaceted narrative of Jerusalem better and engage in a deeper textual analysis.