A Taste of Honey: Act 2: Scene 1 Summary & Analysis

It is now summer and Jo, who is visibly pregnant, enters the apartment with her friend Geoffrey. The two of them are playing with colorful balloons and talking about the fair they have just been to, which they both enjoyed. Jo lies down on the couch and complains about having to get up early the next morning. She boldly asks Geoffrey, who is standing uncomfortably in the room, if he has a home, which Geoffrey says he does.

Jo asks Geof to go get her some biscuits in the kitchen but to keep the light turned off. When Geof bangs into a piece of furniture and hurts himself, Jo tells him to strike a match. This then allows Geof to realize, with surprise, how big the apartment is, and Jo expresses pride and happiness in knowing it is all hers, even if she has to work two jobs to pay for it. Geof notes that it is quite big for one person and Jo deviously asks him if he is thinking of moving in, which she becomes convinced of despite his protestations to the contrary.

Judging by how eager Geof was to accompany her home, Jo becomes convinced that Geof’s landlady has indeed kicked him out of his apartment. While he finally admits that this is the case, he explains that it had to do with the rent. However, Jo, finding his answer unconvincing, interrogates him relentlessly, hypothesizing that his landlady must have found him with a man, which she mocks him for. Geof rejects these ideas but Jo still tells him he can sleep on the couch if he agrees to tell her about himself, because she is curious about people like him. Offended, Geof gets angry and stands up to leave, but Jo quickly apologizes and asks him to stay. Geof says that women can be insufferable and that, in general, he hates people who laugh at others. In the end, though, Jo’s repeated pleas seem to work and Geof agrees to stay.

Geof begins to look through Jo’s book of drawings and criticizes them, saying that they are too unstructured and sentimental. Jo tries to defend herself, explaining that she likes them, but also seems to take Geoffrey’s comments to heart. Geof tells her she should go to art school, where she could receive guidance. Jo declines but Geof asks her if anyone has ever tried taking care of her. Jo says that her boyfriend did once, but that he lasted only from Christmas to the New Year.

Geof asks Jo if she loved Jimmie and Jo says that she is not sure what love is, but that love creates and that she is now about to have a baby. Geof, who senses that the young girl is currently in a complicated, troubled situation, tells Jo that she could have an abortion but Jo immediately rejects the idea, finding the very concept dreadful. Geof concludes that Jo shouldn’t be alone during this trying period of her life. He asks her if she has any money but Jo says her wages will only be sufficient to cover her living costs.

Jo says that she does not want to work much longer because she doesn’t like people staring at her. Noticing Geof’s concern, she tells Geof that he shouldn’t worry about her, but Geof says he likes her. He asks about her mother and Jo gives vague information about Helen’s plan to marry a man and live in a big house. She tells him that she is an unreliable person but that she has a lot of money. Geof says that Jo should take advantage of that, since she needs to buy things for the baby. He even offers to help her himself.

Jo does not want to hear Geof’s ideas because she says planning for the baby before it is born brings bad luck. Geof assumes that Jo must be feeling depressed and says that she will soon be herself again, but Jo playfully and energetically replies that her normal self is truly extraordinary. She shares her enthusiasm with Geof, and the two of them celebrate how young and wonderful they both are. Moved by this excitement, Jo asks Geof which alcohol he likes, as though she were about to serve his some, but she finally admits she has none. Instead, she offers him one of the biscuits she is eating.

Inspired by one of Geof’s exclamations, Jo recites a few rhyming poetic lines in a playful tone, calling her creation a dramatic recitation. Geof then recites a couple of nursery rhymes that Jo enjoys. The second one ends with the following lines: “If I had half a crown a day / I’d gladly spend it on you” and when Jo asks him if he would indeed do that, Geof answers in the affirmative. Geof offers Jo a cigarette but she says she only used to smoke to bother her mother.

After joking about buying a car with free coupons that Geof collects, the two decide to go to bed. Jo says that Geof will probably not sleep well on the couch, but both agree that they are beggars in their own ways, and therefore cannot be “choosers.” When Geof begins to undress, Jo tells him he should turn off the light so that she doesn’t make a pass at him. Geof turns off the light.

In the dark, Jo then begins to sing a nursery rhyme about a black boy and, when Geof asks about her boyfriend, she says he was black. She describes him as an African prince but then explains he was a nurse in the Navy. Geof asks her if she wishes he were here but she says she is tired of love, and that that is why she asked Geof to stay with her, because she knows he will not try to start a romantic relationship with her. After she concludes that she hates love, the two say good night. Geof says he will stay home from school tomorrow, clean up the apartment, and prepare a meal for Jo. Jo laughs and says he is like a big sister.

A few months pass, and Jo and Geof are still living together. While the sound of children’s singing can be heard from outside the apartment, the two complain about the heat and the smell. Jo points to dirty children in the street and Geof says it isn’t their fault, which Jo agrees with, saying that it is their parents’ fault. She notices a boy who is particularly dirty and looks like he might have mental problems and concludes that his mother’s decision to have children brings harm to the world.

 Suddenly, Jo tells Geof the baby has just kicked in her belly. Speaking to her baby, she announces that she is going to look at what Geof is making for them. When she comes close to him, she sees that Geof is making a dress for the baby. Jo wonders at how Geof knows which measurements to use, noting that babies can be born in different sizes. When she describes babies as either dangerously thin or revoltingly fat, she concludes that she finds babies disgusting. Geof is surprised, since he thought motherhood was natural to women, but Jo says that motherhood fits him better, and that he would be a great wife.

Jo asks Geof why he was talking to the landlady yesterday. Geof tells her he gave her the rent and that the lady will make them a wicker basket to use as a cradle for the baby. Jo does not like the idea of other people interfering with her life and complains about Geof never leaving her alone. Suddenly crying, she throws herself on the couch and says that she wants to drown in the river. Seemingly impatient with Jo’s mood, Geof tells her that the river is dirty and that she should stop pitying herself. He sees Jo’s current emotions as an annoying act. Jo replies that Geof only moved in with her because he has no self-confidence and is afraid of girls laughing at him.

Geof tells Jo to keep quiet and to read a book about caring for babies that he got for her. Jo complains about the various tasks involved in raising a child and says that she finds breastfeeding disgusting and cannibalistic. While Geof finds her words inhumane, Jo reaffirms that she truly hates motherhood. However, Geof argues that whatever her feelings might be, she will have to take care of the baby anyway. Changing the subject, Jo says she has a toothache and begins to jokingly annoy Geof, trying to get him to give her a kiss. Still playfully, she asks him if he would like to be the baby’s father and Geoffrey says yes.

Jo listens to the children singing outside and asks Geof why he is still here, to which Geof replies that someone needs to take care of her. The two of them are quiet for a few seconds and Geof suddenly asks Jo what she would say if he tried to start a romantic relationship with her. Surprised, Jo says that she does not want him, explaining that her decision has nothing to do with thinking that her boyfriend might come back.

Geof then grabs hold of Jo’s arm, saying he has never kissed a girl. Despite Jo’s efforts to break loose, Geof ultimately succeeds in kissing her. Jo seems upset and Geof apologizes, but while Jo is trying to explain to him that she doesn’t desire him in a physical way, Geof asks her to marry him. Jo says she doesn’t want to marry anyone but Geof keeps on insisting, saying he is thinking of what is best for her and that he doesn’t mind taking care of somebody else’s baby. Finally, seeing that Jo is truly not interested in marrying him, he makes a sarcastic comment about the fact she probably didn’t struggle when she made love to her boyfriend. Jo replies that things might have turned out better if she had.

After forcing Geof to accept a piece of chocolate, Jo tells him that he should probably leave, saying that leaving would be better for him and that they cannot stay together forever. However, Geof says he would rather die than be separated from her and Jo is shocked to realize that he actually means it. Geof explains that living with her has given him a sense of purpose in life, whereas he used to feel lost and apathetic. Geof tries to convince her to let him stay and, after going to lie down in her bedroom, Jo concludes it might indeed not be necessary for them to separate.

Helen suddenly enters the apartment, loudly asking for Jo and calling Geof Romeo, while Geof, in a meek, submissive tone, begs Helen not to tell Jo that he asked her to come. Helen enters Jo’s bedroom and Jo immediately asks her who told her to come, which Helen refuses to answer. Helen initially believes that Geof is Jo’s boyfriend, but Jo reveals that their relationship is not sexual. Jo keeps on asking her mother for information about who asked her to come. Finally, Jo turns to Geoffrey, angrily telling him she warned him not to interfere in her life, and ironically asking him if he thinks he is running a “Back to Mother” movement. While Geof defends himself by saying that Helen has a right to know about her pregnancy, Jo says she doesn’t consider her mother to have any rights in relation to her.

Geof complains to Helen that Jo never leaves the apartment, which is the main reason he asked for Helen’s help. Instead of showing concern, Helen says that she cannot do anything about this and has no obligation toward her child. Shocked by such visible lack of interest in her daughter’s life, Geof tries to argue that Helen should care for her, but Helen explains that she has never been able to handle Jo. Helen then mockingly calls Geof a “nursemaid” and expresses her disapproval of their partnership. While Jo tells Geof her mother’s harsh words are his own fault, since he invited her, she also tells her mother that she has no right to make judgments about her life.

Helen makes ironic comments about Jo’s boyfriend’s absence and Geof, in turn, attacks Helen for being gone for a long time as well, but both Helen and Jo angrily tell Geoffrey to stay out of their fight. Helen then looks at her daughter and makes affectionate comments about the size of her stomach. She asks Geof if Jo is getting medical attention and if she is working. When Geof repeats that Jo isn’t, Helen says that Jo should work instead of living off of him, but Geof and Jo contradict her, saying that they share everything. Irritated by her mother’s disapproving comments, Jo tells her to return to her fancy man, who might be cheating on her at this very moment, and Helen threatens to beat her for her insolence.

Helen chases Jo through the room while attacking her verbally for the dreadful situation she has put herself in, but Jo says that she will get out of it on her own. In an increasingly fast-paced series of exchanges, Helen criticizes Jo for accepting the first man she saw and Jo says she is exactly like her mother. Helen then tells Jo people are calling her a whore, but Jo merely replies she is like her mother in that sense. When Helen tries to grab Jo to give her a beating, Geof tries to intervene, but the two women keep threatening and provoking each other. Helen mentions that she should have had an abortion instead of having Jo. Finally, when Jo threatens to throw herself out the window if Helen doesn’t leave, the two calm down and the fighting stops.

Geof tells the women to stop yelling, to which Helen replies that they enjoy it. Helen proceeds to give Jo a speech about the importance of being independent and self-reliant. She tells Jo that she should not pity herself and deplore the tragedy of her life; instead, she should begin to care for herself without relying on Geof, whom Helen calls a “pansified little freak.” While Jo tries to defend Geof, he complains that he wouldn’t have asked Helen to come if he’d known how she was going to treat Jo. Irritated by Geof’s interventions, both Helen and Jo tell Geof to leave, and he finally leaves the room to go make some tea.

After Geof leaves, Helen laments Jo’s thinness and, in a pacifying voice, tells her that she didn’t come here to fight but to bring her money. After Jo refuses, Helen concludes that she will leave it on the table. Angry and upset, Jo criticizes Helen’s absence and this sudden “famous mother-love act,” but Helen defends herself by saying that she has been worrying about Jo and that she plans to send her money regularly. Unconvinced, Jo says that Helen will forget and Helen herself admits that she is indeed terrible at remembering things. When Helen tries to say that she has a motherly responsibility toward her daughter, Jo lashes out at her, reminding Helen that she forgot about her as soon as she left to go live with Peter. Ignoring this comment, Helen asks why Jo didn’t tell her about her pregnancy, and Jo replies that Helen doesn’t mean anything to her.

Peter then enters the apartment, drunk, aggressive, and angry at having to wait for Helen outside in such a dirty neighborhood. While Helen replies equally aggressively, telling him to go back outside to wait for her, Peter makes fun of Jo’s pregnancy and sings a song about being a big girl. When he sees Geof and assumes he is the father of Jo’s baby, he is appalled at the idea. Peter sings another song about pregnancy and Helen tells him to leave Jo alone.

Still singing, Peter goes into the kitchen to look for drinks, crashes into objects, and re-enters the room. He mocks Helen’s appearance, ultimately calling her a “sour-faced old bitch” and asking her to come out for drinks. Jo tries to kick him but Peter threatens her to attack her as well and then calls Geof “Mary” and begins to tell a dirty story. While Helen and Jo both try to make him keep quiet, Peter mockingly tells the story of Oedipus’s incestuous relationship with his mother, which results in him tearing his eyes out. Peter establishes a parallel between this story and his own, saying that he only tore one of his eyes out.

Helen calls Peter a drunkard and tells him to leave. When Peter notices that Helen is giving his money to Jo, however, he takes it back and finally exits the apartment to look for the bathroom, still singing and crashing into objects on his way out. Jo tells Geof to go with Peter for his own safety. After Geof leaves, Helen offers Jo a cigarette, which she keeps for Geof.

Jo chats with her mother about Peter’s state, asking her how long he has been like this, but Helen changes the subject and asks what Geof works in. Jo says he is an art student and Helen asks if he lives in this apartment but Jo refuses to answer Helen’s questions if she doesn’t answer her own. Helen criticizes Jo’s disheveled appearance, saying she should have more pride in herself, but Jo makes an ironic comment about Helen, insinuating that pride has led her to an immoral, unstable life.

Taking on a more sincere, compassionate tone, Helen asks Jo to come stay with her, but Jo refuses, which leads Helen to attack her, mocking her for choosing to stay with the “pansified little freak.” Geof, who has returned, asks if he should leave and Helen pretends she hadn’t noticed his presence. Jo asks Geof if he believes he would go live with Helen if he were in Jo’s shoes and Geof says he wouldn’t. He comments that he was surprised to discover that Helen was just as terrible a person as Jo had painted her to be. Exasperated, Helen tries to convince Jo that she is sincerely offering her a better place to live.

Peter then enters the apartment again, more sober but also more hostile. Helen keeps offering to take care of Jo, but Jo argues that her mother should have done so years ago, when she needed it the most. Helen acknowledges this but wants Jo to think about present necessities. However, Peter interrupts the conversation, calling Jo a “bloody slut” and saying that he does not want her in his home. Helen tries to counter his words by saying that half of the house belongs to her, but Peter says he can kick her out anytime. He adds that he does not want Geof—whom he calls a “fruitcake parcel”—either, saying he cannot stand people like him.

Helen says that she does not want Jo to stay in such a repulsive neighborhood but Geof intervenes, arguing that the people are nice, at least, and that Jo is happier with him. Helen tells Geof to shut up, arguing that she knows what is best for her daughter. Impatient, Peter complains about the filth of this apartment and says he wants to leave, adding that, if Helen wants to stay in this disgusting place he once saved her from, she is free to. While Helen initially says she is going to stay and lets Peter leave, she begins to hesitate and asks Jo if she wants her to stay with her. Jo says no and Helen finally leaves, following Peter, after quickly promising Jo to send her money and telling Geof that Jo should receive medical care and eat properly.

After Peter and Helen leave, Geof is at least relieved that Helen has left Jo money but Jo explains that Peter took it away. She hands Geof a cigarette, calling him “love,” and Geof is suddenly excited because he didn’t have any cigarettes left.