Welcome to the World of Rooster Byron!
Hello! If you are studying Jez Butterworth's Jerusalem, you are in for a wild ride. This play is a modern masterpiece that looks at the "hidden" side of England. It’s part of your Drama post-1900 section. Don't worry if the play feels a bit loud, messy, or confusing at first—that’s exactly how it’s supposed to feel! We are going to break it down step-by-step so you can walk into your exam feeling like an expert.
Why is this play important? It asks big questions: What does it mean to be English? Who owns the land? Are old myths still real in our modern world of CCTV and council rules? It’s funny, sad, and very powerful.
1. The Basics: What is Jerusalem about?
The play takes place on St. George’s Day (the national day of England) in a forest in Wiltshire. Our main character is Johnny "Rooster" Byron. He lives in a messy caravan, sells drugs to local teenagers, and tells incredible stories about giants and fairies.
The main conflict is simple: The local Kennet and Avon Council wants to evict Johnny to build new houses. Johnny refuses to leave. It’s a classic "Individual vs. The System" story.
Quick Review:
Setting: Roach’s Wood, Wiltshire.
Time: A single day (St. George's Day).
Main Conflict: Johnny vs. The Council (Eviction).
2. Key Character: Johnny "Rooster" Byron
Johnny is the heart of the play. To understand him, think of him as a modern-day outlaw—like a 21st-century Robin Hood or a rockstar who has stayed at the party too long.
His Role:
- He is a storyteller. He claims to have met giants and been kidnapped by wood nymphs.
- He is a rebel. He hates rules, taxes, and "New Way" England.
- He is a father figure (though a bad one!) to the local bored teenagers who have nowhere else to go.
Analogy: Think of Johnny like that one old, beat-up armchair in a house. It’s messy, it smells a bit, and people say it should be thrown away—but it’s the only place where everyone feels comfortable enough to be themselves.
Memory Aid: Remember Johnny as the "Lord of Misrule." In old English festivals, the Lord of Misrule was a person chosen to lead the partying and flip all the normal rules upside down. That is exactly what Johnny does in the woods.
3. Key Themes: What is Butterworth trying to say?
A. English Identity and Mythology
The title Jerusalem comes from a famous poem by William Blake. It asks if "heaven" can be built in England’s "green and pleasant land." Butterworth explores whether the "old" England (magic, nature, freedom) is being killed by "new" England (shopping malls, safety regulations, and suburbs).
B. Rebellion vs. Authority
The Council represents Authority. They want things clean, quiet, and profitable. Johnny represents Rebellion. He is loud, dirty, and useless to the economy. The play asks: do we have room for people like Johnny anymore?
C. Truth vs. Lies
Does Johnny really have "giant's blood"? Did he really jump over fifteen buses on a motorcycle? It doesn't actually matter if his stories are literally true. They are poetically true because they give the characters (and the audience) a sense of wonder.
Key Takeaway: The play is a "State of the Nation" drama. It looks at the health of England’s soul in the 21st century.
4. Language and Dramatic Effects
Butterworth uses language very specifically to create a certain "vibe" on stage. Don't be put off by the swearing; it serves a purpose!
1. Dialect and Realism: The characters speak in a West Country "Wiltshire" accent. This makes them feel rooted in the land. It feels real and "un-posh."
2. The Monologues: Johnny’s long stories are like modern Shakespeare. They are lyrical and rhythmic. When Johnny talks, the world seems bigger.
3. Sound Effects: The drum is a huge dramatic effect. At the end of the play, Johnny beats a drum to "summon the giants." The sound should vibrate in the audience's chests, making the magic feel real.
4. The Set: The stage is usually covered in real leaves, trees, and a dirty caravan. This brings the "outside" world into the "inside" theater.
Did you know? In the original production, they used live chickens on stage! This was to make the theater feel less like a "polite" building and more like the messy, unpredictable countryside.
5. Interpretations: How do we see the ending?
The ending of Jerusalem is ambiguous (meaning it has more than one meaning). Johnny is alone, beaten up, and banging his drum. Does the giant actually come?
Interpretation A (Tragic): Johnny is a broken man who has lost his mind. No giants are coming, and the bulldozers will win. The "old England" is dead.
Interpretation B (Mythic/Hopeful): The magic is real. By beating the drum, Johnny successfully wakes up the ancient spirit of the land. He may lose his caravan, but his spirit cannot be evicted.
Student Tip: In your exam, don't just pick one! Use phrases like: "On one hand, an audience might see Johnny as a tragic failure; however, another interpretation suggests he is a triumphant mythic hero." Exam markers love it when you show you can see two sides of an argument.
6. Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Thinking Johnny is a "Hero" in the traditional sense.
Johnny sells drugs to kids and neglects his own son. He isn't a "good guy." He is a Complex Protagonist. You can like his spirit while admitting he is a bit of a disaster.
Mistake 2: Focusing only on the plot.
The OCR syllabus wants you to talk about dramatic effects. Don't just tell the story; talk about the staging, the lighting, and the sound.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the secondary characters.
Characters like Ginger (the loyal but sad friend) or Phaedra (the missing girl) help show the human cost of Johnny’s lifestyle. Use them to support your points about Johnny.
7. Quick Review: Context and Culture
- Post-1900 Context: This play was written in 2009. It reacts to "New Labour" England, where there were many new laws about what people could and couldn't do in public spaces.
- Rural Decline: It shows the "forgotten" parts of the countryside—the parts that aren't on postcards.
- St. George: By setting it on St. George’s Day, Butterworth is asking us to redefine what a "patriot" looks like. Is it the Council, or is it the man living in the woods?
Summary: Jerusalem is a play about the fight for the soul of the land. It uses a messy, drug-dealing storyteller to remind us that life should be more than just rules and shopping—it should have a bit of magic, too.
Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! Just remember: Johnny is the Forest, and the Council is the Concrete. The play is the crash when they hit each other.