A Taste Of Honey - Key Quotes: Jo & Helen's Relationship

When Helen seems to show concern for Jo, Jo gets angry

The time to have taken care of me was years ago when I couldn't take care of myself.

Jo tells Helen to be careful with the stove, like Helen did to her at the beginning, showing a cyclical structure of how Helen and Jo have ended up right back at the beginning.

Turn on all the knobs. Mind you don't gas yourself

Helen is very rude to Jo, insulting her and discouraging her about marriage and love

What sort of a wife do you think you'd make? You're useless. I suppose you think you're in love. Anyone can fall in love, do you know that? But what do you know about the rest of it?

Helen completely disregards any responsibility for Jo as a mother, telling Geof she doesn't want to help when he asks her to support Jo

Bearing a child doesn't place one under an obligation to it.

Helen immediately starts suggesting possible solutions to the baby, all maternal instincts lost.

Drown it. Perhaps she'll adopt it. Put it on the stage and call it Blackbird.

Helen offers Jo some whisky, showing her irresponsibility

Have some of this if you're so cold

Jo is angry when Helen tells her that her father was stupid, as if she was hoping for something better

How could you give me a father like that? How could you go with a half wit?

Helen blatantly refers to Jo as an accident

How was I to know you'd materialise out of a five-minute love affair?

Helen offers Jo money, perhaps showing a bit of care

I brought you some money. You've no need to go short of anything. There'll be money in the post for you every week from now on.

Helen takes on a threatening tone when she discovers Jo's engagement ring

I could choke you. Thank God for the divorce courts!

When she sees Jo's pictures, Helen originally seems to truly compliment Jo, before undermining any kindness and immediately putting them aside

I didn't realise I had such a talented daughter. I suppose you've got to draw pictures of yourself, nobody else would.

Jo uses crude humour in response to Helen's insults, like a coping mechanism

I hope I'm luckier with mine. You don't look forty. You look a well-preserved sixty.

Helen shows the extent of her neglect, showing that Jo doesn't often occupy her thoughts

I never think about you when I'm happy

Helen is cruel to pregnant Jo, saying that she should have had an abortion

I should have got rid of you before you were born.

Jo tells Geof that she would purposefully try to annoy Helen

I used to smoke to annoy my mother

Jo replies to Helen's threat by accusing her of having many abortions

I wish you had done. You did with plenty of others, I know.

Jo is scared about becoming Helen

I'm not like her at all.

Jo blames Helen for her problems and the state of her life.

I'm sick of you. You make my life a misery.

Helen says that Jo has complete responsibility over herself and doesn't need any help.

If she won't take care of herself that's her lookout. She's better working than living off you like a little bloodsucker.

Jo refers rudely to Helen's sexual habits and how she is neglected because of them

It wouldn't be the first time I've been thrown out to make room for one of your...

Towards the end of the play Helen refers to Jo as 'love' and shows a tenderness which is unprecedented and a little unnatural

It's all right, love, I'm here and everything's alright.

Jo is defiant when Helen returns to try and help her with her baby

It's nothing to do with you. Get out of here. I'll get out of it, without your help.

Jo has no respect for Helen and her self-absorption

Look at you. Look what pride in yourself has done for you.

Helen scolds Jo for depending on people and tells her to look after herself.

Now it's "poor little Josephine, the tragedy queen, hasn't life been hard on her". Well you fell down, you get up... nobody else is going to carry you about.

Helen seems angry at Jo's engagement but at the same time its eems to hint at a deeper regret at her own circumstances

Oh Jo, you're only a kid. Why don't you learn from my mistakes? Enjoy your life. Marriage can be hell for a kid.

Helen accuses Jo of trying to seduce Peter, showing her immaturity and crude manner

Shut up! You're going to have him upset. You jealous little cat!

Helen's neglect of Jo is immediately put forward when Helen responds to Jo's dislike of the flat

When I find somewhere for us to live I have to consider something far more important than your feelings... the rent.

Helen says that she used to be pure, hinting that all that separates Jo and Helen's personalities is age

When I met your father I was as pure and unsullied as I fondly, and perhaps mistakenly, imagine you to be.

Jo accuses Helen of not being a proper mother to her

Why don't you prepare my meals like a proper mother?

Jo is defiant at the neglect she has received from Helen

Why should I run around after you? I don't owe you a thing.

Helen seems to show a little care for Jo, hesitating when Peter calls her back

Would you rather I stayed here?

Jo is sad at being neglected, as shown by her anecdote that she tells Geof

You know I used to try and hold my mother's hands, but she always used to pull them away. She had so much love for everyone else, but none for me.

When Helen first returns after Jo becomes pregnant she threatens her and insults her

You know what they're calling you around here? A silly little *****!

Jo still shows care for Helen when she attacks Peter

You leave me alone, and leave my mother alone too.

As soon as Jo reveals that Jimmie was black, Helen's tenderness vanishes and she goes out for a drink

You mean to say that... Oh my God! Nothing else can happen to me now. I'll have to have a drink.

Jo accuses Helen of leaving her without considering her for a second

You walked through that door with that man and didn't give me a second thought