In 1943, American scientist Oswald Avery discovered that DNA carries genetic information. In 1948, a few years after this important discovery, Linus Pauling published his findings that the DNA protein took the shape of a helix or spiral and thus was able to confirm the base and paired structure. In the 1950s, in a nation recovering from war, the race to solve the mystery of DNA was on. Many believed that cracking the molecular coding of this minute cell would mean the mystery of life had been solved and would give people a sense of moral accomplishment and betterment. Although teams all over the world were beginning to devote themselves entirely to the quest, Cambridge University graduate student Francis Crick and research fellow James Watson become infatuated with the study. Meanwhile, at King’s College in London, Wilkins and Franklin were also studying DNA. The two teams were in disagreement over whether Cambridge’s notion to physically build models in order to narrow down the possibilities conflicted with the King’s team who took a more experimental approach, looking at x-ray diffraction images of DNA, using X-ray crystallography (Franklin’s speciality).

In addition to the scientific advancement being pursued in the narrative, many felt coming into a new decade was a blessing as it signified the end of an era of war. The reality was far from as promising – although a victory over Germany and Japan had been met, the 50s was still evidenced with the legacy of war. In major cities such as London, the bombing had levelled entire streets and these remained largely unrepaired due to economic constraints. Small gardens had been converted into allotments for growing vegetables to combat strict rationing and feed the home front, and the countryside was peppered with abandoned military bases and makeshift regiment offices. In a desperate reaction to the looming threat of communism and the beginning of the Cold War, the nation poured its resources into upskilling its young men and strengthening its defence – and Britain’s covert exploration into nuclear power only became known to its citizens later that decade.

Despite booming coal and textile industries helping to build back the nation’s revenue, manpower was down as a result of the heavy casualties in the war and immigration laws were loosened to stimulate the work force. Naturally, before the war amidst the turmoil of the Weimer Republic, many Europeans fled the continent for safety, and this included a sizable Jewish population with close to 160,000 Jews and Poles (from Poland) seeking refuge in England. Despite the war being over and finally, the devastation of the Holocaust becoming known to all, anti-Jewish sentiments were still present. The passive antisemitic comments of her colleagues seem predictable to Rosalind and suggest that in addition to being apathetic about them, over time, she has come to expect them.

Women’s role in the 1950s greatly shifted as the men returned home from the front and reclaimed their paid positions in factories, positions which, while the war had been on, women had occupied to keep the country running. The expectation was that women would return to the domestic role of a dutiful wife, and the insurrection of some women to refute this expectation bred an undercurrent of resentment.

Although the play is based on truth, it is still classified as historical fiction (meaning that it depicts events that occurred in real life, but in a manner that is fictional). Although Ziegler takes theatrical liberties with the dialogue, she stayed true to the facts of the story and maintained that the conduct of Rosalind’s colleagues was unforgiveable and tantamount to intellectual thievery.