Peter Grimes or ambiguous the various characters are. Pears was certainly the intended Peter Grimes, and it is likely that Britten wrote the role of Ellen Orford for Joan Cross. The work has been called "a powerful allegory of homosexual oppression", and one of "the true operatic masterpieces of the 20th century", but the composer's own contemporary (1948) summation of the work was simpler: a subject very close to my heart — the struggle of the individual against the masses. The more vicious the society, the more vicious the individual. Though as the writing of the libretto progressed, certain versions showed Grimes'
Oscar Grimes Oscar Grimes Oscar Ray Grimes Jr. (April 13, 1915 – May 19, 1993) was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Cleveland Indians (1938–1942), New York Yankees (1943–1946) and Philadelphia Athletics (1946). Grimes batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Minerva, Ohio. In a nine-season career, Grimes posted a .256 batting average with 18 home runs and 200 RBI in 602 games played. Grimes died in Westlake, Ohio, at the age of 78. He played semi-pro football for the Minerva Merchants. His father Ray Grimes and his uncle Roy Grimes also played in the major