aic

Question 1

10 keywords DEPRECAIDS

Answer 1

• Disillusioned (See the reality) Sheila becomes disillusioned
• Exploitative
• Political diatribe
• Remorseless
• Emancipation (freedom
• Collective social consciousness
• Absolve ( free from) guilt
• Interconnected
• Dehumanising
• Scrupulous ( moral)

Question 2

Politics (context)

Answer 2

Priestley based the play in 1912 and wrote it in 1945
1912 Britain, was capitalist and the government had a laissez fair approach with the economy. So businesses could set their own wage rates
1945 was the biggest electoral swing as the labour party won by a landslide victory
- Birlings represent the capitalist attitudes in 1912
- Sheila and Eric transformation into socialists represents the electoral swing and change in the political environment of 1945

Question 3

Priestley (context)

Answer 3

• He fought in ww1 so we scathing (critical) of government abuse of authority. In 1945, he was co-founder of the common wealth party (socialist party who favoured equality)
• Uses the inspector as his mouthpiece to be scathing of capitalism, and therefore government abuse of power, as well as promote socialist ideologies

Question 4

Women

Answer 4

• In 1912, they were disenfranchised (no vote). In 1945 Women’s effort on Homefront was a pivotal turning point - and it was seen as valuable
• Sheila starts off as voiceless and weaker (representing disenfranchisement) and develops a voice (representing women’s power)

Question 5

Class system

Answer 5

In 1912 there was little social mobility -25% lived in poverty. 1945 acts like the equal franchise act meant that mean and women over 21 could vote - lower classes had more of a voice
- Eva Smith represents individuals with little social mobility
- Birlings symbolise those who upheld the oppressive systems of 1912

Question 6

6 key themes SCROG

Answer 6

Social class
Capitalism vs socialism
Responsibility
Older vs younger generation
Guilt
Gender

Question 7

Priestley’s Intentions:

Answer 7

• Priestley aims to vilify (make it look like a villain) capitalism through making immorality, irresponsibility and exploitation synonymous with the characters he constructs to hold these beliefs. He aims to scrutinise how detrimental this ideology is to society and how it causes society to regress rather than progress
• Priestley shows that collective responsibility is a by-product of adopting socialist beliefs. He asserts that his collective responsibility serves as a solution to the division and segregation prevalent in society, ultimately creating inevitable social cohesion
• He utilises his allegorical diatribe to both educate his audience and criticise the oppressive barriers of social class, arguing that upholding these divisions only exacerbates societal suffering and destruction