AIC - Edna Flashcards
Edna is significant
anounces the inspector into the room - “an inspector’s called”
allusion to the title
Edna has a physical impact on the room
The Birlings ‘wear rose tinted glasses’ due to their middle class privalige
Edna brings on a spotlight of INTERROGATION and ILLUMINATES the truth
“pink and intimate” , “brighter and harder”
marginalisation of Edna
sublty adds to the dramatic force of Eva’s narrative, highlighting the pressure of working class women to unhesitatingly obey their middle class employers
“Show him in here, Give us some more light”
- clear imperatives
Edna is exploited
simply an employee, not part of the family
They don’t care if their actions IMPINGE on her wellbeing
“Edna’ll go. I asked her to wait up”
- The inspector speaks up for Edna and advocates for the absent Eva
- Edna’s silence is symbolic of the lack of AGENCY that the working poor had
“There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths”
what would a 1945 audience think of Edna’s pressence on stage?
In 1912, maids were more common than in 1945 so the audience would have thought of it ARCHAIC. It was an outdated practice, to employ working class people on very little money, to work long hours, completing jobs that could have easily been done by the owners of the house
what would a 1945 audience think of the way Edna’s being treated?
What effect does this have on the audience?
They would consider the treatment out of date - This ALIENATE the Birlings from the audience, presenting them as people who’s views and attitudes, you wouldn’t want to replicate or repeat
Did Edna have as much freedom as the Birlings?
Employee rights in1912
No, infact she would have been more restricted. Things would have been made aquward if she asked to leave
Employees did not have the same rights as in 1945.The strengthening of the Unions meant that a CONTEMPORARY audience would appreciate how PRECARIOUS Edna’s position would have been, had she asked to leave.
precarious - (dangerously likely to fall or collapse)
