An Inspector Calls Flashcards
What are the themes of an inspector calls?
Generations, gender, social class, family life, judgement, social responsibility, learning about life.
What influences the Birlings behaviour?
Class, it drives plot and shapes the characters.
How did Priestley design the characters?
In order to put across his message.
What do the characters in the play represent?
Classes, Priestley challenges their views and behaviour in order to challenge the class hierarchy.
Who were the working class?
Had all the hardest jobs and little money.
Who were the middle class?
Owned factories or we’re professionals. Had plenty of money and control.
Who were the upper class?
Inherited loads of land and money. Were often lords and ladies.
Who represents the working class?
Eva, struggles through jobs earning just enough to survive.
Who represents the middle class?
The Birlings are wealthy, own a business and live comfortably.
Who represents the lower class?
Gerald- his family own land and are socially better than Arthur’s. Inherited money had a higher status than trade.
What did the class system mean for the lower class?
It could make life very difficult.
How does Priestley portray the upper class?
Having a limited sense of social responsibility for those well off.
Why does Priestley suggest the higher classes didn’t question the class system?
Worked for them, same reason why they overlooked problems such as alcoholism- easier to ignore unpleasant things than deal with them.
What does the inspector tell the Birlings they must accept?
Responsibility or it’ll end in fire blood and anguish.
What do the Birlings believe about class?
It’s all that matters.
What is mr Birlings biggest concern about Eva’s death?
There will be a public scandal- he won’t get his knighthood.
What does mr Birling think makes him more important?
His position of authority- he’d been an Alderman and Lord Mayor and then a Magistrate.
Why is it ironic that mr Birling is a magistrate?
He passes judgement on others when he’s acted so immorally- relates to theme of judgement.
Who does mr Birling use to promote his social class?
Gerald, he hints he is expecting a knighthood and is pleased his daughter is marrying into a higher class.
What is Mrs Birling a member of?
Brumley Women’s charity organisation, meant to give money to desperate women. She is involved for social status.
How does Priestley use the play to demonstrate the unfairness of the class system?
He uses the Birlings as exaggerated caricatures of all the bad qualities he thought the ruling classes had.
What does the play echo about Priestley?
Shows how he saw society. Presents the Birlings arrogant behaviour and selfish attitudes as common to middle class.
How does Priestley present the working class?
Victims of the class system, although Eva is unique- miseries common. Eva smith could have been anyone.
What is Eva expected to have?
Low morals, Priestley presents her as more honourable than upper classes which may have surprised some members of the audience.
