Analysis of Act One - Arthur's Speech Flashcards
What have the Birling family been doing just before Act One begins?
They were having a dinner to celebrate the engagement of Gerald and Sheila.
When Gerald tells Sheila he was busy working over the summer, she replies “Yes, that’s what you say.” What does this suggest about their relationship?
This shows there is some tension between them because Sheila thinks Gerald is lying.
What is dramatic irony?
Dramatic irony is when the audience knows something that the characters on stage don’t.
Give examples of dramatic irony from Arthur’s speech.
Arthur claims that there won’t be any serious “labour trouble in the near future”, but the audience knows that there were actually many strikes between 1912 and 1945. He also says “there isn’t a chance of war” (the First World War broke out in 1914) and that the Titanic is “unsinkable” (it sank later the same year, 1912)
How does Priestley’s use of dramatic irony affect the audience’s initial impression of Arthur?
Priestley’s use of dramatic irony makes Arthur appear overconfident and foolish. He tells Eric that he has “a lot to learn yet”, but the audience knows that it’s Arthur who is misguided. This means they are less likely to trust his judgement in the rest of the play.
What evidence is there from the beginning of Act One to show that class is important to Arthur and Sybil Birling?
- Arthur is happy to have
Gerald as his son-in-law
because Gerald comes
from an upper-class family,
so he is seen as a good
match for Sheila. - Sybil is worried about what
Arthur says in front of
Gerald. She tells him that a
man of his class is “not
supposed to say such
things” when he praises
the dinner.
