attitudes to women Flashcards
overview
In An Inspector Calls*, attitudes towards women are presented as deeply unfair and oppressive, with men like Gerald and Eric treating women as objects to control or exploit. Priestley criticises this through characters like Eva Smith, who suffers because of the selfish and sexist actions of others, highlighting the need for equality and respect.
“She had a lot to say – far too much – so she had to go”
This is Mr. Birling talking about Eva Smith when she was working in his factory. The phrase “far too much” makes it sound like he didn’t like her standing up for herself or having opinions. It shows how women were expected to stay quiet and not challenge men, especially in the workplace. Mr. Birling’s attitude reflects the patriarchal society where men had all the power and women were supposed to be submissive. The fact that he fired her just for speaking up highlights how unfair and controlling the attitudes towards women were. It’s like he couldn’t handle a woman who wasn’t obedient or who dared to question his authority. This also links to the class system, as Eva was a working-class woman, so she had even less power and was seen as even more disposable. Priestley uses Mr. Birling’s character to show how selfish and uncaring the upper-class men were, and how they abused their power to keep women and lower-class people in their place. The phrase “she had to go” is really cold and dismissive, which makes the audience feel sympathy for Eva and angry at Mr. Birling for being so heartless.
“She was pretty and a good sport”
This quote is from Gerald when he’s describing Daisy Renton (Eva Smith). The way he says this shows how women were judged mostly on their looks and whether they were fun to be around, rather than being valued for their personality or intelligence. The adjective “pretty” suggests that her worth was based on her appearance, which reflects the superficial and sexist attitudes of the time. It’s like her value as a person was reduced to how attractive she was to men. Also, calling her a “good sport” makes it sound like she was just there for entertainment or to please men, rather than being seen as a person with her own feelings or ambitions. This phrase is really dismissive and shows how women were objectified and treated as possessions or playthings. Gerald’s casual tone when he says this also highlights how normalised these attitudes were in 1912, when the play is set. Priestley uses this to criticise the way women were treated and to show how unfair and unequal society was.
Girls of that class..
This short but powerful quote shows Mrs. Birling’s snobbery and prejudice towards working-class women. By saying “that class,” she dismisses Eva Smith as inferior just because of her social status. The pause created by the dash suggests she doesn’t even see working-class women as worth talking about, which reflects the deep class divide in 1912. Mrs. Birling’s attitude also highlights the sexism of the time, as women were often judged not just for their gender but also for their wealth and background. Priestley uses this to criticize the hypocrisy of upper-class characters like Mrs. Birling, who think they are better than others. It makes the audience feel angry at how Eva was dehumanized and question why society was so unfair.
ridiculous airs
This phrase shows how Mrs. Birling thinks Eva Smith doesn’t deserve to have dignity or self-respect. The adjective “ridiculous” is dismissive and mocking, making it clear that Mrs. Birling believes only upper-class women are allowed to have morals or feelings. This reflects the patriarchal society of the time, where women were expected to know their place and not challenge the status quo. The fact that Mrs. Birling, a woman herself, is criticizing Eva for having self-respect shows how women were also part of the problem, upholding the unfair social hierarchy. Priestley uses this to highlight the hypocrisy and lack of empathy in society, making the audience feel sympathy for Eva and anger towards characters like Mrs. Birling.
“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty – and I threatened to make a row.”
This quote shows Eric’s aggressive and selfish attitude towards women. When he says he was in a “state” where he “easily turns nasty,” it suggests he knows he was being violent but almost excuses his behaviour, as if it’s normal for men to act like this. The adjective “nasty” highlights how men like Eric could intimidate women to get what they wanted, reflecting the unequal power dynamic between men and women in 1912. The phrase “threatened to make a row” is also significant because it shows Eric used fear to control Eva, instead of treating her with respect. Priestley uses this to criticise how society allowed men to behave badly without consequences, while women like Eva were often powerless. It also links to the theme of responsibility, as Eric tries to downplay his actions, but the Inspector makes it clear that everyone has a duty to treat others fairly, especially vulnerable women
“He’d insisted on giving her money she didn’t want to take.”
This shows Eric didn’t respect Eva’s choices. By insisting, he tried to control her, which reflects the patriarchal society of 1912, where men used money and power to dominate women. The verb “insisted” is key because it shows Eric’s sense of entitlement, as if he thought he knew what was best for her, even when she clearly didn’t want the money. This highlights how women like Eva had little power to say no to men, even when they tried to stand up for themselves. Eva’s refusal to take the money shows she had some pride and independence, but Eric’s persistence shows how men like him ignored women’s feelings and decisions. Priestley uses this to criticise the unfair treatment of women and to show how society needed to change to give women more respect and equality.
conclusion
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley presents attitudes towards women as unfair and oppressive. Men like Gerald and Eric see women as objects to control, using money, power, and even threats to dominate them. At the same time, women like Mrs Birling judge other women harshly, showing how society’s sexist expectations were upheld by everyone, not just men. Through Eva Smith’s suffering, Priestley criticises these attitudes and highlights the need for equality and respect. The play shows how women were often powerless in 1912, and Priestley uses this to argue for a fairer, more equal society.
