Charachterisation

Question 1

Gerald Croft- Initially…

Answer 1

Initially, Gerald Croft represents an entitled upper class gentlemen the charming ‘handsome’ facade of currupt or capitalism.

Question 2

Gerald Croft- later…

Answer 2

Later, he reveals his abuse of his status and elevated social position through his betrayal of Sheila and ‘using’ of Eva Smith-exposing his representation as a selfish patriarch.

Question 3

Gerald Croft- Interestingly…

Answer 3

Interestingly, Gerald is one of the most ambiguous characters due to his apparently continuously manipulative behaviour. He is absent at like climatic final speech from the inspector-and it is never clear whether his ‘emotion’ displayed during his interrogation is genuine.

Question 4

What is priestly trying to express through Gerald ?

Answer 4

Priestley uses Geralds flawed character in order to critically mirror traditional patriarchal feelings of ownership and power which is often led to the abuse and manipulation of women /working-class. Through Geralds individualistic behaviour, Priestley spotlights the hypocrisy and corruption within the upper class.

Question 5

Contextually speaking how does Priestly use Gerald’s character?

Answer 5

Contextually speaking, Priestley uses Gerald’s character to question and critique the continuing immorality of the class system – as it permeates across generations, breeding continued irresponsible behaviour.

Question 6

Sheila Birling- initially…

Answer 6

Initially presented as privileged, petulant,naive,superficial middle-class women.

Question 7

Sheila Birling- Later…

Answer 7

Later, one of the most changed and morally improved characters showing her compassionate and penitent response to her interrogation.

Question 8

Sheila Birling- Interestingly…

Answer 8

Interestingly, audiences feel critical towards Sheila, but sympathetic as she is a product of her Society. It was suggested that up until the entrance of the inspector, Sheila has been consistently protected from the truth/reality of society.

Question 9

How does Priestly use Sheila?

Answer 9

Priestley uses Sheilas character to critique the callous, self-serving nature of capitalism and mock the shallow and ignorant behaviour of the younger Upper class: particularly the weakness of the female position.

Question 10

What does Sheila represent?

Answer 10

However Sheila also represents a hope for the future: the more ‘impressionable’ youth,who could bring about greater moral improvements for society.

Question 11

Contextually speaking what does sheila represent?

Answer 11

Contextually speaking, Sheila represents A critique of typical, restrictive and marginalising gender roles and class expectations.

Question 12

What does sheilas ability to change mirror?

Answer 12

Yet, her ability to change Mirrors the steadily increasing social morality at the time – and the developing opportunities for women to positively contribute to society and raise their voices.

Question 13

Mr Birling-Initially…

Answer 13

Initially, Mr Birling represents an caricature of the corruption capitalist Business owner. His arrogance, stubbornness and arrogance are all emphasised at the start of the text.

Question 14

Mr Birling- Later…

Answer 14

Mr Birling Retains his static characterisation across the text. His obstinate behaviour towards the inspector and his own family-continues throughout and he retains his selfish individualism throughout.

Question 15

Mr Birling-Interestingly…

Answer 15

Interestingly, even during Mr Birling’s brief moments of regret he speaks using references to money and wealth - for example offering the inspector ‘thousand’ to rid himself of the guilt of Eva-as if Birling is only capable of thinking and expressing himself in materialistic ways.

Question 16

What does Priestly use Mr Birling to symbolise ?

Answer 16

Priestly uses Mr Birling to symbolise the worst and most stubborn reflection of capitalist greed.

Question 17

Why is Mr Birlings Business important?

Answer 17

Birlings corrupt running of his business – with a clear priorities of profit over people and using his own daughters engagement as a business contract exposes the worst flaws of individualism, traditionalism and capitalism to the audience.

Question 18

What does this provoke from the audience?

Answer 18

This provokes judgement, disdain from the audience as a result of his static selfishness/arrogance.

Question 19

Eric-Initially…

Answer 19

Initially, Eric has a weak, dishonest and troubled character – a symbol for the detrimental consequences of a toxic individualistic and capitalist upbringing .

Question 20

Eric-Later…

Answer 20

Later,Eric transforms during the play, excepting guilt and responsibility and uniting with his sister.This shows the hope for the future as a young man who has learned a valuable lesson about responsibility.

Question 21

Eric-interestingly…

Answer 21

Interestingly, Eric’s character could challenge audiences as he is a complex character who both provokes sympathy and due to his intense and awkward isolation within his family ; and horror at the revelation of his assault of Eva.

Question 22

What does priestly use Eric’s character to demonstrate ?

Answer 22

Priestley uses Erics overly flawed Character to critique the social injustice that exists in the capitalist class hierarchy. Through his individualistic, Priestley spotlights the hypocrisy and corruption within the classes.

Question 23

Contextually speaking how is Eric journey representing?

Answer 23

Contextually speaking, Eric’s journey through the text mirrors the contemporary social, political awakening that occurs during the 1940s when Priestley wrote the text.

Question 24

Mrs Birlings- intially…

Answer 24

Initially, Mrs Birling represents a traditional, privileged female figure with stubborn and archaic views on how the world should be and how people should behave.

Question 25

Mrs Birling-later…

Answer 25

later, Mrs Birling is conceited, cruel behaviour continues. Like her husband she is a static character who shows no moral development.

Question 26

How is mrs Birling exposed ?

Answer 26

Later, mrs Birlings hypocrisy is revealed as she admits that she refused to help Eva even in her role as the head of a woman’s charity. Her Prejudice (which she acknowledged proudly)holds her back from character growth .

Question 27

Mrs Birling-Interestingly …

Answer 27

Interestingly, Mrs Birling is bewildered and confused by her children’s impressionable response to the inspector – questioning their rejection of the traditional status quo and suggesting that she is ‘ashamed’ of them – just as they identified her own ‘shameful’ behaviour.

Question 28

Contextually speaking what does Mrs Birling represent?

Answer 28

Contextually speaking, mrs Birling represents order traditionalists Who refuse to consider how society could be improved and pass judgement on others who expose issues.

Question 29

What does priestly invite the audience to think of Mrs Birling?

Answer 29

Through her insensitive and patronising behaviour previously invites audience to question traditional ideas about the gender and class.

Question 30

What does Eva smith represent ?

Answer 30

Eva Smith represents the hard-working deserving working-class who like a ‘voice’ in society.Both an angelic figure – a wholesome, vulnerable victim to be sympathised with – as well as a strong, dynamic individual who is ‘trouble– making’ qualities imply that she was fighting for her rights.

Question 31

What does Eva Smith continue to show through out the play?

Answer 31

Throughout the play, Eva Smith continues to show resilience-however still becomes the victim of the text: spotlighting the extreme influence class can have on quality of life.

Question 32

How does Priestly manipulate Eva Smiths presentation?

What does this inspire…

Answer 32

Preistly manipulates Eva’s presentation to create intense Sense of pathos towards her character as he galvanises them to critique a social system where people like ‘Eva’ are punished.

The injustice towards Eva inspires a protest against a class-based hierarchy.

Question 33

How is Evas Characterisation contextually?

Answer 33

Contextually speaking, Eva Smith’s Characterisation is of the Everywoman: a typical working-class suffering individual – she represents the wider consequence of capitalism and acts as a martyr for Priestley’s socialist message.

Question 34

The inspector-initially…

Answer 34

Initially, the inspector represents a destabilising force disturbing the ‘easy’, capitalist microcosm of the birling family.

Question 35

The inspector-Later …

Answer 35

Later, his position as Priestley’s mouthpiece becomes clear as he literally echoes Priestley’s own political ideas(are literally quoting Priestley’s post-scripts) and powerfully exposing and criticising the flaws of a traditional and individualistic society.

Question 36

The inspector-Intrestingly…

Answer 36

Interestingly, the inspector remains fairly ambiguous throughout the play, and an omniscient character who both audiences and characters question. It appears that his own background is unimportant: he represents virtues of justice, morality and truth and is the moral compass of the play.

Question 37

How is the inspector and Mr Birling different?

Answer 37

The inspectors character deliberately juxtaposes Mr Birling‘s character. When Mr Birling is arrogant and ignorant, the inspector appears humble and intelligent.

Question 38

Mr Birling – contextually…

Answer 38

Contextually speaking, the inspector advocates socially progressive attitude that priestly invites his audience to reflect on and mirror.