Character Flashcards
How is Mr Birling’s accent described in the stage directions of act 1?
Provincial
What social class does Mrs Birling belong to?
Upperclass
Mrs Birling is a ‘rather … woman’
Cold
How old is Mrs Birling
Fifties
Mr Birling says that ‘no one wants …’ in act 1
War
Mr Birling: Some say war is …….- and to that I say …..
‘Some say war is inevitable- and to that I say fiddlesticks!’
How old is Gerald and what social class is he from?
Thirties, Upperclass
Sheila: (……..) So I’m really ……?
(Miserably) So I’m really responsible?
Inspector: He will be ………. and ……. and ………
He will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish
Mr Birling(After learning of Eva’s suicide): Yes, yes …………
Horrid business
Sheila: But these girls aren’t ……….. they’re ……
But these girls aren’t cheap labour they’re people
Sheila: She looked like she could look ……..
She looked like she could look after herself
Birling tells Gerald: You’re just ____
type of son in law I always wanted
Sheila says to Gerald: Well, we didn’t think you meant Buckingham Palace
How is this relevant to context?
Sheila is being sarcastic towards Gerald, which would be out of the norm for a woman and a young person towards a man, especially her future husband. There was a hierarchy in 1912 meaning that women had to obey their husbands and were controlled by them
Why is it significant that Sheila challenges her parents Capitalist views?
It shows she believes in socialism, but also as in 1912 young people were expected to obey their parents and be obedient, however Sheila argues with her father and makes her point clear eg “But these girls aren’t cheap labour they’re people”
Why is Sheila giving Gerald the ring back significant?
It symbolises the change in generations, the younger generation, Sheila and Eric, have the power to change society as they grow, which is what Priestley wanted to convey
How do we know that Sheila and Eric’s generation failed to change society?
The Inspector says that “They will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” The Second World War happened in 1939, proving that the younger generation failed as by that time Sheila and Eric would be around 50
What made the social system and the way people were viewed change?
Evacuation in 1939- Children from all classes were mixed for the first time
WW2- In the armed forces men wore the same uniform, everyone worse similar clothes and ate similar foods due to rationing
