Character Analysis: Edna Flashcards
What is Edna an allegory for ?
The mistreatment of the working class
What does Edna do in Act 1 ?
She shows the inspector in to the dining room whilst announcing ‘an inspectors called’
By using giving Edna the line of dialogue that most closely matches the title of the play Preistly is giving voice to the working class
As it’s Edna who will usher in change in both values and beliefs held by the Birlings
What is the qoute that shows Edna changing the lighting ? Analyze this, three points
She is commanded by Mr Birling to ‘show him in here, give us some more light’
1. The light changes from ‘pink and intimate’ to ‘brighter and harder’
Pink and intimate is indicate of the overall optimistic viewpoint held by the Birlings in their position of upper class privilege
- The brighter and harder light is representative of the inspectors interrogation of them
- However it is Edna that changes the light. Here, Priestly suggests that the working class will be the ones who bring both truth and reality to the upper classes of 1900’s England due to the lights symbolic representation of change
How can we analyze Mr Birlings treatment of Edna ?
He orders her to ‘show him here, give us some light’
Bluntly short and monosyllabic which shows no attempt and politeness
Further more the repetition of imperatives highlights how Mr Birling tries to dominate those around him and by extension the working class
It subtly adds to the dramatic force of Eva’s narrative and highlights the pressure on the working class to be subservient to the upper classes
How would an audience feel about Edna’s present on stage ?
In 1912 when the play is set maids and servants where common in upper class household, however this saw a decline. By 1946 when the play is performed audience members would see Edna’s presence on stage as old fashioned and out dated.
How would the treatment of Edna be viewed by audiences ?
The Birlings success are never shared with Edna
Priestly seems to condemn the mistreatment of the working class. With the play being first performs in Moscow 1945 this would of come fired communist beliefs about the lazy elite living a life of privilege
How could Edna and Eva smiths silence be symbolic of ?
The lack of agency of the working class in early 1900 England
As women were not given the vote until 1918
It’s symbolic as Edna has no voice and therefore symbolizes the lack of voice the working class women had in society as they couldn’t vote and so had no political influence in society
How many lines of dialogue does Edna have ?
Fewer than 30
