Class Flashcards
Class quote 1
“we’re respectable citizens and not criminals”
“respectable citizens” has connotations of higher class citizens demonstrating Gerald’s belief that because him and the Birlings have wealth and power in society they cannot be associated with any crimes, immoral acts. However, the alliteration of ‘citizens’ and ‘criminals’ create a sense of familiarly reflecting Priestley suggestion that there is blurred line between morality and criminality as one ascends the social hierarchy
Class Quote 2
“why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices”
Eric is questioning the ethics behind his avarice father’s exploitative attitude towards business and relationship with the lower class which marks the emergence of socialist ideals within Eric conscious dismantling his prior obliviousness to the suffering inflicted upon others.
Class quote 3
“Girls of that class—,”
reveals her deep-rooted class prejudice and snobbery. Zooming into the word “that”, we see how she dehumanises f the working class, implying they are inferior and unworthy of respect. The dash suggests she cuts herself off, as if even speaking about the working class is beneath her, reinforcing her disgust and disdain.
Class quote 4
‘[slowly, carefully now] you mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl, If you do, then the Inspector will just break it down’
the use of the metaphor of the wall become a symbolic barrier between the working class like Eva and the middle upper class like the Birlings, Sheila recognises the inspectors role in bringing about social change and breaking barrier down.
Class quote 5
“we are member of one body” act 3 inspector
Biblical teaching used in baptism that we are “members of his body” in Christ demonstrating how the Inspector, alike to Jesus promotes union in society and togetherness demonstrating the need for the abolition of segregating between the social classes and how we are responsible for one another
