Context Flashcards
How was Priestley viewed?
As a radical, experimental, genial, extraordinary
How had Priestley become well known during the Second World War?
Through his ‘morale-boosting’ radio broadcast with the BBC
What, according to his son, did Priestley want for the people after WWII?
A better life than before the war, need for change
Reasons that the social face of Britain altered during WWII
• Classes were mixed together
• Given a vision of how socialist we could be
• Evacuation of children
• Need for alms
• Full employment
What did people want after the war?
• Change - to become communal
• a new Britain
• General election (Labour got in)
Why did Priestley set his play in 1912?
• That era represented the opposite of what people wanted in 1945
What was about to collapse?
Dream represented by Titanic
How many people were paid less than 25 shillings a week?
8 million people
Who were at the bottom of the pile?
Working women
Why were the British manufacturers so successful?
• Kept prices high and wages low
What happened in March 1st 1912?
A million miners went on strike
How was Britain divided?
Ruled by class - upper and working
What does Edna represent?
The underdog - had to obey Birlings because they were her bread and butter
Who were concerned about the way people were living ?
Some writers - little education, heists care service for the poor
E.g. Bernard Shaw and HG Wells
What rarely meet in the world of Edwardian Britain?
Rich and the poor
What were unmarried mothers driven into?
Prostitution
What does Eric know is coming?
Judgement day
How does Tom Priestley describe his father?
Conscience of the nation
What happened to Edwardian Britain in 1914?
Shattered forever by WWI
What would Gerald betray if he changed?
His whole class
How does the play finish (tone)?
Optimistic - people can take responsibility
We had a glimpse of… (during the war?)
What life might be if men and women freely dedicated themselves to some great communal task
