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
