Context Flashcards
IC
Celebrated for Priestly critic of capitalism and mc hypocrisy . Critics view is an an accurate reproduction of pre ww1 society as it fell apart.
J.B Priestly
Born in Bradford Yorkshire, which the cultures influenced a lot of his work. He was exposed to poverty amongst the lc and the city was industrial while the economy was reliant on wool and dyeing industries. Priestly took notes of how the city’s respectable folks behaved: he took them to be smug and hypocritical. His father and his friends were socialist which led to socialism being cemented to Priestly from a relatively young age. War broke out when he was 19, he volunteered in the army , victim of gas attack and witnessed friends dying. When WW2 broke out, Priestly become a radio broadcaster for the BBC.
Victorian influence
play set in 1912, written in 1945 during Edwardian period. However we can see Victorian influence, many believe play demonstrated destructive impact of Victorian values.
- (un) deserving poor
- fallen women - prostitutes, mistresses - fallen from the grace of God
Capitalism VS socialism
capitalism - take risk, invest, make profit
Competitiveness of capitalism encouraged inequality, oppression
Socialism - intellectual theory created by Marx
- encouraged cooperation and empowerment of worker and protect collective interest
