Conxext Flashcards
who wrote an inspector calls, when did he write it and when was it set
J.B. Priestley, wrote in 1945 and set it in 1912
what was happening in 1945
end of ww2, lots of societal changes for the better
why did priestley choose these dates
very different society with inequality between social classes and men and women, to show the important changes since then
what was the class system in the time of the play like
working class (80% of population), middle class, upper class in edwardian britain with king edward VII
describe the working class
worked in physical jobs, no money or property, not educated, no way to improve their life
describe the middle class
earned their own money, bought property, educated, wanted to gain power and influence
describe the upper class
old, well known families, inherited family money, owned land, used titles like ‘lord’ ‘lady’ and ‘sir’
when was the titanic built
1912, largest ship ever built at the time
how did the titanic link to the classes
three decks, top (first-class passengers) had their own outside deck, middle (second-class passengers) had access to restaurants and smoking rooms, bottom (third-class passengers) were lower in the boat
when it sank, people thought it should represent the abolishment of the classes
what was the titanic called at the time, and why was this ironic
unsinkable, sank on first voyage southampton to new york and 1500 died
what were women’s voting rights in the time of the play
women were not allowed to vote but emmeline pankhurst and the suffragettes achieved the right for some in 1918, only for women over 30 who were married or owned property
how did women support themselves
no benefits system, so some turned to prostitution
what were women expected to do
expected to marry in all classes, owned by fathers then husbands and had to obey them, few opportunities to work (patriarchal)
how did womens’ reputation improve and why
world wars gave women access to jobs, proved they were as capable as men, they got health insurance
how did the war help the classes merge
people from different classes worked together, helped them see people are all the same and they had a lot in common, helped each other
people wanted these changes to continue
