Family Life Flashcards
Context and Themes
Describe the role of men in middle-class families in 1912.
Men in middle class families in 1912 were expected to support their families financially and protect their wives and daughters.
In 1912, how was a woman’s role in the family different for working and middle-class women?
A middle class woman wasn’t work or do household chores. Instead they would plan parties, visit friends and have children. A working class woman would usually have a job and do her own household chores.
Give an example of the way Priestley shows the tension in the Birling family even before the Inspector arrives.
Eric gets drunk and behaves oddly, such as when he “suddenly guffaws”. This hints at his alcohol problem and causes tension — his parents “look at him” in surprise, and Sheila speaks to him “severely”.
How are traditional gender roles shown in the Birling family at the start of the play?
At the start of the play, Arthur has the most authority, as was expected of men in 1912 — e.g. he makes a speech he expects the family to listen to. Afterwards, the women leave to let the men talk, which would have been normal in 1912. Sheila and Eric are also told what to do by their parents, e.g. Sybil says “Now stop it, you two.”
Explain how the Inspector’s visit changes the Birling family dynamics. Mention Sheila and Eric in your answer.
The Inspector’s visit reduces Arthur’s authority within the family and increases Sheila and Eric’s. Sheila and Eric become more assertive as the play progresses, and by the end they openly challenge their parents. For example, Sheila tells her father that the way he talks “frightens” her, and Eric supports her by telling his parents he agrees with her.
