gender Flashcards
1 “Look- Mummy- isn’t it a beauty?”
-abundance of hyphens make her speech fragmented - emulates her lack of voice + assertiveness in speech
-question mark - seeking validation + reassurance on the work of something based on its exterior
-infantile language - “Mummy”
1 “not only something to make ‘em look prettier – but – well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect”
-MB is mouthpiece for a stereotypical view of women - explains to G that clothes have a deeper meaning for girls
-collectivises women suggesting he doesn’t see them individually
-epitomises male gaze suggesting women’s sole purpose is be “prettier”
-colloquial abbreviation “em” + “sort of” could depict how he didn’t take women seriously as he speaks about them in an offhand manner
-ironic: S’s confrontation was centred around clothes - makes audience questions if MB has projected his patriarchal + misogynistic views onto S
2 “he means I’m getting hysterical now”
-hysteria was a diagnosis used to marginalise women
-G colloquially uses this to exercise his power + establish a higher status
-G also wishes to silence S so he can manipulate the situation to make himself seem less responsible
2 “you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things” (said by I)
-ironic as E was exposed to an onslaught of “unpleasant and disturbing things” - G played a role in this
-his ‘protection’ of women is an example of sophistry as he’s hurting them
-direct address of pronoun “you” is accusatory
-reminder from priestley that the play is also questioning views of audience
3 “She wasn’t the usual sort” “I hate these fat old tarts”
-usage of “usual” implies visiting prostitutes was the norm
-hypocrisy as E frequently visited palace bar
-derogatory language defines women by physical features
-prostitution symbolic of exploitation of women by upper-class men
3 “as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person”
degrading triple simile is used by priestley as the inspector is his dramatic vehicle + mouthpiece - uttering views of priestley himself about distributing responsibility
-“animal” highlights their blatant disregard of her humanity through their dehumanising + exploitative treatment
-could be allusion to how inspector is critiquing disregard of women - condemns E + G for identifying her as an object of lust
-neglectful noun “thing” intensifies she was regarded with any form of compassion due to her social class
