Gender roles (AIC) Flashcards
Give analysis for the quote
‘Is it the one you wanted me to have?’
As pleased as Sheila is by the engagement ring, the passive phrasing reveals Gerald to be the decision-maker and her assuming the pre-ordained role of submissive wife. This makes her almost as much of an ornament as the ring
What does Birling say women like?
give a quote
“Clothes mean something quite different
to a woman”
Birling act 1
Explain the structure in the quote
’em look prettier – but – well, a sort of
stuttering – represented by the dash and filler words ‘well’ and ‘sort of’ – suggest he doesn’t really know what he’s talking about
Give analysis for this quote
“Clothes mean something quite different
to a woman”
This superficial and patronising view of women shows that Birling has scant understanding of the opposite sex, even though he is in the process of lecturing Eric about them. The implication is that men have higher concerns, whereas women are objectified and only care about appearances
Give a quote that shows Gerald only cared about looks
‘I suppose it was inevitable. She was
young and pretty and warm-hearted –
and intensely grateful.”
Why did Gerald go for Daisy?
He’s a man of high standing, she ticks the right boxes, so it’s ‘inevitable’ that Gerald makes Daisy his mistress. And she, of course, is ‘grateful’ for such attention!
Who says this quote “‘You’re forgetting I’m supposed to be engaged to the hero of it.’
sheila act 2
Give analysis for the quote
‘You’re forgetting I’m supposed to be engaged to the hero of it.’
Her sarcastic casting of Gerald as ‘hero’ lampoons male supremacy and ‘supposed’ has the subtle effect of her making the choice to annul their engagement. This is significant in an age when women couldn’t divorce men, even on the grounds of adultery.
How does Sheila change at the end of the play?
sheila states her own opinion not to those she supposed to have
“that’s whats important-not whether a man is a police inspector or not” learns to think for herself
How do the men in the play change in the end?
gerald is rejected by sheila
eric is exposed as lazy and nervous with a drinking problem
birling suffers the whole night which undermines his authority “ panic stricken”
What are women supposed to be like?
protected against “unpleasant and disturbing things”
sheila gets eva sacked for jealousy and vanity-stereotypical female traits
sheila is accused of being hysterical
What are men supposed to be like?
preoccupied with work and public fairs
gerald feels its his duty to save eva from the womanising Meggarty
Gerald can sleep around before marriage
