Inspector Calls Context Flashcards
What are the different idealogies (when did one start to challenge the other)
What influenced Priestley to give Sheila a non-patriarchal role
The suffragette movement- Sheila was first seen as a character who upheld patriarchy however later on she is shown to go against this societal belief (by he charcter development)
What influenced Priestley to create Eva Smith
General strike 1926- working class forced less pay and more hours. Trade Disputes and Trade union act passed which made ‘sympathetic strikes’ illegal (conservative attack on trade unionism) - similar to Eva and how she was fired
Time line of events of Eva Smith
Sep 1910- Eva sacked by MrB
Dec 1910-Eva employed by Milwards
Jan 1911- Eva sacked by Miwarss
March 1911- Eva Gerald’s mistress
Eva leaves Brumely for 2 months
Nov 1911- Eva meets Eric
Jan 1912-Eva pregnant
March 1912- Mrs B refuses aid
April 1912- Eva’ suicide
Act one summary
1912- B family celebrating engagement of Sheila. Sheila pleased by ring and Mr B pleased with working alongside Croft Ltd. Mr B lectures Eric and Gerald on the importance of looking out for your buisness, yourself then family
Inspector arrives and tells family of Eva’s suicide. Mr B denies knowing Eva however told him he fired her as she was the ringleader of strikes for a pay rise.
Sheila recognises Eva as she get he fired due to her jealousy. She instantly feels remorse. Inspector tells family Eva changed her name to Daisy Renton ; Gerald feels distressed
Act two summary
Sheila questions Gerald of his whereabouts last Summer and he admits keeping Eva as a mistress after he rescued her from Alderman Meggarty.
Mrs B admits knowing Eva after her refusal for aid to Eva in her charity after claiming her surname. Mrs B immediately felt prejudice and demanded her to find the father to take responsibility
Mrs B continues to reprimand the child’s father and be condemned publicly. Sheila pleads her to stop; Eric enters
Act three summary
Eric admits he is the father and berateshis mother for refusing aid. Eric he met her at palace bar and went into her lodgings; 2 weeks later he realised she was pregnant. Eric stole money to support her but refused it after realising it was stolen
Inspector claims their responsibility for Eva’s death and warns consequences of not taking responsibility. Bith young and old gen react differently.
Mr b calls hospital for any suicides and they reply with none. The old gen family begin to believe they have been conned and begin to joke. Both Sheila and Eric are worried and still feel guilty. The phone rings again and the police tells Mr B of a suicde and an expedtee visit from an inspector.
Historical context
Sinking of Titanic 1912- symbolises hubris of capitalism and their priority over engineering then welfare
Russian revolution (1905-17) -established communism. Brit gov became even more hostile to socialism
Ww1 (imperialist wars)- relied on sacrifices of working class whilst bourgeoises and aristocracy remained safe (Prisetly accused them of the slaughter)
ww2- opportunity to break down class systems. Priestkey used his radio programme (the proscripts) and Inspector calls to demonstrate his socialist vision
Industrial revolution forced new proletariat (working class) . Priestley demonstrates the destructive ** individualism and social inequality that capitalism **fostered.
An important facet of socialism was ** Chartism ** - the campaign for universal male suffrage to support female suffragists/suffragettes to fight agaibst traditional gender roles
**General strike 1926 and Jarrow March 1936 ** serves ro highlight the ongoing plight of working class
Literary tradition
Inspector as a **‘Vice’ **character -borrowed from medieval morality plays that aimed to instruct their audience about the nature of good and evil using a key character that personified a particular virtue or vice.
Aristotles ‘three unities’: time (the events all in one evening)- heightens intensity of the B family
place (the action takes place entirely in the dining room)-change of a fun celebratory dinner to an interrogation cells- represents how the B family can’t escape from their consequences
action (the focus remains on one story)- both the Birlings and the audience no escape from the consequences
Priestley’s play is modelled on a ** drawing room play** : **typically a ‘comedy of manners’ **that takes place within the home of the characters and mocks social issues . Familiar form for contempoary audience during Edwardian society twists light-heart satire to scathing critique
Key vocab
polemic:writing which expresses an argument about society
portentous:self-important and pompous
prejudice :a preconceived opinion not based on reason
proletariat :working-class people regarded collectively
rhetoric :the art of effective persuasive speaking or writing
sarcasm :the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
scaremonger :a person who spreads frightening rumours
socialist :a person who believes in fair distribution to all
suburban :outlying area of a city, especially a residential one
suffrage :the right to vote in political elections
voice :a particular opinion or attitude expressed:
aristocracy the highest class in certain societies
bourgeoisie :the social order dominated by the
middle class
capitalist :person who uses their wealth to invest in industry
communism :all property is owned by the community
coup de theatre :dramatically sudden action or turn of events
denouement :final stages where strands are drawn together
dramatic irony :when audiences know more than the characters
euphemism :word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word
hubris :excessive pride or self-confidence
hypocrite :a person who pretends to have virtues and beliefs
irony :language which usually signifies the opposite
