Opening+ Links To Rest Of Play Flashcards
Umbrella
Priestley creates a solid structure ok key themes to later contrast the Inspector’s socialist view
Ts1: at the beginning of the play, Mr Birlings capitalist views are demonstrated.
‘Like bees in a hive’
In contrast to I’s view of ‘chain of events’
‘Titanic- unsinkable’
Ts2: the opening establishes strained relationships between characters, highlighting their differences.
‘That’s what you say’(S)
‘Not cosy and homelike’(stage direction)
‘Men… spend nearly all their time and energy on their business’ (Mrs B)
Ts3: At the beginning of the play, the Birling’s social status is established as upper-middle class, which contrasts Eva’s later in the play.
‘Solid…comfortable’(stage direction)
‘Large suburban house’
‘You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and the girl’
‘Like bees in a hive’
L= simile
What Mr B thinks socialism represents
Critical- bees work together as a team, not for individual outcomes.
D= disapproving of socialism as he believes it reduces individuals to drones of the state.
‘Chain of events’ links to like bees in a hive
Links to like bees in a hive as I and B’s view contrasts.
Antithetical view to B
A person’s actions have an effect on others in society- represents socialism in which members of society work together and are interconnected.
I= I believes we have responsibilities for others and not just ourselves. We don’t live in isolation.
Writers intentions- present debate between socialism and capitalism.
The Inspector is a mouthpiece for Priestley’s socialist views.
‘That’s what you say’
L= Italics emphasises the pronoun ‘you’
Strained relationship due to the lack of trust between them.
Hints at G’s affair
I= don’t really care about each other
Only married for status, not love- not emotionally close.
R= audience distrust G and begin to wonder what he’s been up to- foreshadows events later in the play.
‘Not cosy and homelike’(SD)
Implies family are not emotionally close.
Setting and stage directions connote their strained relationship to audience and establish tensions within the family for later in play.
‘Men… spend nearly all their time and money on their business’
Aren’t emotionally close.
Men prioritise work over family.
D= Mrs B occupies inferior role in relationship despite being of superior social class- married for convenience and money.
C= reflects suffragettes campaigning for gender equality.
‘Solid…comfortable’(SD)
L= adjectives
Financially comfortable, well off
I= complacent and confident about their secure position and status in society- strong members in community.
‘Large suburban house’
Large= wealthy
C=Suburban connotes class- do not have to live in industrial centre W the WC
‘You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and the girl’
L= metaphor D= wall represents Birlings refusal to accept social responsibility. Tries to maintain emotional distance. I= represents class divide between her and them.
Ts4: I establishes as foil to B family
‘It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it’
‘Lonely, half starved, desperate’
‘We’ll have to share our guilt’
‘A chain of events’
