Play Of Contrast Flashcards
Ts1: Priestley creates a direct contrast between Mr Birling and Eric reflecting political tensions at the time
‘Like bees in a hive’
‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices’
‘A man has to look after himself’
Ts2: Sheila is constructed by Priestley to contrast her parents view on social or moral responsibility.
‘You mustn’t build up a kind of wall between us and the girl’
‘I know I’m to blame’
‘A hoax… the whole thing’s different now’
Ts3: Eva is used by Priestley to show how the WC are less privileged and have to grow up faster, in contrast to Sheila and Eric who have had a privileged upbringing.
‘She treated me- as if I were a kid’
‘She looked as if she could take care of herself. I couldn’t be sorry for her’
Topic sentences:
Ts1: direct contrast between Eric and Mr Birling reflecting political tensions at the time.
Ts2- direct contrast between Sheila and her parents on their view on social and moral responsibility.
Ts3- Eva used by Priestley to show how WC have to grow up fast in contrast to S+E who have had a privileged upbringing.
‘Like bees in a hive’
L= simile D= suggests Mr B feels socialism strips people of their individuality and makes them drones of the state working together for the common good of society (represented by hive)
R= performed first in Russia 1945. Priestley= socialist. Audience lack of sympathy for Mr B increases sympathy for P’s socialist argument.
Contrasts with Eric’s socialist views.
‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices.’
L= question D= later I, makes him question his fathers economic and political ideology. Contrast= comparative and superlative adj. Makes workers requests seem reasonable and capitalist businesses (like Mr B’s) seem exploitative of workers
‘A man has to look after himself’
C= allows Priestley to present his political debate by contrasting Mr Birlings capitalist individualism to Eric’s socialist views.
‘You mustn’t build up a kind of wall between us and the girl’
L= metaphor. I= could represent the class divide that Mrs B tries to assert; could also represent Mrs B’s denial to accept social responsibility.
‘I know I’m to blame’
Unlike Mr/Mrs Birling Sheila as more mature. She accepts that she takes a part in Eva’s death.
C= reflects Priestley’s view that hope for social change lies with the younger generation.
R= many of the younger generation watching post WW2 and want to change society- e.g. NHS 1948.
‘A hoax… the whole thing’s different now’
L= noun “hoax”- Mr B thinks he is off the hook if it is not real. Irony = nothing is different including Mr B, he does not change his behaviour and attitudes or learn responsibility for his actions.
‘She treated me- as if I were a kid’
L= noun ‘kid’. Eric is less mature than Daisy. C= Daisy had to grow up faster- less privileged WC life and no parents; had to fend for herself.
‘She looked as if she could take care of herself. I couldn’t be sorry for her’
C= reflects class prejudice. Eva does not appear to be vulnerable or needy therefore Sheila does not regret her actions. R= Audience perceives Sheila as spoilt and unsympathetic in abusing her power to get Sheila sacked.
Ts4: mrs b + S on expectations of women reflecting suffragette movement
.
Ts5: views of workers contrast
.
