Quotes and Characters -AIC Flashcards
“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty” (wide analysis)
Gender, class, responsibility
-Excuses his actions despite knowing they’re inexcusable
-He can’t forgive himself but his language still tries to do that because society does that & allows -encourages- these men to exploit Eva
-Casual speaking, blames it on alcohol
-She couldn’t stand up against him because of his class; abuses his power
-Powerless; her vulnerability
“I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty” -close analysis
-‘state’: blames it on alcohol; no responsibility
-doesn’t even name the rape -> can’t bring himself to admit what he’s done -> perhaps alcoholism is caused by guilt + trying to drink away the memory & avoid responsibility
-‘chap’: brushes it off, boys will be boys, friendliness and informality as though all ‘chaps’ are like this -> suggests all men in Edwardian era could abuse power
-Eva has no option but to put up with sexual violence; her lack of wealth contrasts with his
-third person ‘chap’ distances himself from actions
“half shy, half assertive”
age, gender, class
Adjective ‘shy’ connotes nervousness and lack of confidence
Contrasts with ‘assertive’ which implies confidence and dominance
Contrasting adjectives creates sense of confusion, implying he is secretive
There is hope: ‘half’ is repeated to emphasise Eric’s character is not yet fully formed, indicating he could change.
“chap” that informal, casual language, brushing it off, boys will be boys
How does Eric change?
Throughout the play, Priestley has presented Eric as an immature young man with a drinking problem, an exploiter of Eva, and a thief. As Eric matures and accepts responsibility for his actions, he becomes receptive to the Inspector’s message that “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
What is the seed of doubt that Eric hasn’t learnt his lesson?
Right at the start, Eric is “squiffy”, this euphemism for alcoholic, and the seed of doubt is planted. It seems like he’s learnt the Inspector’s lesson now, but he’s learnt it whilst drunk. Would he even remember what happened the next morning?
-also about WW2 and how he likely would’ve signed up and died, so even if he did learn, the lesson would have died
Priestley has constructed characters to what?
Reveal his main ideas
What idea does Priestley use Eric to represent?
Capitalism personified as theft, and the hedonism and lack of responsibility of the upper class
Edna
-Only working-class character that actually appears on stage
-Demonstrates the mistreatment of the working class through her
-A minor character; representative of her minor, overlooked, disregarded role in society
“the Titanic…unsinkable”
Class
-Hyperbole illustrates out of touch with society and no clue about the injustice, inequality and unhappiness
-He is myopic (lacking foresight)
-Irony so audience know he’s untrustworthy and foolish
-Titanic is classic symbol of upperclass luxury, and of short-sighted foolishness and ignorance (like Mr Birling)
-also symbolic of tragedy, already foreshadowing the tragedy to come, not just in the play but in real life, if things do not change
“these girls aren’t cheap labour; they’re people”
responsibility, class
-stands up to her father
-quite humane, albeit a bit selfish and airheaded
-even sympathises at the start, unlike her mother, as she’s a girl herself
Sheila’s jealousy and exploitation of Eva as a result of patriarchal society
-Exploits her as she’s more attractive; only way to advance in society is to marry well and you need family income, name, and looks
-Patriarchal society pits women against each other for men’s validation and attention
-Her jealousy isn’t just created by her personality but by the rules of patriarchal society that don’t allow her to develop in any other way
“No, not yet. It’s too soon. I must think” -patriarchal society analysis and whether she has accepted social responsibility
-pivotal moment where she must either accept or reject Gerald and the capitalist individualism he stands for
-use of imperative “must” is direct message from Priestley to the audience to think for themselves
-calls into question if she’s learnt her lesson: she doesn’t say no.
-society has not changed, despite Inspector’s words. At least he’s been honest and didn’t rape her like Eric, and he’s the richest bachelor in town
-Really strong social and patriarchal drive for her to marry Gerald
-Not much hope for younger gen. -power stays with patriarchal society and upperclass will never change
“No, not yet. It’s too soon. I must think” -how she has no choice but to take him back analysis
-Introduces very real possibility she’ll tell herself she doesn’t have a better option; all upperclass men are like him, and will take him back
-“Not yet”: she doesn’t say no. It implies she eventually will, just not right now
-she has very little choice: in Edwardian society, women were oppressed and had few rights, and relied on marrying well for financial security
-her engagement was a business deal between the families, & for the Crofts’ wealth + status, so her parents will force her to take him back -“you’re just the kind of son-in-law I’ve always wanted” (Mr B)
-the ring is a symbol of capitalist and patriarchal values (if she accepts she is turning her back on her socialist ideology), and example of cyclical structure (implying nothing’s changed): he gives her a ring at the start and at the end of the play
“It happened that a friend…let me have the key to a nice little set of rooms”
“I didn’t feel about her as she felt about me”
gender, class
-code for putting a mistress in there; he immed. goes to Palace bar to find one -cheaper than paying for a prostitute over time
-he can be her ‘Prince Charming’ & have his fun, then go back to real life + get engaged + married
-He hells her he’s going away for business, but the real reason is his friend coming back from Canada -> he’d have to pay for a flat to keep her -> not that costly for a man like him, but shows she’s not worth the rent of a flat -> so gets rid of her
-power imbalance; abuses and exploits her (gets her drunk first), and actually thinks he’s a good and kind person
-took advantage of her and enjoyed the attention and power
“girls of that class”
class, gender, responsibility
-more loyal to her class than gender
-diminutive noun ‘girls’ shows she looks down on all working-class women, doesn’t see her as a grown woman
-she has no root to authority or power in her life & can only have influence by clinging to the patriarchal class structure and denying her charity
-hypocrisy as she’s a woman and a mother, and set up the charity as she knew how difficult life was for working class women
