Social Class Flashcards
Context and Themes
Name a character from An Inspector Calls who is:
a) middle class
b) upper class
a) You could have said
Arthur, Eric or Sheila
b) You could have said
Gerald Croft or Sybil.
Which class benefited most from the class system in 1912?
The upper class benefited the most from the class system as they had more power — e.g. only men who owned land could vote in elections.
How will Sheila’s marriage to Gerald affect her social status?
Explain your answer.
Gerald is from an “old county family” and his mother is a “Lady”. By marrying him, Sheila is marrying into a higher class, raising her social status.
Edna is the only working-class character who appears on stage.
Why is the lack of working-class characters significant?
The lack of working-class people on stage is significant because it means working-class people are unable to influence the events of the play. Eva / Daisy isn’t present even though the whole play is about her, and Edna only appears very briefly to serve the Birlings. This could be symbolic of how working-class people were powerless in society.
How does the play suggest that the higher classes didn’t feel any responsibility towards people in need?
Priestley uses the characters of Arthur, Sybil and Gerald to show that many people from the higher classes didn’t feel a sense of responsibility towards people in need. They all prioritise their own needs and desires over Eva / Daisy’s and as a result Eva / Daisy becomes destitute and commits suicide.
Why does Arthur tell Gerald about his knighthood?
Arthur thinks Lady Croft disapproves of the marriage between Gerald and Sheila because the Birling family are of a lower class. He hopes the knighthood will elevate his family’s status and make the marriage more acceptable to Lady Croft.
Who is Sybil’s charity organisation supposed to help?
The charity is supposed to help women in need, such as Eva / Daisy.
The higher classes often thought the working class had low moral standards. Give one way Eva / Daisy shows this isn’t true.
Eva / Daisy refuses to take money from Eric because she thinks it’s stolen.
How is the Inspector different to the higher-class characters in the play? Give examples to support your answer.
- The Inspector doesn’t care
about social status —
instead, he undermines
Arthur’s position. E.g. he
tells Arthur “with authority”
that Eric must “wait his
turn”. - He doesn’t follow social
etiquette — he frequently
interrupts other characters
and mentions taboo topics
such as sex and politics. - He doesn’t play golf or
drink port, which are both
associated with people
from higher social classes.
The Inspector can be seen
as classless — not
belonging to any one class.
‘It is what you do, not your class, that is important.’
What evidence is there in the play to support this idea?
Priestley uses the character of the Inspector to show that actions matter more than class. The Inspector doesn’t respect the Birlings or Gerald just because of their social status — instead, he judges them for their actions towards Eva / Daisy.
