Social class (AIC) Flashcards
What quotes does Mr Birling use to imply social class?
‘You’re just the kind of son-in-law I
always wanted.’
What does the quote ‘You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted.’ imply?
Birling heartily approves of Sheila’s match with Gerald because of what is does for his own status. The Crofts are an aristocratic family, higher up the social ladder than nouveau riche families like the Birlings.
What does sheila say in act one about eva smith?
‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour –
they’re people.’
What is the difference between birling & sheila perspective of Eva in the quote
But these girls aren’t cheap labour –
they’re people.’
Birling justifies his treatment of Eva with the economic logic that she led the workers’ appeal for higher rates. Sheila, on the other hand, has the humanity to see beyond business practice and class labels
What does the inspector say about guilt?
‘You see, we have to share something.
If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to
share our guilt.’
Why is the share guilt a punishment?
‘You see, we have to share something.
If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to
share our guilt.’
In this quote the Inspector alludes to class division and the perceived selfishness of the upper class: the shared guilt is punishment for their not sharing anything else at an earlier opportunity. The pronoun ‘we’ is indicative of his belief in collective responsibility.
Give a quote that signal authority?
“Please don’t contradict me like that”.
What does “please” suggest?
The courteous ‘please’ is actually a signal of authority, Mrs Birling speaking to the Inspector as if he were one of her children. As a member of the upper class, she is accustomed to being deferred to and looks down on those who work for a living.
Give analysis for this quote
“And in any case I don’t suppose… Girls of that
class–‘
She habitually ‘supposes’ but fails to ‘understand’ and believes that the unspeakable ‘girls of that class’ are unknowable, even though she is about to stereotype them.
What did priestly suggest about the higher class and the class system?
higher class didn't question the system as it worked for them same reason they overlooked problems of alcoholism and womanising easier to ignore unpleasant things then deal with them.
What quote shows Birling only cares about class?
his biggest concern about her death is that he wont get his knighthood because there will be a “public scandal”
What does Birling think about his position of authority?
he has been lord mayor and an alderman for yrs and now he is a magistrate and dishes out justice this is ironic that birling passes judgement on others when he acted immorality
Why was Sybil part of the Women charity organisation?
leader of it and the group are supposed to give money to women but she is only there for the social status
How does Priestly show his view of class in the play?
reveals the unfairness of class system uses birlings as exaggerated caricatures of all the bad qualities he thought ruling classes had
How did priestly see society?
how he wrote the play is his vision of society he present birling arrogant behaviour as common to the middle classes
