Themes Flashcards
How can you link the theme of sexism throughout the play?
Sheila is constantly dismissed by the men in the family by saying she’s being “hysterical” which was a term used in the early 1900’s to downgrade women for showing emotion. When asked about the photograph they didn’t want Sheila to see it because she’s too “innocent” for that
How is money shown throughout the play?
Every family member’s cause of Eva’s death had to do with money. Mr Birling not giving her a raise. Sheila getting her fired. Gerald bribing her with money, Eric raping her and keeping her silent with money and Mrs Birling’s charity refusing to help her for using the Birling name for her baby
How is the theme of responsibility shown throughout the play?
J.B Priestly was a socialist and his ideas of responsibility are shown through the Inspector. The inspector and Mr Birling constantly clash throughout the play because Mr Birling is a capitalist so he believes in individuality and that he’s not responsible for anyone whereas the Inspector believes the contrary.
How are the women presented in the play?
Mrs Birling is the oldest woman in the play and has very similar ideas to her husband. Although she is a woman she has been conditioned through society to also give in to misogynistic beliefs such as “the men are the leaders of our world and we shouldn’t change it soon”. Sheila, Mrs birlings daughter, despite her being upper class her beliefs are different to her mother as she’s younger and the youth tend to be more impressionable.
