themes - class

Question 1

‘Crofts limited are both older and bigger than Birling and company’

Answer 1

Mr Birling Act 1
Mr Birling is sucking up to Gerald, revealing that his true reasons for being happy about the engagement is it will help his business. It shows that the social hierarchy is to appease to those of a higher class than yourself.

Question 2

‘Girls of that class-‘

Answer 2

Mrs Birling Act 2
Mrs Birling openly shows her prejudice against lower class girls. This shows the deep class divisions within Brumley, and Priestley does this to expose the hypocrisy amongst the upper class.

Question 3

‘You know of course that my husband was Lord Mayor only two years ago’

Answer 3

Mrs Birling Act 2

This shows the importance of status in the world of the play.

Question 4

‘No of course not he is only a boy’

Answer 4

Mrs Birling Act 2
Mrs Birling shows her naivety as she is unaware her son drinks a lot. The fact she is unaware of things about her own son shows the audience that the upper class are very naive and out of touch with reality.

Question 5

‘surely you don’t mean alderman meggarty’

Answer 5

Mrs Birling Act 2

Mrs Birling once again shows the naivety and hypocrisy of the upper class

Question 6

‘As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money’

‘He’d stolen it’

Answer 6

Mrs Birling Act 2
This shows the hypocrisy of the upper class as they believe the lower class are immoral, however a lower class girl refused to take stolen money.

Question 7

‘I accept no blame for it at all’

Answer 7

Mrs Birling Act 2
This shows her lack of empathy towards the lower class and emphasises the distance between the classes

Question 8

‘these girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people’

Answer 8

Sheila Act 1
Sheila shows that she believes her father should accept some responsibility. It shows that young people are more willing to change there attitudes towards responsibility and class as she shows empathy towards the working class. It also shows that working class women are misused and treated as though they are insignificant.

Question 9

‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are all responsible for each other’

Answer 9

The Inspector Act 3
The Inspector is attacking capitalism and the class system and is suggesting it is responsible for Eva Smiths death. He is suggesting that society - and the class system needs to change as we all need to look after each other.