Social Hierarchy:

Social hierarchy is the way that society is ordered. Everybody fits into divided layers. Which layer a person fits into depends on the family they come are born into and the amount of money they earn or receive.
Aristocracy (lords and ladies)- This is the class of people that Gerald's family is from (his mother is referred o as lady Croft) and Mrs. Birling (who is noted as Mr. Birling's social superior).
Mr. Birling is keen to be knighted because he would be automatically be moved up the social hierarchy into this higher class of people.
Upper Class- The Birling family are upper class; they own a numerous amount of factories, therefore are very wealthy but were nit born into money like the aristocratic class. Mr. and Mrs. Birling are keen for Shelia to marry Gerald because she would be rising above her social class.
Working Class- Eva Smith is art of the 'disposable working class and is at the bottom of the social hierarchy. The Birlings and Gerald treat Eva as disposable because she has no social status and they don't realise how they effect her life.

	Created by Helen Johnson over 8 years ago

GCSE English Literature (An Inspector Calls) Note on An Inspector Calls Themes , created by Helen Johnson on 03/03/2018.