"If they didn't
like those rates
they could go
and work
somewhere
else"
Shelia-
someone
who could
be fired out
of spite
"I couldn't be sorry for
her"
Gerald- A
mistress who
could be
dismissed at will
"And by that
time Daisy
knew it was
coming to an
end"
Eric-Easy fun at
the end of a
drunken night
out
I wasn't in love with her or
anything "
Mrs Birling- An
arrogant status
seeker
"As if a girl like
that would
ever refuse
money!"
Class Structure
Working
Class
Had all the
hardest jobs
and little
money
Eva/Daisy:
Struggles
through life
doing hard jobs ,
earning just
enough to
survive
Middle Class
Owned factories
or were
professionals(like
lawyers). Had
plenty of money
and control.
The Birlings:
Wealthy and
own a
business, able
to live very
comfortably
Think class is all that matters
Mr Birling's biggest
concern about Eva's death
is that he won't get his
knighthood because there
will be a "public scandal"
Thinks his positions of authority
make him more important eg.
Lord Mayor and a council
member
He uses Gerald to promote his social
class eg. pleased his daughter is
marrying into a higher class
Sybil Birling is a leading member of
the Brumley Women's Charity
Organisation but only involved for the
social status
Priestley thought class shouldn't matter
Priestley uses the play to
show the unfairness of
the class system
Uses the Birlings as
exaggerated
caricatures of all the
bad qualities he
thought the ruling
classes had
Isn't just about one family's
scandal. Its shows how
Priestley saw society. He
presents their arrogant
behaviour and selfish
attitudes as common to the
middle class
Presents the working class as vicitms
of the class system,- although
Eva/Daisy's story was unique the
miseries she suffered were probably
quite common. She could of been
anyone.
Upper Class
Inherited
loads of land
and money,
were often
Lords or
Ladies
Gerald: Family
owns land and are
socially 'better'
than the Birlings.
Inherited money
had a higher
status than trade
Limited sense of
social responsibility
for those well off-
They either didn't
know, didn't want to
know or they didn't
care
Didn't question the class
system as it worked for them
Meant that the Lower classes
struggled
How people act
isn't just about
class
Eva/Daisy is expected
to have low morals
but she doesn't
accept stolen money
even when she is
desperate
Birlings think class is all that matters but
Priestley is trying to present the opposite
view. Hes suggests that class only clouds
peoples judgement and people should be
judged by what they do not by what class
they were born into
By having Eric and Shelia
changed by the end of the
play it shows that class
doesn't define you ,
individuals can break out
and act differently
Social responsibility
The character's views are
challenged
Birling: Thinks that community
responsibility is "nonsense". The
interests of business are more
important than workers rights.
Shelia: Realises that getting Eva/Daisy
sacked out of jealousy was irresponsible
but she didn't do anything about it at
the time. The Inspector challenges her
to improve her behaviour.
Eric: Realises too late that his selfish
actions were responsible for ruining
Eva/Daisy's chances of improving her life.
Mrs Birling: Beieves they
have no responsibility to the
working class-her prejudices
are so ingrained that they
can't be changed.
Social responsibilty is the Inspector's main
focus
His final speech is clear and to the point - it's his summary of
responsibility.
Wasn't trying to make them feel guilty just aware of the difficulties faced by"millions of Eva Smiths and
John Smiths.
All the events in the play are connected. Priestley's moral
seems to be that it doesn't take great people to change
the world-we all change it everyday just by the way we
treat others.
The play reveals a lot about Priestley's socialist
ideas
He was a supporter of socialism- his plays premote social responsibility and criticise the problems caused by
class divide.
The play tries to make the audience question not only their social responsibility but also how responsible they are for
their own actions.
The audience are already wary of Birling's
short sighted opinions so when he criticises
socialism, the audience are more inclined to
disagree with him. In this way Priestley uses
Birling to premote socialist ideas.