An Inspector Calls context
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- Created on: 17-10-19 19:33
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- An Inspector Calls Context
- Britain in 1912
- Firmly divided along class lines.
- Those with the most money had the most power.
- The Labour Party was formed in 1906 to represent the interests of the working class.
- Only men who owned property could vote.
- Women weren't allowed to vote in national elections at all.
- Women's lives were very controlled by men,
- Women weren't allowed to vote in national elections at all.
- There wasn't much government help for people in need.
- This made charities like Sybil's very important.
- Britain was heading towards WWI and the Titanic.
- Firmly divided along class lines.
- Britain in 1945
- Still divided by class but by 1928 all men and women over 21 got the vote.
- This meant that power was spread more evenly.
- There were still conflicts between business owners and workers.
- In 1926 there was the General Strike.
- From 1930 the global economic slump known as the Depression hit many industries.
- There was a big increase in unemployme-nt and many workers faced terrible poverty.
- Priestley wrote the play during WW2.
- Millions of people from all classes had fought for Britain and people wanted a better society.
- The world wars made people question the capitalist view and socialism became more popular.
- The Labour Party won the 1945 General Election by a landslide.
- They focused on improving the welfare system to look after the needs of the poorest as well.
- The Labour Party won the 1945 General Election by a landslide.
- Still divided by class but by 1928 all men and women over 21 got the vote.
- Family and Gender
- Parents were in charge of the family and the children were meant to be obedient and unquestionin-g.
- Gender roles were well defined:
- Men were expected to:
- Work to support their family.
- Protect women, especially their wives and daughters.
- Women were expected to:
- Marry into money so they didn't have to work.
- Plan parties, visit friends and have children.
- They didn't do things like cooking or cleaning.
- Men were expected to:
- The Birlings want everyone to believe that they're a perfect family.
- Social Class
- There was a clear class structure:
- Middle class- owned factories or were professionals (eg. lawyers), had plenty of money and control.
- Upper class- inherited loads of land and money, often lords and ladies.
- The class system made life difficult for those lower down.
- Priestley thought that the upper classes either:
- Didn't know.
- Didn't want to know.
- Didn't care.
- The Birlings thought that class was all that mattered.
- Priestley thought class shouldn't matter.
- He used the play to reveal the unfairness of the class system.
- He presented the lower classes as victims.
- He used the play to reveal the unfairness of the class system.
- Priestley thought class shouldn't matter.
- There was a clear class structure:
- Britain in 1912
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