Key themes in An Inspector Calls
- Created by: jaaaz_v
- Created on: 17-05-15 13:50
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- Key Themes
- Age
- The older generation are traditionalists
- Arthur and Sybl have traditionalist views
- Utterly set on their ways and see the young as foolish
- Will do anything to protect themselves
- Never been made to face consequences and aren't willing to do so now
- Young are open to new ideas
- Both Eric ans Sheila feel sorry for the workers (unlike the old)
- Sheila and Eric seem as though they would challenge the authority in society
- The younger characters learn their lesson- which shows that there's a chance for an equal and fairer society in the future
- Gerald lies in the middle
- Sides with the older generation
- His aristcratic roots influence him to want to stick to the status quo
- Protect his own interests
- His aristcratic roots influence him to want to stick to the status quo
- Sides with the older generation
- The older generation are traditionalists
- Family Life
- Family members at the time were expected to know their place
- Gender roles were in place in many families
- The hierarchy in the family is ruined when the Inspector calls
- Sheila and Eric freely speak for themselves
- The younger characters break away from their parents traditional views
- Eric says that omther doesn't "understand anything"
- Both refuse "to go on behaviing just as we did"
- Social Class
- Drives the plot and shapes the characters
- Priestley presents socialism positively and traditionalism nagatively
- To put across his own views
- Mrs Birling doesn't recodnise Evas photo
- Shows that to her Eva jaas no identity+ doesn't deserve any
- Higher classes didn't question the class system because it worked for them
- The Birlings think that class is all that matters
- Mr B's biggest concern is that hw won't get his knighthoot because of a public scandal
- Mr B thinks that because he's been in positions in authority make him more important
- Pleased that Sheilas marrying into a higher class
- Gender
- Women were meant to be obsessed with "pretty clothes"
- "Sheila gazed adoringly at her ring"
- Sheila gets Eva sacked because of jealousy
- Men were supposed to be occupied with work and public affairs
- Eva and Sheila challenge the gender stereotypes
- Eva refuses to take Erics stolen money; doesn't rely on a man to save her
- Sheila grows bolder and challenges her family
- Mr Birling, Gerald, and Eric get weaker as Sheila gets stronger
- Women were meant to be obsessed with "pretty clothes"
- Social Responsibility
- Mr Birling thinks that community responsibility is "nonsense"
- Mrs Birling thinks she has no responsibility to the working class
- Sheila realises that what she did was irresponsible
- Eric realises too late that his actons ruined Evas life
- By the end of the play its clear that Priestley thought that society needed to chnage
- Age
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