Social inequality Theme notes

SOCIAL CLASS AND INEQUALITY

-Priestly presents the ideas about the class system at the start. Birling is described as being “provincial in his speech”, meaning his accent shows he wasn’t born in the class and Mrs Birling is described as her husband’s “social superior”. This is developed when Birling says “Tell cook from me” and his wife replies “you’re not supposed to say such things”.

-Social class was very important in 1912, and its importance is presented through Birling. Birling’s obsession with social class is revealed in his speeches/lectures. For Birling, Gerald’s marriage to Sheila was very important because it meant linking the Birlings, who were of a lower class as Birling wasn’t born into the class (shown in the stage directions- “provincial in his speech”) to the Crofts who were “an old country family”. It meant Sheila was marrying into a higher class and so had done well for herself socially. The importance of the class system is conveyed when Birling says to Gerald: “Lady Croft - while she doesn't object to my girl - feels you might have done better for yourself socially”. Birling’s “chance of a knighthood” is extremely important for him because it will mean he can ‘climb on the social ladder’.

-Priestley contrasts the Birling’s house and lifestyle to Eva Smith- particularly Sheila who is about the same age as Eva. Through the stage directions at the beginning of the play, Priestley presents the Birling’s house and their comfortable existence. The Birling’s live in a large house with “good solid furniture of the time” whilst Eva is about to be “turned out of the miserable back room she had”. They have a maid and a “cook” whilst Eva is “desperately hungry”. The Inspector uses a lot of negatives when describing the way Eva was living after Birling has fired her: “no work, no money… no relatives to help her, few friends… half starved… desperate” which is a strong comparison to the Birlings who, in the opening stage directions, are “pleased with themselves” and in a good atmosphere, shown through “pink and intimate” lighting. Sheila is “very pleased with life and rather excited” whilst Eva is so “desperate” she feels that her only option is commit suicide. This shows the unfairness in the social classes of the time.

-Another contrast is between the bosses and the workers. Birling has a lot of power over Eva and he is able to tell her “to clear out” just because she asks for a raise. As there was no benefits, Eva was left with “no work, no money… half starved… desperate” There is a sense of ‘us and them’ within the play, with Birling saying “a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own family”. He feels no responsibility to look after his workers, he just wants to “keep labour costs down” and make as much money…