1912

• [ Class system ] There was a rigid class system in 1912, providing little social mobility (unable to move between the classes, lower to upper, etc) within society.

  • Thus, those who belonged to a class within society were confined and restricted by this.

  Most significantly the lower classes (as symbolised through Eva who was unable to advance herself within society without drastic consequences).
• [ Class system ] The rigid divide was a continuation of the Victorian eras fixed social structure.

  • They were divided into upper, middle, and working-class individuals, with the upper class making up only 5% of the population.

  Poverty was rife round the early 20th century, 25% of the population lived in poverty, whilst 10% lived below the subsistence (not enough to live) level.
• [ Class system ] The driving force behind this was the underpayment of workers.

  • Priestly creates Eva as an indictment of this inhumane treatment of the working classes.
• [ Class system ] The Birlings classify as middle class as they had a servant, Edna.
• [ Class system ] Link to the play:

  • Priestly is critical of the lack of social mobility in 1912.

  He creates Eva as emblematic of the inhumane treatment the lower classes faced due to this restrictive class system.

  • He also constructs Mr. Birling as a pompous (self-important) unlikable character to vilify the individuals who perpetuate this rigid system.
• [ Politics ] Britain was largely capitalist and Conservative.
• [ Politics ] Although there were acts introduced in the early 20th century to support the working classes such as;

  • 1906 - children were given free school meals.
  • 1909 - wage councils.
  • 1911 - sickness benefits for workers.

  These marginal improvements were made when the Liberal Party came into power in 1905.
• [ Politics ] The Liberals were supported by the Labour party (socialist approach) as they were more aligned with the liberation of the working classes, as opposed to the Conservative party.
• [ Politics ] However, despite the Liberals supporting the ideas of personal liberty and social reform, they favoured a laissez-faire (leaving things to take their own course, not interfering) approach within the economy.
• [ Politics ] The laissez-faire approach created an optimum environment for capitalist business owners, they had free reign to decide the prices of their goods and simultaneously exploit their workers.

  • Despite there now being some support for the working classes, this was not enough to prevent their exploitation.
• [ Politics ] Laissez-faire: The idea that the government should have minimal intervention within the economy.

  • Trade is not restricted and the price of goods is decided largely by the business owners.
• [ Politics ] Link to play:

  • Capitalism is personified through Mr. Birling, he would have been a member of society who strongly favoured the lassiez-faire approach.

  This would mean that he could exploit his workers for extra profit.
• [ Women ] Women's rights had remained stagnant since the Victorian era;

  • Women were disenfranchised (no vote).
  • Patriarchy/Patriarchal society (male-dominated society).
  • Women were seen as the property of their fathers and husbands (Sheila clearly displays this) with no political or legal rights.
• [ Women ] Women were seen as inferior to their husbands or other male counterparts.

  • Their role as a woman did not surpass the patriarchial expectations of them - to have children and be housewives.
• [ Women ] In 1867, the London Society for Women's Suffrage was created to campaign for women's rights.
• [ Women ] Marginal gains in Women's rights were made when in 1882, the Married Women's Property Act meant that women were allowed to have their own legal identity and keep property (most would not have any).
• [ Women ] During the 1910s, the women's suffrage moment had gained momentum and had begun to bring attention to the movement.

  • However, women were still inferior.
• [ Women ] Link to play:

  • Sheila is presented as disenfranchised (no vote) at the beginning of the play.

  Her infantile language and short dialogue represent how women were oppressed and silenced politically and socially in 1912.
• [ Women ] Link to play:

  • Eva's animalistic treatment can't be disregarded as being down to classism.

  Her status as a lower-class woman made her more susceptible to this abuse.