Edna (Birling Maid)👩‍🍳

• How many words of dialogue does Edna deliver in the play?

  Fewer than 30 words
• Why is it unlikely to get an explicit question about Edna in an exam?

  Because she has very few lines in the play
• In what context can Edna be discussed in exam answers?

  In relation to other themes and characters
• What class does Edna represent in 'An Inspector Calls'?

  Working class
• How does Edna's interaction with Mr. and Mrs. Birling contribute to the play's themes?

  It highlights the mistreatment of the working class
• Who does Edna show into the dining room in act one?

  Inspector Goole
• What significant line does Edna say when she introduces the inspector?

  “An inspector’s called”
• What does the change in lighting signify when Inspector Goole arrives?

  It represents the shift from optimism to interrogation
• How does the lighting change when the inspector arrives?

  From ‘pink and intimate’ to ‘brighter and harder’
• What does the ‘pink and intimate’ lighting symbolize in the play?

  It symbolizes the Birlings' optimistic view of their lives
• What does Inspector Goole bring with him in terms of atmosphere?

  A spotlight of interrogation
• What does Edna's role in bringing in the inspector suggest about the working class?

  They will deliver the truth to the upper classes
• How does Birling's dialogue towards Edna reflect his attitude?

  It shows a lack of politeness and respect
• What do Birling's imperatives towards Edna suggest about class dynamics?

  They highlight the expectation for working class obedience
• What does the presence of Edna on stage represent to a 1945 audience?

  A reminder of outdated practices of employing working class people
• What tasks does Edna perform on stage?

  Pouring port, serving food, and answering the door
• How does Mrs. Birling's remark about Edna reflect the Birlings' view of her?

  It shows they see her as merely an employee
• What does Edna's inability to sleep signify in the context of her role?

  It demonstrates the burden placed on her by the Birlings
• How are the Birlings' successes portrayed in relation to Edna?

  They are never shared with her
• What does Priestley suggest about the treatment of Edna in the play?

  He condemns the mistreatment of the working class
• How does Edna's limited dialogue compare to Eva's situation?

  Edna has more of a voice than Eva
• What does Inspector Goole's statement about Eva Smiths imply?

  It advocates for the voiceless working class
• What does Edna's silence symbolize in the play?

  The lack of agency of the working poor
• How does the historical context of 1912 affect Edna's character?

  It highlights her precarious position as a working class employee
• What does Priestley encourage the audience to consider through Edna's depiction?

  How the poor are exploited even when paid
• What are the key moments in Edna's character that warrant analysis?

  • Edna shows Inspector Goole into the dining room
  • She changes the lighting when the inspector arrives
  • Her interactions with the Birlings highlight class dynamics
  • Her silence symbolizes the lack of agency of the working poor
• What themes are represented through Edna's character in 'An Inspector Calls'?

  • Mistreatment of the working class
  • Class dynamics and obedience
  • The exploitation of the poor
  • The contrast between social classes