exploitation

• Exploitation is when someone treats something in an unfair and underhand (dishonest) way in order to benefit from it.
• Exploitation can involve a person, system, or position.
• Exploitation often involves taking advantage of weakness or trust.
• The theme of exploitation runs through the play, as Eva Smith is exploited by individuals and the system of Capitalism as a whole.
• Exploitation links to the themes of social class, Capitalism vs Socialism, and gender.
• Eva is vulnerable because she is a working class woman.
• Even though as an individual she is strong and assertive, her position in society means she has no power and faces discrimination from others.
• Priestley presents the ways in which employers - and the Capitalist economy as a whole - prey on the vulnerability of working class women to make huge profits.
• The entire function of the British economy in the twentieth century relied on the exploitation of those at the bottom of the hierarchy, according to Priestley.
• Priestley implies the systems of class and power in British society are exploited by the upper classes.
• The Birlings take advantage of their trusted positions in the community to get their own way and escape punishment.
• At the time the play is set the upper classes controlled everything in society, including money and employment.
• The poor lived on the landowners’ estates and had to pay rent, or were employed by factory workers and had to follow their rules.
• Priestley outlines the different forms of exploitation that support and benefit the upper classes of society through Eva’s story.
• Gerald suggests the issue of poverty could be solved, but isn’t, because others benefit from it.
• Gerald and Eric represent the ways in which exploitation and mistreatment of women is normalised and encouraged in society.
• Their behaviour is a symptom of a wider culture of aggressive masculinity and pride.
• Priestley uses Gerald and Eric to demonstrate how men exploit the dominance they are given in a patriarchal society and the power their wealth brings them to take advantage of working class women.
• Gerald sees an opportunity to exploit Eva when he rescues her, gives her money and a place to stay, and brings her love and happiness.
• Gerald’s actions appear to have an ulterior motive as he takes advantage of Eva’s vulnerability for his own entertainment.
• Gerald’s descriptions of Eva imply his sexual attraction to her was always a factor in his decision to befriend her.
• The focus on Eva’s appearance, with the repetition of how she “looked”, shows that Gerald formed these opinions of her before even talking to her.
• Gerald implies that if Eva rejects him, she will be in trouble again, forcing her to be reliant on him.
• Priestley conveys the imbalance of Gerald and Eva’s relationship to illustrate the working classes’ dependence on the upper classes.
• Eva felt she owed Gerald for rescuing her, rather than his aid being an act of selfless goodwill.
• Gerald’s friendship was priceless to Eva even if he didn’t treat her well.
• He shows how the class system and Capitalism rely on the exploitation of the weak, vulnerable, or powerless.
• Mr Birling’s business practices are used by Priestley as an allegory for Capitalism’s exploitation of the working class.
• Priestley details the ways in which profit is prioritised over personal wellbeing, and how the poor are dehumanised and reduced to cheap labour.
• Mr Birling's business motto is unveiled when he announces his hopes to work "together" with Crofts Limited for lower costs and higher prices.
• Mr Birling's goal is unconcerned with improving working conditions or workers' rights.
• Instead, he wants to make even more profit, even though it is clear his business is already successful.
• Mr Birling's workers are reduced to a simple "cost", a figure he wants to lower.
• Mr Birling's workers never receive the benefit of these "higher prices" as Mr Birling keeps the profit for himself.
• This simple clause summarises all of the issues Priestley sees in Capitalist business: the exploitation and dehumanisation of workers.
• Mr Birling's perception of his workers is in keeping with his business methods.
• Mr Birling outlines how he has "several hundred young women" at his factory who "keep changing", showing how he doesn't see his workers as individuals.
• The phrase "several hundred" illustrates the women's loss of individual identity, as they are viewed as a collective.
• The phrase "keep changing" alludes to the vast number of unemployed people available, as Priestley suggests the company consistently hires new staff while firing old staff to keep their costs low.
• Priestley implies the wealth and success signified by a "city" obscures its destitute underbelly.