Generational differences

• Why does, as a summary, does Priestley present generational difference throughout the play?

  Priestley examines how your life experiences and the era you grow up in affects your morals and political identity.
• As a summary, how does Priestley present the younger generation?

  The younger generation are curious and compassionate, and quick to

  rectify their ignorance. He suggests the younger generations should learn from the mistakes of their elders in order to create a more peaceful and progressive future for Britain.
• As a summary, how does Priestley present the older generation?

  He presents the older generation as being stuck in their old ways, used to their comforts and conservative values. The parents refuse to be self-aware or accept responsibility, caring only for themselves.
• How does Priestley develop the theme of generational divide?

  By making the characters constructs to represent their generation.

  Priestley makes each generation a symbol of a different outlook and

  political orientation.
• How are generational differences at the beginning of the play (before Inspector's arrival) presented?

  -At the beginning of the play, the family appears to be a unified front. There are small disputes and disagreements, but overall they agree with each others viewpoints.

  -They all occupy the same role in society as ignorant, complacent, upper class people.

  -The younger generation seem to be curious and inquisitive, but they don’t want to challenge their parents’ authority. Instead, they want to emulate (imitate) them.
• How are generational differences presented at the beginning of the play (when the Inspector arrives)?

  -The profound effect of the Inspector is to split the family permanently down generational lines. The two sides and their respective ideologies can’t be reconciled.

  -This may mimic the drastic impact the World Wars had on society. Priestley suggests society needs to change and a choice has to be made on how society should work together, if at all.
• As a summary, how does the younger generation undergo character development throughout the play?

  Both Eric and Sheila undergo character arcs, starting with an immature desire to follow their parents and ending with a mature understanding of the real world. They are out from under their parents’ shadows, capable of independent thought.
• As a summary, how does the older generation (and Gerald) undergo character development throughout the play?

  -The older Birling's and Gerald are all prepared to continue in stasis

  once the Inspector has left. Gerald even offers Sheila her ring back, as if he never cheated on her and broke her trust.

  -The older generations’ determination to return to the way things were before suggests an incredible level of delusion; morality and integrity mean nothing to them. They would rather have the appearance

  of a happy, successful family than trust each other.
• How is the generational divide presented by the ending of the play?

  -The play ends how it started. On the surface the mirroring suggests that nothing much has changed, however the audience knows that the family has divided and changed since the first act.

  -Furthermore, the cyclical structure could allude to the two World Wars, evoking the same idea of “pretend[ing] all over again” (Act 3, pg 65). Priestley suggests history will keep repeating itself until people learn.
• How is Mr Birling characterised in the play

  -The patriarch of the Birling's: Mr Birling is a symbol of the older generation’s power and influence in society, with his capitalist views and loyalty to business and wealth over community.

  -He is Nouveau Riche instead of inheriting money and is satisfied with his accomplishments.

  -He is resistant to criticism; gets angry with anyone who challenges his opinions or authority.

  -He believes his life experiences make him wise and infallible- he thinks poorly of the younger generation whom he thinks are foolish and naive.
• How does Mr Birling attempt to become a teacher to the younger generations at the start of his speech?

  -Priestley shows how Mr Birling thinks of himself as a teacher to the younger generations because of his age and experience

  -He tells his children and Gerald, “Now you three young people, just listen to this - and remember what I’m telling you now,” (Act 1), showing how seriously he takes his own advice.

  -The imperatives “listen” and “remember” emphasise Mr Birling’s desire for attention and for his children to be his disciples. He wants to have an impact on the younger generation.
• How does Mr Birling attempt to become a teacher to the younger generations during his speech?

  “Take my word for it, you youngsters - and I’ve learnt in

  the good hard school of experience,” (Act 1).

  ➔ “good hard school of experience”: he thinks knowledge and intelligence can only come with age, and that “experience” is the ultimate form of education - shown by the metaphor “school”.

  ➔ “young people” and “youngsters”: patronising and mocking; shows how Mr Birling is fixated on age and superiority.
• Why does Priestley present Mr Birling as a 'teacher' to the younger generations?

  Priestley wanted to show how the older generation were arrogant and

  controlling, as they wanted to influence the younger generation.
• How does Priestley present the older generations as arrogant with the characterisation of Mr Birling?


  -His hubris leads him to make bold claims, such as “Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” and “I say there isn’t a chance of war,” (Act 1). He presents his predictions with absolute certainty with no expertise, showing how men thought their opinions were always valuable.

  -Priestley uses the dramatic irony in these claims to express how deluded the ego of the older generations was. He implies arrogance and overconfidence caused these disasters, as they refused to see them coming
• How does Mr Birling view the younger generation?

  -Priestley suggests that Mr Birling's critical, patronising view of the younger generation mirrors how the older generations felt about the modern, 1912 society.

  -“...these boys get up to nowadays. More money to spend and time to spare” (Act 1) suggesting he believes that life is easier than when he grew up.

  -He implies the younger generation are spoiled because they have more “money” and “time” to themselves and Priestley implies

  the older generation perceived the younger generation as weaker and less worthy because of it.
• How does Mr Birling view the younger generation?

  -“I don’t want to lecture you...you don’t seem to understand

  now, when things are so much easier, is that a man

  has to make his own way,” (Act 1).

  -The older generation feared that the values and comforts of modern life were killing off the old traditions and ideals they had been raised with.

  -“lecture” suggests Mr Birling sees it as his duty to rectify the mistakes of the young and set them on the right path.
• How does Mr Birling's capitialist viewpoint set him apart from the younger generations?

  -Priestley uses Mr Birling to associate the older generations with selfishness and conservatism. His toast and “lecture”are used to establish the capitalist ideologies of the family to the audience.

  -“...as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive" "community and all that nonsense" (Act 1).

  -The use of derogatory words like "bees in a hive”, and “nonsense” show how Mr Birling mocks socialists, rather than just disagreeing.

  -Priestley presents the older generations as cruel & selfish
• As a summary, how is Mrs Birling's character presented?

  Priestley uses Mrs Birling’s character to explore the older generations’ denial and resistance to change. Mrs Birling is a very conservative, traditional character who is unrepentant about her prejudices. This shows how the older generations were stubborn and stuck in their ways and Priestley implies that as time went on their denial and stubbornness got more and more outdated.
• How does Priestley use Mrs Birling to show how older generations acted in 1912 (particularly older women)?

  -Priestley outlines Mrs Birling’s obsession with appearances, manners, and social etiquette.

  -She objects to her husband’s comments about the cook saying “Arthur, you’re not supposed to say such things” (Act 1, pg 2) which shows how

  anxious she is about seeming respectable.

  -Priestley implies the older generations prioritised social conduct over genuine interaction, encouraging repression and secrecy.
• How does Mrs Birling feel about modern culture and language?

  -She reacts to Sheila using the slang term“squiffy” with, “Really the things you girls pick up these days!”, (Act 1). This suggests that she disapproves of modern culture. She thinks “the things [...] girls pick up these days” are rude and unladylike, threatening the tradition of femininity.

  -The lives of the older generations were dictated by arbitrary rules and a desire to appear sophisticated, rather than living freely. These values isolated and deterred others.
• How is Mrs Birling presented as stubborn towards the younger generations?

  -When Sheila warns her about “beginning all wrong”, Mrs Birling replies, “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” (Act 2)

  -When Sheila talks about not building a “wall”, Mrs Birling declares, “I don’t understand you,” (Act 2). This shows how she refuses to listen to the younger generations.

  -The repetition of “don’t” suggests the older generations were incapable of entertaining the suggestions of others.
• How is Mrs Birling presented as stubborn towards The Inspector?

  -She tells the Inspector, “I don’t understand you” (Act 2) and claims, “You have no power to make me change my mind,” (Act 2). Mrs Birling rejects any view that opposes her own.

  -She is impatient, and the repetition of “I don’t understand you” may imply she isolates herself from others.

  -The use of the noun “power” could suggest she doesn’t want to change her mind because it is a sign of weakness or submission.

  -Priestley suggests the older generations saw any alternative suggestions as a challenge to their authority.
• What was Mrs Birling's reaction to Eva approaching her?

  -Priestley reveals Mrs Birling’s prejudices in her reaction to Eva Smith

  coming to the charity for help. She describes Eva introducing herself as “Mrs Birling”

  -“simply a piece of gross impertinence - quite deliberate,” (Act 2). She doesn’t want to hear her name used by a working class girl and she chooses to interpret Eva’s introduction as a purposefully disrespectful act.

  -This suggests to the audience that Mrs Birling aims to see the worst in people in order to villainise them.
• What was Mrs Birling's reaction to Eva approaching her?

  -She calls Eva’s reasons for not wanting to accept stolen money “a lot of silly nonsense!” (Act 2), and insisting, “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!” (Act 2).

  -The use of exclamation marks shows Mrs Birling’s disbelief, showing how consumed she is by her prejudices. She refuses to trust and respect Eva even when the evidence is right in front of her.

  -Priestley suggests the older generations were so blinded by their intolerance that they couldn’t see how ruthless they were.