Context - AIC

• Priestley's Goals

  • Attack capitalism - specifically individualism.
  • Advocate for socialism - specifically social responsibility.
  • Highlights the progress of Britain socially.
• Class system

  • Working class - physically demanding jobs - around 80% of the population.
  • Middle class - working professionals and well educated.
  • Upper class - Inherited wealth, powerful and often didn't have jobs.
  • The working class were often abused and taken advantage of by the upper and middle class.
• Role of Women

  • Seen as second class citizens.
  • Working class women - very bottom of the social hierarchy. Stopped working when they got married and had children to work in the house.
  • Middle class women - expected to manage the house and have children.
  • Upper class women - not expected to work at all.
• Wilhelm II : The Hun Speech

  • Aggressive speech about the military.
  • Mr Birling references his speech and also says "Germans don't want war" showing his ignorance - dramatic irony.
• 1911 Women's March

  • Protesters fighting for the women's vote.
  • Push for more equality.
• 1912 Miner's Strike

  • Wanted to establish a minimum wage.
  • Mr Birling references this and says they are "past the worst of it" showing he is against the progress in society.
• Sinking of the Titanic

  • Tech progression wasn't as good as Britain thought.
  • Inequality - less than 1/3 of the working class passengers survived.
  • Mr Birling - "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable" - ironic.
• Fabian Society

  • Group pushing for social equality, later becoming the labour party.
  • "We can't let these Bernard Shaws and H.G. Wellses do all the talking" - Mr Birling. Aware of the growth of socialist politics.
• 1912 -> 1945

  WWI -> Russian revolution -> women achieving the vote -> the great depression -> WWII -> Butler act -> Labour party gained power (cradle to grave).
• Priestley's writing

  Uses the inspector to show his views.