context

• play was set in 1912 but written in 1945


  audience more likely to agree with socialist views
• 1912 ---> rich men had power and most say they led Britain into world war
• 1945 ---> time of starting to look out for each other and people learned from two world wars
• socialism

  • distribution of resources, wealth and power in order to create an equal society
  • rich stay rich
  • poor receive aid and support
  • walfare system and founded tax
  • Labour party
• Capitalism

  • resources are seen as private property
  • earn what you work for
  • rich stay rich
  • poor stay poor
  • no welfare system
  • private charities
  • conservatives
• priestly was a socialist, he uses the inspector as a mouthpiece for his views
• 1912 - patriarchal society

  Eva was referred to as girl rather than an a woman

  Gerald takes advantage of Eva

  Shelia constantly seeks her families approval
• 1912 - Edwardian era

  priestly uses the characters in the play to adress the problens faced by the poor

  taking responsibility for your actions is key to social awareness
• 1945 - play was written

  priestly was a labour voter as it meant social change

  audience - sympathise poor through Eva smith

  inspector - a probing voice of conscious

  undermine the self satisfaction and false security of family
• 1912 vs 1945 - politics

  1912

  • capitalism
  • male could vote
  • little welfare - private charities

  1945

  • increasing socialism
  • men and women can vote
  • some welfare - NHS
• 1912 vs 1945 - war

  1912

  • pre ww1
  • some tension

  1945

  • post ww1 and ww2
  • all classes impacted
• 1912 vs 1945 - business

  1912

  • business ownership = power
  • some strikes
  • no min wage

  1945

  • great depression
  • more strikes
  • no min wage
• 1912 vs 1945 - gender

  1912

  • do what they were told
  • men used for stability

  1945

  • equality
  • women roles changed due to absence of men
• form

  well made play

  • intricate and complex
  • concerned with event that happened before the play started
  • each revelation more shocking than last

  morality play

  • teach audience lesson
  • based around 7 deadly sins
  • shows redemption as well as punishment