luh

• DEPRECAIDS

  D - Disillusioned

  E - Exploitative

  P - political diatribe

  R - Remorseful/remorseless

  E - Emancipation

  C - Collective social conscience

  A - Absolve (free from) guilt/responsibility

  I - Interconnectedness

  D - Dehumanising

  S - Scrupulous (moral)
• Priestley’s Play Warns Characters

  Politics

  Priestley

  Women

  Class system
• politics


  1912, Britain was capitalist, and gov had a laissez faire approach with the economy (little government intervention, businesses could set their own rates. 1945, biggest electoral swings in 20th century. 1945 Labour party won by a landslide victory

  Birlings represent the capitalist attitudes in 1912

  Sheila + Eric transformation into socialists represent the electoral swing in the political environment of 1945
• Priestley

  Fought in WWI, scathing of governmental abuse of authority. In 1945, he was co-founder of the common wealth party

  Uses Inspector as his mouthpiece (can’t be in the play himself so uses to vocalise his beliefs) to be scathing of capitalism, therefore government abuse of power, as well as promote socialist ideologies
• Women


  In 1912, they were disenfranchised (no vote). In 1945, women’s effort on Homefront was a pivotal turning point - seen as valuable

  Sheila starts off voiceless and weaker (representing disenfranchisement) and develops a voice (representing women’s power)
• class system


  1912, little social mobility (can’t move or change classes). 25% lived in poverty. 1945 acts like the Equal Franchise Act 1928 meant that men and women over 21 could vote – lower classes had more of a voice

  Eva Smith represents individuals with little social mobility

  Birlings symbolise those whose upheld the classist and oppressive systems of 1912
• 6 key themes : SCROGG

  Social class

  Capitalism vs socialism

  Responsiblity

  Older vs younger generation

  Guilt

  Gender
• Priestley’s intentions


  Priestley aims to vilify capitalism through making immorality, irresponsibility and exploitation synonymous with the characters he constructs to hold these beliefs. He aim to scrutinise how detrimental this ideology is to society and how it causes society to regress rather than progress.

  Priestley shows that collective responsibility is a by-product of adopting socialist beliefs. He asserts that this collective responsibility serves as a solution to the division and segregation prevalent in society, ultimately creating inevitable social cohesion
• Priestley’s intentions


  Utilises his allegorical diatribe (teaching a message while criticising) To both educate his audience and criticise the oppressive barriers of social class, arguing that upholding these divisions only exacerbates societal suffering and destruction
• ‘as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense’


  zoomorphism: he degrades and mocks the lower classes being alike to “bees” and trivialises (unimportant) community and interconnected responsibility. Ridiculing lower classes comparing them to small insect. Also reinforces mocking community. Priestley is very successful from the offset of vilifying Mr. Birling, also vilifying capitalism. Mr. Birling personifies capitalism
• as if we were mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense


  Hyphen: prompts a theatrical pause, making the actor portraying Mr Birling to hesitate before “community“ – reflects his physical repulsion to the concept, suggest suggesting an inability to even verbalise it

  acting as a microcosm (something small representing something larger) for capitalist ideologies, Mr. Birling becomes vilified for his rejection of the idea of community and his preference for materialism over human relationships
• the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke - (Mr. Birling)

  irony: he derisively labels the younger generation as ’know it alls,‘ but ironically, he thinks he “knows it all” (“Titanic“ and “silly little war scares”)

  Priestley deliberately set the play in 1912 to fragmentise the ‘know it all’ ignorance of the older generation. Priestley is trying to highlight how obdurate the older generations are and ridicule their beliefs
• The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke - (Mr. Birling)


  speech is cut off: after his callous dismissal of the suicide as a ‘joke’, he is abruptly interrupted by the telephone. Through the play form, Priestley can visually depict Mr. Birling‘s capitalist beliefs should be physically and symbolically removed from society.
• I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class- (Mrs. Birling)


  Connotation “girl“: The term “girl” connotes innocence and vulnerability, showcasing her willingness to exploit the vulnerable in society and rationalise it for capitalist advancement

  Demonstrative adjective on ’that’: the demonstrative adjective “that“ dismisses them as an aggregate (they are all grouped together as one) inferior and homogeneous (all the same) group that all behave in the same way
• I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class –

  Mrs Birling is entirely governed by the arrogance of her social status – she can’t even bring herself to specify Eva‘s social class, considering it’s so far beneath her.
• He certainly didn’t make me confess


  Connotations of “confess”: The verb ‘confess’ has connotations of crime, her denial of criminal acts and accountability comes effortlessly, reflecting the irresponsibility and immorality inherent to capitalist ideologies. Shows how easy and seamless it is for Mrs. Birling to reject responsibility, any interconnections with others and developing a collective social conscience. Inherent, with capitalism comes this responsibility. Priestley is being intentional with this, he is comparing capitalist ideologies with this inherent immorality
• He certainly didn’t make me confess

  Imperative verb “make”: The imperative verb “make” shows it is a way of keeping afloat in the power struggle between her and the inspector

  this suggests that admitting responsibility would be conceding to the inspector, posing a threat to her status in the capitalist hierarchy – she is safeguarding her position within the societal structure dictated by capitalist ideologies
• But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people

  Connotations of ‘girls’: ‘girls’ connotes innocence and vulnerability – recognised how exploitative capitalists prey on the disadvantaged social classes. She is disgusted by the inhumanity of her family.

  Humanistic perspective: the Inspector’s arrival frees her from the shackles of her oppressive privileged existence. Develops a humanistic outlook, valuing individuals over profit.
• But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people

  this metamorphosis symbolises the advancement of women’s rights in 1945, depicting women’s empowerment and their role in advocating for social justice for all oppressed members of society
• What he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish

  The Inspector’s proxy: Sheila serves as his proxy, exemplified by her precise emulation of the polysyndeton on “and“ – she’s attempts to emphasise the eternal consequences of lacking social conscience. Creates eternal cycle that there will be ongoing consequences if they do not develop this collective social conscience.

  Personal pronoun: Sheila is now a moral compass to our family, showcasing her evolution towards empathy as her use of the personal pronoun “me“ shows she now experiences genuine remorse.
• What he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish.

  …Introspection. She has internalised this message and used this to catalyse a change within herself. Shows she has developed a personal accountability and responsibility.

  Her awareness extends beyond personal remorse, she has developed an understanding of the systemic consequences of a capitalist ideologies on society as a whole
• Why don’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices


  Rhetorical question: Eric is questioning the ethics behind his father‘s exploitative attitude towards the lower social classes – he deviates from the “half shy” presentation into the “assertive“ one foreshadowed at the beginning

  Alliteration: put emphasis on the outdated and unjust social systems that have been created and upheld by older generation members like his parents

  He exposes and questions the systematic bias that favour upper-class capitalists, leveraging a laissez-faire governmental stance
• But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well - yes both of you (Eric)


  Connotations of “ashamed”: “ashamed” connotes embarrassment, revealing Eric’s deep disillusionment because of his realisation of capitalists’ inherent exploitation of individuals

  Hyphen: simplifies the sentence, akin to the Inspector’s concise speech, Eric is simplifying to his obdurate parents of the older generation the importance of collective social responsibility

  Act 1, the Inspector’s brevity denotes authority, a trait echoed by Eric as he speaks concisely to showcase his newfound power rooted in moral conviction
• We’re respectable citizens and not criminals


  Collective pronoun “we’re”: “we’re” reinforces a segregative ideology, as Gerald employs it to unite the Birlings against perceived “criminals” – exposes aristocratic biases as fundamentally ignorant. Although he has money, power, status, Priestley is illustrating that despite having this material wealth, it doesn’t denote intelligence, or that he is shrewd. It highlights the ignorance of their biases and everyone in the upper echelons can’t be immoral
• we‘re respectable citizens are not criminals (Gerald)

  Alliteration on ‘citizens’ and ‘criminals’: create a sense of similarity, reflecting Priestley’s portrayal of blurred lines between morality and criminality as one ascends the social hierarchy.

  Much like Priestley’s use of dramatic irony and satire to mock Mr Birling, he subtly ridicules Gerald’s pretentious demeanour revealing how the wealthy often have biases that align only with their narrow worldview
• Everything is alright now, Sheila [holds up the ring] what about this ring?


  Cyclical narrative: as it is back on his and Sheila’s engagement. This is reflective of his unwillingness to change and desire to absolve himself from guilt and responsibility.

  belongs to the younger generation but shirks accountability, disappointing the audience with his character arc – Gerald’s obstinate nature remains unchanged

  Ring symbolism: he reverts to this symbol of traditional power and possession in order to reassert himself; he finds comfort in the ingrained societal beliefs which make life ‘easy‘ for him
• It’s better to ask for the Earth than take it


  Syntax on ’ask’: prior to “take” reflects the hierarchal order importance crucial for societal collective responsibility – we must “ask” and share resources, in contrast in the individualistic capitalist notion of “taking” for personal gain. Priestley is vilifying capitalism through Mr and Mrs Birling, as they personify capitalism. The Inspector personifies socialism and is promoting responsibility, which are desirable qualities in a progressive society.
• It’s better to ask for the Earth than take it (Inspector)

  Connotations of ‘take’: To ‘take’ carries connotations of stealing, a notion vehemently condemned in biblical teachings. Religion was the foundation of morality in the Edwardian era, capitalist ideals disregard these teachings.

  Juxtaposingly, socialism can be viewed as a return to society’s moral foundations, emphasising communal values and collective responsibility of individualistic desire
• if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish

  Polysyndeton: reflects the perpetual torment, awaiting those who shirk their moral and civic responsibilities.

  alternatively, it may allude to the Second World War, “anguish” symbolises humanity’s failure to learn from past mistakes, leading to further “blood and anguish”
• If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish

  Biblical allusions: Inspector could be portrayed as an agent of God through the hellish illusions. He is trying to bring the Birling’s back to the foundation of morality – religion. Hellish imagery. Inspector has omniscience, the fact that he is trying to warn the Birling’s is a way that he is trying to warn the audience that the only way we can go back to the foundation of morality is religion, which can only be through socialism