Older vs Younger Gen

• 'As if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive - a community of nonsense'

  1. Priestly uses zoomorphism to characterize society, particularly the lower class likening them to insignificant creatures like 'bees.' Birling portrays the degradation and mockery of the notion of responsibility creating it to be an animalistic and primal behavior fit for only the 'bees.'
• 'As if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive - a community of nonsense'

  2. The use of the hyphen creates a theoretical pause when articulating the word 'community.' This shows how he couldn't verbalize that word and instead feel physical repulsion to it
• 'As if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive - a community of nonsense'

  4. Therefore, Mr Birling, who is a microcosm for the upper-class ideology, is vilified from the offset because he chooses materialism over human relationships. Priestley could be suggesting the inhumanity of the capitalist men which has been normalized.

  5. Furthermore, this signifies the entrenched worldview of the older generation making their stubbornness a resistance of change.
• 'But these girls aren't cheap labour -- theyre people'

  1. Connotation of girls: The connotation of the word 'girls' creates vulnerability and innocence which exposes Mr Birling's exploitative nature for capitalist advancements. This highlights how the capitalists prey on the disadvantaged.
  2. This revelation is unimaginable for Sheila's sheltered past self. It fuels her disgust towards capitalist men, viewing them as unscrupulous and dehumanizing people.
• 'But these girls aren't cheap labour -- theyre people'

  3. Act one's docile Sheila, who was cocooned by privilege, is freed from the shackles of opressive privilege and undergoes metamorphosis under the Inspector's scrutiny. Her infantile facade crumbles and she becomes a champion of social justice. Sheila contradicts the ideas of her father who represent the older generation
• 'We are members of one body' Act 3 / Inspector

  1. Imagery of 'one': The imagery of 'one' serves as a poignant reminder of the profound interconnectedness that binds humanity together. It suggests how the Birling's must have a duty to fulfil their part, which is to take care of the community and members of society, despite the difference in social class.
  2. By realizing the interconnection, Priestley gives a message to the Birling's and the audience that society can strive to become a more empathetic, compassionate and socially aware society and not a segregated and hated one.
• 'We are members of one body' Act 3 / Inspector

  3. A message for the younger generation and older generation
• 'Girls of that class -' Mrs Birling / Act 2

  1. Connotations of girl: The use of the diction 'girls' connote vulnerability and innocence which portrays her willingness to exploit vulnerability of society and social class for capitalist advancements.
  2. Demonstrative adjective of 'that' showcases how Mrs Birling sees Eva's class as an inferior and homogeneous group that all act the same.
• 'Girls of that class-' Act 2 / Mrs Birling

  3. Furthermore, it creates Mrs Birling to be an arrogant woman as she only operates by her social class and not herself. Therefore, Priestley could evoke how exploitation could lead to feelings of entrapment and confinement

  4. Mrs Birling is entrenched in her social status and generation which makes her refuse to serve the lower classes even in philanthropy.