Theme - Gender

• Why is gender considered pivotal in understanding character interactions in the play?

  Gender influences how characters interact and view themselves.
• What is Priestley’s main message regarding traditional gender stereotypes?

  They are damaging and hinder societal progress.
• How does Priestley use female characters to illustrate women's roles in society?

  • Different female characters represent various societal roles.
  • Their expected behaviors reflect the constraints of a patriarchal society.
  • Interactions between genders comment on traditional roles and future progress.
• What is the role of the Inspector in the play?

  The Inspector is introduced to challenge and break down gender stereotypes.
• How does the Inspector differ from Mr. Birling and Gerald in terms of masculinity?

  The Inspector is not hypermasculine and presents a more powerful alternative through his presence and purposefulness.
• What qualities does Priestley attribute to the Inspector's masculinity?


  Impressive, intelligent, compassionate, and patient.
• What does the Inspector's behavior suggest about masculinity?

  Masculinity does not need to rely on violence or aggression.
• How did the two World Wars influence women's roles in society during the 1940s?


  • Women took on jobs traditionally held by men.
  • This changed perceptions of women's contributions to society.
  • Post-war, women were reluctant to return to domestic roles.
• What societal views existed in 1945 regarding women's roles compared to 1912?

  Society was more progressive in 1945, but traditional views still persisted.
• What is the main theme explored in the play An Inspector Calls?

  Gender
• How does Priestley use the theme of gender to influence the way the characters interact with each other?


  Priestley shows how the ideas and constructs behind gender and gender roles within society influence the ways characters interact with each other and view themselves.
• What is Priestley's main message regarding gender stereotypes?

  Priestley's main message is that traditional gender stereotypes are damaging and actively stop society progressing.
• How does the Inspector challenge traditional gender roles?

  The Inspector is introduced to the family to slowly break down the gender stereotypes. Unlike Mr Birling or Gerald, the Inspector is not a hypermasculine character, but his presence and "purposefulness" present a more powerful alternative to typical, toxic masculinity.
• How does the Inspector's characterization suggest Priestley's vision for a more progressive future?

  The Inspector is impressive, intelligent, compassionate, and patient - the opposite of typical, toxic masculinity. He takes over from Mr Birling as the dominant male figure on stage, foreshadowing Priestley's hopes for a more progressive future where masculinity does not depend on violence, aggression, or intimidation.
• How did the two World Wars challenge conservative notions of gender?

  With so many men sent to war, women took on jobs which had previously been done by men, revolutionizing the way women were viewed and also making them realize how much they were able to contribute towards society.
• How did some people respond to the changes in gender roles during this time period?

  Some people disagreed with these changes, idealizing the pre-War years and wanting to uphold tradition. The Women's Suffrage movement had caused a lot of hostility towards suffragettes, with men and women disapproving of their demands because they threatened tradition.
• What does Mrs Birling represent in terms of gender roles?

  Mrs Birling is symbolic of the traditional 1912 woman, acting as a subordinate in the presence of men.
• How does Mrs Birling's behavior uphold patriarchal values?

  Mrs Birling adheres to strict gender conventions and actively works to suppress other women and keep them within the constraints of societal gender norms. She teaches her daughter Sheila to be dependent on and loyal to men, suggesting internalized misogyny is passed on through generations of women.
• How does Mrs Birling's attitude towards other women reflect the misogyny of the time period?


  Mrs Birling's attitude towards other women is mocking and reductive, using terms like "over-excited", "hysterical child", and "childish" to invalidate and undermine them, which were commonly used by men to dismiss women.
• How does Eva Smith's character subvert traditional gender stereotypes?

  Eva Smith is assertive, outspoken, determined, and righteous - an atypical presentation of femininity that subverts the stereotypes and gender roles surrounding women.
• How does Priestley suggest Eva Smith's treatment is related to her defiance of gender expectations?

  Priestley suggests the qualities that made Eva assertive and outspoken were part of the reason she was treated so poorly by the Birlings - she defied their expectations of working class women being respectful and passive, thus angering them.
• How does Eva Smith's experience with pregnancy outside of marriage reflect the stigmas faced by women at the time?

  Eva's experience with pregnancy outside of marriage allows Priestley to explore the taboos and stigmas women had to contend with, as unmarried women with children were viewed very differently and faced huge social scandals.
• How does Sheila's character arc represent the progression of the Women's Suffrage movement?

  Sheila's transformation from a stereotypical upper class girl into a woman who is assertive, self-assured, and independent can be seen to imitate the progression of Women's Suffrage from 1912 to 1945.
• How does the Inspector's treatment of Sheila empower her and allow her to develop a confident sense of self?

  The Inspector enables Sheila to construct and voice her own opinions, which empowers her and shows how respecting women and their intelligence gives them autonomy and a confident sense of self.
• What are the key ways Priestley uses the female characters to explore gender roles and stereotypes in An Inspector Calls?

  • Mrs Birling represents the traditional, subordinate 1912 woman who upholds patriarchal values
  • Eva Smith subverts gender stereotypes with her assertiveness and defiance of expectations
  • Sheila's character arc mirrors the progression of the Women's Suffrage movement, developing from a stereotypical upper class girl to an assertive, independent woman
  • Priestley uses the female characters to highlight how gender stereotypes and societal expectations oppress and exploit women
• Who is the character that undergoes a transformation in the play?

  Sheila
• How does Sheila's character change throughout the play?

  She transforms from a stereotypical upper-class girl into an assertive, self-assured, and independent woman.
• What role does the Inspector play in Sheila's transformation?


  The Inspector enables Sheila to construct and voice her own opinions, leading to her self-awareness.
• What does Priestley suggest about society's treatment of women?

  Society treats and portrays women in ways that make them appear weak and two-dimensional.
• What does Sheila's character arc represent in relation to Women's Suffrage?

  Her character arc imitates the progression of Women's Suffrage from 1912 to 1945.
• How is Sheila initially presented at the beginning of the play?

  She is presented as naive, materialistic, and spiteful.

  
• What does Sheila's fascination with clothes and jewelry suggest about her character?

  It suggests she is greedy and shallow.
• How does Priestley use Sheila's excitement over her engagement ring?

  It highlights her naivety and infantilizes her character.
• What does Priestley suggest about women's reliance on material possessions?

  He suggests that women were conditioned to rely on clothes and jewelry for pleasure and self-expression.
• How does Sheila's treatment of Eva reflect societal expectations of women?

  It shows that women only had worth if they were deemed beautiful and had to compete for a husband.
• What does Sheila's jealousy towards Eva reveal about her character?

  It reveals that she has been taught to view beauty as a competition for financial security.
• How does Sheila describe her feelings towards Eva when she is angry?

  She describes being "in a furious temper" and taking it out on Eva because she was "jealous."
• What does Sheila's admission about Eva imply about her view of beauty?

  It implies she viewed Eva as a threat because of her beauty.
• How do Sheila's interactions with Gerald reflect her character development?

  Initially, she represses her feelings to conform to societal norms, but later she becomes more assertive.
• What does Priestley suggest about Sheila's use of a mask in her interactions?

  He suggests she uses a mask to disguise her true feelings and remain likable.