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IC: Social class + Equality - Coggle Diagram
IC: Social class + Equality
LOWER CLASS CHARACTERS: EVA + EDNA
In An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley focuses on the different social classes and how they experience life differently. The play focuses on upper-class characters: the only lower-class characters are Eva Smith and Edna (the maid).
ENDA
We only see Edna a few times, each for a brief moment.
EVA SMITH
We never meet Eva. We only learn about her through Inspector Goole.
We hear all about Eva's life and how she has suffered because of members of the upper-middle and upper classes.
These people did not care about the consequences their actions may have had for lower-class people.
All the characters treat Eva Smith as someone disposable (they can get rid of) and unimportant purely because she is lower-class
They don’t think she is worthy of their time or thought.
UPPER - MIDDLE CLASS CHARACTERS: BIRLINGS
Priestley shows how the upper classes generally only cared about themselves, their reputations, and how life affected them. The play centres on upper-middle-class characters, like Sheila, Eric and Mr Birling
SHEILA
She appears to do little, but has superficial (shallow) interests, e.g fashion + clothing
She spends her father’s money to make herself look the part – her role is to look good so she makes her father and her future husband look good. She is an ornament (object of decoration).
She is presented as a spoilt child at first, who uses her social status to get what she wants.
ERIC
He spends his time gambling and drinking too much.
Because of his social status, he does not have to work for a living. He lives off his father’s money.
He is presented as an immature, irresponsible little boy for most of the play.
MR BIRLING
He is pleased about his daughter marrying into the upper class because it strengthens his ties with Lord and Lady Croft. It also improves his social status.
He is keen to be knighted (given a rank of honour by a British king or queen because of his special achievements) and accepted into the upper class.
He is worried about possible scandals (morally wrong events) that will stop this happening.
UPPER CLASS CHARACTERS: GERALD + MRS BIRLING
In An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley shows that many upper-class people lived superficially (appearing to be true) happy lives.
GERALD
He highlights the selfish attitudes of the upper class at the time.
He pursues a sexual relationship with Eva and treats her as his mistress. He gets rid of her when he has had enough.
After Sheila finds out, Gerald still feels that they should get married. This shows his selfish nature.
By the end of the play, the audience hopes that Gerald will change his attitude, like Sheila and Eric did.
But he shows the selfish egotism (self-absorbed attitude) of the upper class when he does not change.
Instead, he tries hard to do everything he can to prove that Inspector Goole was fake and that he and the Birlings were completely innocent.
He tries to show that they did not know about the hard lives led by the lower classes or how much upper-class lives depended on lower-class workers.