J.B Priestly: Contextual Information Flashcards
When was priestly born ?
September 1894
What did priestly do during his early life ?
Joined the British army during WW 1 and served in the western front however he was wounded in 1916 which gave him time to reflect on his experiences
After WW1 what did priestly do ?
Went to Cambridge university
What is Priestly known for ?
His strong political belief and hatred of lies and hypocrisy
This can all be seen during the play as priestly seems to use the inspector to voice his own monologue
What was Pirestly ?
Primarily a playwright but also a socialist
What did Priestly believe in ?
Public ownership of land and a strong emphasis on democracy
As a socialist he also believed that everyone was equal within society and should share wealth
How is the character of inspector Goole often interpreted ?
As being the socialist voice of priestly
How did Priestly see war ?
He believed it should be avoided after living through both WW1 and WW2
Who did Priestly study ?
Priestly became instreseted with Dunne’s Theory which focused on learning from mistakes in both future and present
This is a constant theme throughout the play and it’s of no doubt that Priestly certainly took influence from Dunne’s theory
What are some key events Priestly lived through ?
Both world wars
The Women’s social and political union
The women’s suffragets and suffragists movements
The titanic
When did the Titanic sink ?
1912 after hitting an iceberg
What important events for Women’s rights did Priestly live through ?
- The women’s Suffrage movement
- Emily Davison dying whilst trying to stop the Kings horse in the Derby races
- women being given the choice to vote
