Context and themes of TIC

Question 1

Britain in the 1912’s (TIC)

Answer 1

society was divided by class, more money = more power, gender inequality - women could not vote and were controlled by their fathers or husbands, not much help from the government - charities were important

Question 2

Britain in the 1945’s (TIC)

Answer 2

still divided by class, women were now allowed to vote = more equality, after the war people wanted to make a difference - especially the younger generation leading towards a more socialist attitude

Question 3

Family expectations in the 1912 (TIC)

Answer 3

middle class = members had their role, parents = in charge of the family, children = obedient and unquestioning, gender roles were heavily used, men = work and support, women = marry into money and plan parties
working class = women also worked and members had very different roles

Question 4

Birling family family expectations

Answer 4

clearly defined gender roles, however the hierarchy is destroyed when the inspector arrives, Sheila and Eric learn to think for themselves without parent’s influence = parents no longer have authority over them

Question 5

How is working-class shown in the play (TIC)

Answer 5

Eva = struggles through life, only just earing enough to survive

Question 6

How is middle-class shown in the play (TIC)

Answer 6

Birlings = wealthy, own a business, are able to live very comfortably, have power and control

Question 7

How is upper-class shown in the play (TIC)

Answer 7

Gerald = family own lots of land, socially ‘better’ than the Birlings, inherited money which means they had a higher status

Question 8

What did the class system mean for the lower class

Answer 8

very difficult, would have been hard for people like Eva to help themselves out of trouble, upper classes had a limited sense of responsibility for the lower class, Mrs Birling did not recognise Eva’s photo - no identity, higher class did not question the system as they had the power = easier to ignore unpleasant things

Question 9

How is it shown that the Birlings think class is all that matters

Answer 9

their biggest concern was the ‘public scandal’ that would happen, Mr Birling believes his positions of power make him important, he uses Gerald to promote his social class, Mrs Birling is only involved in charity for the social status

Question 10

How is it shown that Priestley thinks that class doesn’t matter

Answer 10

uses the play to reveal how unfair the system is, Birlings are a microcosm for the bad qualities of the ruling classes, he presents the working class as victims of the class system, Eva Smith could have been anyone, the Birlings behaviour shows society and their attitudes, Sheila and Eric change views showing that class isn’t what matters but the individuals

Question 11

How is the older generation represented in TIC

Answer 11

Arthur and Sybil have traditional and old-fashioned views - they think they are the best, children should not be seen or heard, do not like their authority challenged, represent the ruling class - obsessed with social class shows something needs to change

Question 12

How is the younger generation represented in TIC

Answer 12

ambitious, dtermined and motivated - Eva had courage which got her fired (‘had a lot to say’), challenges the older generation, they learn from their mistakes - fairer and equal society could happen

Question 13

How is Gerald represented in the generations of old and young

Answer 13

he is of Sheila’s generation but follows attitudes similar to Mr Birling, younger version of Mr Birling, he married Sheila for business reasons, agrees that Eva should have been fired, doesn’t learn/change, shows that the caring future is not inevitable - upper class is set in their ways and unlikely to change

Question 14

How are men and women presented in the start of the play (TIC)

Answer 14

stereotypically = women - obsessed with pretty clothes, shopping and wedding, protected from ‘unpleasant and disturbing’ things, Sheila wants Eva sacked because of pride, vanity and jealousy (stereotypical traits of women), Sheila is accused of being hysterical. men - busy with work and public affairs, Gerald sleeps around before his marriage whereas Sheila is not allowed, different rules

Question 15

How are the young women presented in the play (TIC)

Answer 15

they break out and rebel against the roles, Eva questioned Mr Birlings ways, she refused Eric’s money as she didn’t want to rely on a man, Sheila interrupts and challenges people throughout the play

Question 16

How are men and women presented in the play at the end (TIC)

Answer 16

the strong men are broken down by Sheila - challenging the audiences view on women, Sheila states her own opinions and thinks for herself, Gerald is rejected by Sheila and Eric is revealed to have a drinking problem, Birling suffers his authority has been taken and he is very different compared to the start of the play (‘panic-stricken’)

Question 17

How is the play seen as a morality play (TIC)

Answer 17

it points out everyone’s sins and tried to get them to repent and confess, doesn’t follow the Christian ideas but the moral judge is the inspector, at the end it is not a legal issue but a moral one

Question 18

Why is the inspector odd

Answer 18

his origin is unknown, he appears omniscient, many questions about him are left unanswered, increases mystery and tension, ‘there was something curious about him’ - supernatural

Question 19

Do the characters learn their lesson (TIC)

Answer 19

Gerald, Birling and Mrs Birling believe is was a hoax and they are relieved to find out he was a fraud, their views are clear and don’t change, arrogance means he doesn’t listen to people below him Sheila and Eric learn their lessons even if their story doesn’t have a tragic ending, they listen to their moral instincts even if it didn’t happen, Sheila not only changes her views but personality, they reject their parents who refuse to learn/change

Question 20

How is ignorance shown in the play (TIC)

Answer 20

the older generation doesn’t change because of ignorance - the problems of working class doesn’t affect them, the system works in their favour, so they blame others

Question 21

Birlings view (social responsibility)

Answer 21

he thinks that community responsibility is ‘nonsense’, the interest of business are more important than workers rights

Question 22

Mrs Birlings view (social responsibility)

Answer 22

she believes that they have no responsbility to the working class, her prejudices are so ingrained that they can’t be changed

Question 22

Erics view (social responsibility)

Answer 22

he realised too late that his selfish actions were responsible for ruining Eva chances of improving her life

Question 23

Shiels view (social responsibility)

Answer 23

she realises that getting Eva sacked out of spite was irresponsible, but she didn’t do anything about it at the time, the inspector challengers her to improve

Question 24

Inspectors main focus for social responsibility

Answer 24

his final speech was clear that they had to be aware of the difficulties faced by the ‘millions and millions of Eva and John smiths’, the way we treat others is how we change the world

Question 25

How does the play show Priestley’s socialist attitudes

Answer 25

criticized the class division and promote socialism, Inspector makes them question their social responsibility and also their actions, as they disagree with Mr Birlings short-sighted opinions they are more inclined to disagree with his capitalist attitude’s

Question 26

Mrs