Roles of women

Question 1

What are the three roles for women shown in the play?

Answer 1

• working class victims of powerful elites (Edna and Eva)
• upper class perpetuators of exploitation (Mrs Birling and early Sheila)
• upper class women with a potential to bring social change (Sheila)

Question 2

Mrs Birling

Answer 2

• epitome of traditional upper class women who believes her roles is a domestic custodian, not to question men, to polish the magnificent cut-glass chandelier of her social status and to protect herself and family with social etiquette and ignorance

Question 3

Sheila

Answer 3

• initially presented as spoilt and privileged but developing into a powerful force for social change. A representative of a new sort of feminism

Question 4

Edna

Answer 4

has no voice, except in servile politeness - she works long, unsociable hours

Question 5

Eva

Answer 5

• victim of upper class abuse of power
• stood up for her hundreds of sister workers but “had far too much to say” and so was sileneces
• sexually exploited, due to a vulnerability created by powerful employes