An Inspector Calls: Context, Themes & Quotes - Everything You Need to Know For The 2024 GCSE Exams
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Priestly critiques the capitalist Edwardian system, emphasizing deep class divisions and the exploitation of the working class, highlighting societal instability just before World War One. The play explores themes of class divisions, age, social responsibility, and gender through key quotes from characters like Mr. Burling, Sheila Burling, Gerald Croft, Mrs. Burling, Eric Burling, and Inspector Goole.
Insights
- Priestly critiques the capitalist Edwardian system and highlights deep class divisions in Edwardian England, with the upper class exploiting the working class.
- The play "An Inspector Calls" explores themes of class divisions, age, social responsibility, and gender, set just before World War One, showcasing societal instability and the prevalent idea of the undeserving poor among the upper class.
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Recent questions
What are the main themes in the play?
Class divisions, age, social responsibility, and gender.
Who is Inspector Goole?
Emphasizes the plight of the poor and wealthy's responsibility.
What is Mr. Burling's perspective on labor?
Quotes include "Titanic Unsinkable" and dehumanizing labor.
How does Sheila Burling evolve throughout the play?
Shows evolving empathy and sense of responsibility.
What is the social context of the play?
Set just before World War One, highlighting societal instability.
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Summary
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"Socialist critique of Edwardian society"
- Priestly was a socialist critiquing the capitalist Edwardian system.
- Women had limited rights regardless of class, needing marriage for stability.
- Edwardian England had deep class divisions, with the upper class exploiting the working class.
- The idea of the undeserving poor was prevalent among the upper class.
- The play is set just before World War One, highlighting societal instability.
- Themes in the play include class divisions, age, social responsibility, and gender.
- Mr. Burling's key quotes include "Titanic Unsinkable" and dehumanizing labor.
- Sheila Burling's quotes show her evolving empathy and sense of responsibility.
- Gerald Croft's quotes reveal his duplicitous nature and lack of remorse.
- Mrs. Burling's quotes depict her loyalty to class over gender and disdain for the working class.
- Eric Burling's quotes show his initial shyness, selfishness, and eventual change.
- Inspector Goole's quotes emphasize the plight of the poor and the responsibility of the wealthy.
- A downloadable PDF with a summarized mind map of the context, themes, and quotations is available for free.
