Gender Roles and Class in An Inspector Calls
Priestley intertwines his critique of social class with an examination of gender roles in early 20th century British society. The play highlights how women, particularly those from the working class, faced multiple layers of oppression and limitation.
Highlight: Gender roles in An Inspector Calls analysis reveals how societal expectations and class divisions intersected to create particularly challenging circumstances for working-class women.
Sheila Birling's character development throughout the play serves as a lens through which to view changing attitudes towards gender and class. Initially, she embodies the typical expectations of a young, upper-middle-class woman of her time.
Quote: Sheila's early comment - "as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money" - reveals her initial prejudices and lack of understanding about the realities of working-class life.
However, as the play progresses, Sheila begins to question these ingrained attitudes and develops a more nuanced understanding of class and gender issues.
Example: Sheila's growing awareness is evident when she states, "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people." This marks a significant shift in her perspective and challenges the dehumanizing attitudes prevalent in her social circle.
The character of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton embodies the struggles faced by working-class women in early 20th century Britain. Her story highlights the limited options available to women of her class and the exploitation they often faced from those in positions of power.
Definition: Intersectionality - The interconnected nature of social categorizations such as class, race, and gender, regarded as creating overlapping and interdependent systems of discrimination or disadvantage.
Priestley uses Eva's tragic story to illustrate how class division in Priestley's An Inspector Calls disproportionately affected women, who were often viewed as disposable by those in higher social positions. The play challenges the audience to consider the human cost of maintaining rigid class and gender hierarchies.
