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Transcript

There was a great desire for social change. Immediately after The Second World War, Clement Attlee's Labour Party won a landslide victory over Winston Churchill and the Conservatives.

  • World War 2 happen from 1939-1945
  • Over 60 million deaths
  • Introduction of the Atomic Bomb dropped on Japan
  • 80,000 died instantly in first nuclear attack
  • Created international fear of nuclear weapons

An Inspector Calls

To sum it up...

As a result of the wars, women had earned a more valued place in society.

The Second World War ended in Europe on 8 May 1945. People were recovering from nearly six years of warfare, danger and uncertainty.

1945

  • The Great War 1914-1918.
  • Women's suffrage - 1918 (partial) 1921 (all women over 21)
  • Independence for Ireland (at least, for part of Ireland) 1921
  • Economic depression throughout the whole of the inter-war years.
  • The General Strike 1926
  • Second World War 1939-1945
  • Beveridge Report 1942 ('5 Giant Evils' of society: squalor, ignorance, want, idleness and disease. Foundation of the modern welfare state, NHS etc )

1945

  • World War 1 - 1914-1918
  • Over 15 million deaths
  • Believed to be 'The War To End All Wars'

Class distinctions had been greatly reduced as a result of two world wars.

  • Titanic sank in April 1912
  • Believed to be unsinkable
  • The pride of British industry
  • Over 1500 deaths

There were strong distinctions between the upper and lower classes.

By 1945, most of those class and gender divisions had been breached. Priestley wanted to make the most of these changes. Through this play, he encourages people to seize the opportunity the end of the war had given them to build a better, more caring society.

Women were subservient to men. All a well off women could do was get married; a poor woman was seen as cheap labour.

The ruling classes saw no need to change the status quo.

1912

  • Russian Revolution in 1917
  • Saw the over-throwing and execution of the Russian Tsars by the working classes
  • Birth of Communism

1912

A video to end on history context and background:

Priestley deliberately set his play in 1912 because the date represented an era when all was very different from the time he was writing. In 1912, rigid class and gender boundaries seemed to ensure that nothing would change.

The First World War

The Titanic

Stereotypical Gender Roles

In Act 2 of An Inspector Calls, Sheila says to her mother, Mrs Birling, “But we really must stop these silly pretences”.

How does Priestley show, in his presentation of Mrs Birling, that she often pretends to be something she is not? (30 marks)

Distinct Class System

1912 summarized

Capitalist Society

The National Coal Strike

Video Length - 7:40

No Welfare State

Won't accept Eric's problem, even after Sheila tells her.

Historical context of the play varies from the history in 1912 and 1945 as

An Inspector Calls is set in 1912 but it was written in 1945.

Women had no Right to Vote

Government introduced minimum wage law

Tells Sheila off for using slang.

At the end, she acts as if nothing has happened.

Presentation

Tells Birling off for saying that the food was good.

She would try to hide what happened to avoid a public scandal.

Women had full voting rights

World War 2 had just ended

Pretends not to know what the inspector is taking about. Suggests that she is hiding a lot more.

Supports charity but used her influence to have Eva's case refused.

Socialism is becoming appealing

Education Act and rights put for all classes

1945 Summarized

Sheila says that Mrs Birling is building a wall between them and the girl - she is trying to hide the truth.

NHS formed

Labour Party in power

Introduced Welfare

Class distinctions reduced

Image by Tom Mooring

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