English – An Inspector Calls 1. Arthur Birling He seems to be a very stern and heavy man. He cares for his family, yet his business seems to be of higher importance to him. This is shown through how his daughter’s marriage appears to be merely a business opportunity to him rather than engaging his daughter into a life-long commitment. “You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted.
Both supported each other and both were very smart. “Abigail aligned her responses to fit alongside her husband’s own internal odyssey toward the inevitable. Her only political ambition was to “reign in the heart of my husband”. That is my throne and there i aspire to be absolute. On the other hand, if he was elected to the presidency, it would be a flattering and glorious reward for his lifetime of public service, and he would obviously need a wife to hover about you, to bind up your temples, to mix your bark and pour out your coffee.” (page 176) Abigail Adams supported her husband in every possible way; even if it was not something she believed in.
In society we are given several ideas of what fathers should be like. A Blow A Kiss by Tim Winton, represents two contradictory ideas of fathers. Fathers who are kind and loving towards their sons are seen as a positive representation of fathers, whereas ones who are nasty and abusive towards their sons are seen as a negative representation of fathers. We are encouraged to hold this opinion through the point of view of a child named Albie and our own ideas of how a father should be presented. In the text, some fathers are represented as loving and caring towards their sons, encouraging us to believe that they are better fathers.
I also think that however different individual fathers may be all share one powerful, vital aspect: The love for their child. Even though a 16th century father would be very different to a modern father, I should think that both possess this quality of love. Prospero seems a loving man, dedicated to his daughter, Miranda and would give anything to make her happy. When telling Miranda about her past, Prospero describes her as a “Cheribin” that made him truly happy. In dark, dreary times it was Miranda, who kept Prospero going, she did “Preserve” him.
Abigail is well aware of the heavy regard for herself that she has bred into John, and thus uses this pre-established respect to heighten her own position to inform him. Her rhetorical appeal to her prestige in the eyes of her son paves the way for motiving her boy, as she stresses her importance to him, and thus the importance of her will. She also reminds him of his submission to her in past, using it as a tool to exhibit her importance to him in future as well as present matters. Although her self-glorifying approach may seem to simply due to unnecessary self-exaltation, her use of this rhetorical strategy is simply to create an effective voice for the advisement of her boy, as she obviously cares for him deeply and feels she knows best for him in his further conquests. Throughout her letter to John, Abagail Adams employs constant appeals to the importance of knowledge in her boy’s life; as she readily uses her position as his mother to encourage promote the significance of learning.
The correlation between relationships and an individual’s sense of belonging can be clearly seen in the loving relationship between Romulus and his son Raimond. Both truly belong to each other through the unconditional bond of love between parent and child. The relationship also gives belonging to both through Raimond giving his father the strength to overcome constant tragedy as shown by the quotes “My son is everything to me." and “never say I don’t love you” and with Romulus doing everything in his power for his son to have a better life “he denied himself so I would have more”. The technique of anecdotes is used throughout the book to show how strong their love and sense of belonging to each other is such as how Raimond always feels safe and loved when riding with his father on their bike “Most of all, I remember his strong, bare, sun-darkened arms on either side of me as I sat on the petrol tank.” These anecdotes also allow the responder to connect more personally with the characters and their history and more fully understand their relationship.
He alternates between extremes of concerned family man, to being a selfish self-obsessed man. Many years of being a 'hard headed business man' has created the character that is displayed in this act. This even extends to the marriage of his daughter to Gerald Croft, suitably the son of another successful business owner. Obviously Mr Birling believes that Gerald Croft is an ideal husband for his daughter, not because he loves her (in fact he later shows the opposite), but because Croft's business connections complements Mr Birling's business. This is shown immediately when Arthur Birling states, 'You'll be marrying at a very good time.'
He argues that men are the ‘breadwinners’ and play an instrumental role in providing for the family. Women on the other hand play an expressive role in the family, dealing with the emotional care and looking after the husband and children. Parsons argued that this division in the family is based upon the biological differences of men and women. He argues that men are more physically suited to going out to work, dealing with the effects from a capitalist society and coming home to be cared for by the woman. The woman in the family, Parsons argues, is much more naturally suited to nurturing the family and providing emotional care.
Men of the 1950’s took pride in their masculinity and being able to provide for their families. With this “American way of life”, both males and females were pressured to live up to what their traditional gender roles entailed. Policymakers and creators of popular culture pointed to traditional gender roles as the best means for Americans to achieve happiness and security . Family life in the suburbs was fundamentally lead by the husband, with his wife supporting him. Women staying at home, and men going to work was simply the norm that the suburb life
The marriage between the characters Nora and Trovald can be read as a representation of the need for power and authority in a patriarchal society. Trolvald’s character is constructed as the epitome of a good husband just as Nora seems to be of a wife. The character is doting, listens to Nora’s wishes through some pleasing on Nora’s part. And Nora’s character a brilliant wife who does as her husband wishes and keeps him pleased, even if it sacrifices herself. However we soon realise that he holds all of the power in the relationship.