Set in 1912 An Inspector Calls demonstrates views and opinions of those who believed in social class. This play has a moral message that we should think of others and work together to ensure a fairer, more equal society, also known as socialism. Priestly uses characters such as the Birlings and Eva Smith to show that social class is one of the key themes in the play. Throughout, the theme of social class is shown through all of the characters; social class is most evident through the character of Arthur Birling, he is an ignorant and selfish man who's personality has clearly been effected by the money and success which he has attained. However although Arthur Birling’s earlier life is not mentioned in the play it is clear to the audience that Mr.Birling is not a member of the higher class because of his family, but simply through work and the money he has received.Differences in social class is also shown when Mr Birling says '' Giving us the port, Edna?''
He wants people to realize how much closer together the country was and how that going back to how it was with massive gaps within class difference was not a good thing. He wanted to show that anyone could marry anyone and not get looked down upon, but only if socialism was more adopted then it was at the time the play was set. Through the entirety of the play Mr. Birling is obsessed with money and power, which proves he is a true capitalist. He first shows this when he is giving his speech to Sheila and Gerald about their engagement and how he is happy about it, where he goes from talking about them to talking about the merger between the two companies, Crofts Ltd and Berling and co. Mr Birling is also obsessed with his public image. He thinks that he may be getting an award and does not want anything to affect his image, such as a scandal before just in case he does not end up receiving the award.
In modern relationships there is typically a more dominant figure. In the play A Streetcar Named Desire Stanley is clearly the more dominant figure over Stella. Throughout there are several examples of the power he possesses over her. Williams portrays Stanley as the ‘alpha male’ in the relationship that provides for him but shows a lack of emotional sensitivity towards her. She takes abuse and does what he wants yet she still loves him.
Arthur birling is a wealthy, self made middle class factory owner of the Edwardian era. He is first introduced through the stage directions at the beginning of the play. Priestley describes him as "rather portentious" suggesting his own self importance. This is a characteristic of his attitude throughout the play where his ignorance, self regard and lack of respect for those of lower social status than him such as Eva smith shows the flawed mindset of the wealthy in 1912. Priestley exposed Birling as being a self interested capitalist whose lack of social conscience prevents him from learning the important lesson of social responsibility which constitutes the main message of the play.
Edna also sees other men because she wants some attention and to feel loved. “Her marriage to Léonce Pontellier was purely an accident, in this respect resembling many other marriages which masquerade as the decrees of Fate.” On page 18 is a quote to show this. Edna’s selfish choices have caused her husband much grief. By doing what she wants to do, Edna is a strongly independent woman. Edna goes out and does whatever she wants.
However this character is submerged beneath men for she is working as an assistant to a wealthy man. Even though the 20th century brought about feminist rights and respect for women they are still somehow dismissed in comparison to men. So is there really much difference in the way the dramatist’s present women? The representation of women is often used as a tool for developing the male characters in plays. This is very clearly illustrated in Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman; the primary female in the play is Linda, Willy Loman’s wife.
Rhetorical Analysis of “Men as Success Objects” Men are only of use to most women for their money. In the essay “Men as Success Objects," written by Warren Farrell, Farrell explains the financial state a man has to provide for a woman and in return receive minimal credit. Men work to satisfy their women, or in other cases impress. Farrell also explains a man’s status in society and how women are always put as positive figures and men as the “bad guys.” Farrell uses a concerned tone towards men; he uses logos to help his audience understand his point of view and demonstrate a personal word choice. First, Farrell uses a concern tone to make his audience aware of his argument against the status of a man to a woman.
The Theme of Conformity In The Great Gatsby by, F. Scott Fitzgerald, conformity is brought on by Daisy. In those days, men were still seen as superior to women. She mentioned that she felt it was better to be a beautiful fool and get the man with all the wealth, then to be intelligent. She pretends to be a picture perfect wife even when she is completely unhappy with her life and ends up forgetting whom she really was before, therefore conforming to society. We could see that she has attributes that go beyond what everyone else sees.
Never before has there been a time in history that society has placed such an importance of material wealth and accumulation in determining social status. Somewhere along the line things have gotten mixed up; happiness has been associated with having more stuff, and two don’t come separately. Cabral’s short story reminds us that these riches in life serve only to distract us from what’s really important, as shown here. “So the people put both the present and the future of our town in his hands, but in the long run he got more and more tired of everyone agreeing with him all the time, being waited on hand and foot by the loveliest beauty queens, and no one allowing him to lose at poker games.” (Cabral. 27) Even with all of the success that came along with leading the town, it left him with an emptiness that ultimately led to his demise, “He was desperate to resign, but that was out of the question, and so the solitude of power was bound to kill him.” (Cabral.
Women’s Roles of The 1800’s In the late 1800’s, 19th century woman were held to high expectations even though men were the higher, more dominant gender. Women were the center of the family and the home. They were in charge in all the aspects of the house. Women were often unhappy in their life’s but would never say such a thing, but one women did; Kate Chopin. In Kate Chopin Three short stories “A Respectable Women” “The Kiss” and “The Story of an Hour” the leading women defy their daily roles of Purity, Domesticity and Submissiveness.