How Does Priestley Portray Society as Unfair
This is an essay posted on my YouTube channel by Ree4631.
It would also fit an essay title comparing Sheila to Mrs Birling.
The Essay
Priestley presents an unfair society in "An Inspector Calls" as he constructs Mrs. Birling as a cold-hearted woman who exhibits a disdainful attitude towards Eva Smith. This is evident in her demonizing and diminishing description: "Girls of that class." This subjective language here shows how the working class were dehumanised in Edwardian society. Additionally, the word "that" suggests that Mrs. Birling expects everyone to be familiar with girls of that class, as if it’s a widely accepted fact in the Edwardian society of 1912.
Furthermore, Priestley presents an unfair society when Mrs. Birling exclaims, "I didn’t like her manner. She’d impertinently made use of our name." This quote highlights an unfair society as it shows the class nature of Edwardian society and their inability to take responsibility for the struggles of the working class. Perhaps Priestley uses Mrs. Birling's cold-hearted nature to mirror the behavior of capitalist society and to expose their lack of benevolence and kindness. He may be highlighting the broader systematic inequalities perpetuated by such a society.
Priestley constructs Sheila as a foil to Mrs. Birling as she takes responsibility and sees the consequences of her unscrupulous behavior, which is highlighted when Sheila says, "Between us we drove that girl to commit suicide." This shows that society is unfair because it underscores how the wealthy, like the Birlings, often remain oblivious to the consequences of their actions until directly confronted with them, which highlights the theme of social inequality where the privileged can act without considering the impact on others, while the less fortunate bear the brunt of their actions. This indifference to consequences perpetuates an unjust social order where the powerful remain untouched by the suffering they cause, which Priestley tries to emphasise by setting the play between two world wars.
Alternatively, Priestley uses Sheila to show an unfair society when he suggests to his audience that Sheila hasn’t fully learned the Inspector's lesson, which is evident when Sheila blames herself more than Gerald for his affair, claiming, "Just out of pity. And it was my fault really that she was so desperate." The quote "just out of pity" is curtailed, which suggests that Sheila doesn’t believe what she is saying on an unconscious level. Furthermore, this shows an unfair society as it elucidates how women in a patriarchal society would act and it shows women’s lack of control in the patriarchal society. Additionally, it highlights that women had to be subservient to men and had to get used to men having affairs, which is reinforced when Mrs. Birling says, "Sheila, you have to get used to it, just as I had." Moreover, Sheila’s contemplation of marrying Gerald shows how women lacked so much power and control. The only way they could have power was through marriage, which emphasises an unfair society because it exposes the Edwardian society's patriarchal structure where women’s autonomy and independence are undermined by reinforced gender norms.
Lastly, Priestley presents an unfair society in "An Inspector Calls" as he constructs the Inspector as a proxy for his socialist views, which is evident in his final speech: "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths. We are all members of one body, and if men were not to learn that lesson, they will be taught in fire, blood, and anguish." The repetition of "millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" emphasises the abundance of individuals like Eva Smith, drawing attention to the widespread existence of people facing similar circumstances. Additionally, the repetition highlights the pervasive nature of unfairness within social structures and underscores the idea that the unfairness extends beyond isolated incidents.
In addition to this, "blood and anguish" shows an unfair society as it creates a sense that it is almost as if the ramifications of their actions are coming back to them. The words "fire and blood and anguish" emphasise the oppressive nature the capitalist upper class exhibits towards the working class, as these words are associated with war where people suffer horrible events, which portrays an unfair society as it implies that the working class are experiencing hardships due to the relentless defiance and obdurate behaviour exhibited by the upper class in Edwardian society.
Moreover, the word "men" suggests that Priestley is criticising men’s exploitation of women in society and their indifference towards it. Perhaps Priestley uses the inspector's final message to highlight the Edwardian society's influence on the current generation, and perhaps he uses the allusion to the Second World War to encourage his 1945 audience to vote for the Labour Party and advocate for socialism and social reform. Additionally, Priestley could be using the Inspector's final message to try and persuade the capitalists in society who still choose to be obdurate and wilfully irresponsible to see the ramifications of their ignorance and make a change.
This is a clear grade 9 essay.
Here it is, with feedback from Tilf.io
Feedback
Priestley presents an unfair society in "An Inspector Calls" as he constructs Mrs. Birling as a cold-hearted woman who exhibits a disdainful attitude towards Eva Smith. This is evident in her demonizing and diminishing description: "Girls of that class." This subjective language here shows how the working class were dehumanised in Edwardian society. Additionally, the word "that" suggests that Mrs. Birling expects everyone to be familiar with girls of that class, as if it’s a widely accepted fact in the Edwardian society of 1912.
(This paragraph effectively introduces Priestley's portrayal of class prejudice through the character of Mrs. Birling. The analysis of language is relevant and supports the argument well. (At the top of Level 4))
Furthermore, Priestley presents an unfair society when Mrs. Birling exclaims, "I didn’t like her manner. She’d impertinently made use of our name." This quote highlights an unfair society as it shows the class nature of Edwardian society and their inability to take responsibility for the struggles of the working class. Perhaps Priestley uses Mrs. Birling's cold-hearted nature to mirror the behavior of capitalist society and to expose their lack of benevolence and kindness. He may be highlighting the broader systematic inequalities perpetuated by such a society.
(The analysis of Mrs. Birling's attitude continues to build on the theme of social responsibility and class. The connection between the character's behavior and the broader societal issues is clear and well-explained. (At the bottom of Level 5))
Priestley constructs Sheila as a foil to Mrs. Birling as she takes responsibility and sees the consequences of her unscrupulous behaviour, which is highlighted when Sheila says, "Between us we drove that girl to commit suicide." This shows that society is unfair because it underscores how the wealthy, like the Birlings, often remain oblivious to the consequences of their actions until directly confronted with them, which highlights the theme of social inequality where the privileged can act without considering the impact on others, while the less fortunate bear the brunt of their actions. This indifference to consequences perpetuates an unjust social order where the powerful remain untouched by the suffering they cause, which Priestley tries to emphasise by setting the play between two world wars.
(The contrast between Sheila and Mrs. Birling is well-drawn, and the paragraph effectively highlights the theme of social inequality.
The analysis could be deepened by exploring how Priestley's portrayal of Sheila's realization reflects the potential for change in society. (At the top of Level 4))
Alternatively, Priestley uses Sheila to show an unfair society when he suggests to his audience that Sheila hasn’t fully learned the Inspector's lesson, which is evident when Sheila blames herself more than Gerald for his affair, claiming, "Just out of pity. And it was my fault really that she was so desperate." The quote "just out of pity" is curtailed, which suggests that Sheila doesn’t believe what she is saying on an unconscious level. Furthermore, this shows an unfair society as it elucidates how women in a patriarchal society would act and it shows women’s lack of control in the patriarchal society. Additionally, it highlights that women had to be subservient to men and had to get used to men having affairs, which is reinforced when Mrs. Birling says, "Sheila, you have to get used to it, just as I had." Moreover, Sheila’s contemplation of marrying Gerald shows how women lacked so much power and control. The only way they could have power was through marriage, which emphasises an unfair society because it exposes the Edwardian society's patriarchal structure where women’s autonomy and independence are undermined by reinforced gender norms.
(This paragraph offers a nuanced view of Sheila's character and the societal expectations of women.
The analysis of gender roles is insightful, but the link to the portrayal of an unfair society could be made more explicit. (At the bottom of Level 5))
Lastly, Priestley presents an unfair society in "An Inspector Calls" as he constructs the Inspector as a proxy for his socialist views, which is evident in his final speech: "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths. We are all members of one body, and if men were not to learn that lesson, they will be taught in fire, blood, and anguish." The repetition of "millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" emphasises the abundance of individuals like Eva Smith, drawing attention to the widespread existence of people facing similar circumstances. Additionally, the repetition highlights the pervasive nature of unfairness within social structures and underscores the idea that the unfairness extends beyond isolated incidents.
(The analysis of the Inspector's speech is thorough and captures the essence of Priestley's socialist message. The connection to the theme of social responsibility and the broader societal implications is well-established. (At the top of Level 5))
In addition to this, "blood and anguish" shows an unfair society as it creates a sense that it is almost as if the ramifications of their actions are coming back to them. The words "fire and blood and anguish" emphasise the oppressive nature the capitalist upper class exhibits towards the working class, as these words are associated with war where people suffer horrible events, which portrays an unfair society as it implies that the working class are experiencing hardships due to the relentless defiance and obdurate behavior exhibited by the upper class in Edwardian society.
(The interpretation of the 'fire, blood, and anguish' as a reflection of the consequences of the upper class's actions is compelling.
The analysis could be further strengthened by exploring how this portrayal of suffering contributes to the play's overall message about social justice. (At the bottom of Level 5))
Moreover, the word "men" suggests that Priestley is criticising men’s exploitation of women in society and their indifference towards it. Perhaps Priestley uses the inspector's final message to highlight the Edwardian society's influence on the current generation, and perhaps he uses the allusion to the Second World War to encourage his 1945 audience to vote for the Labour Party and advocate for socialism and social reform. Additionally, Priestley could be using the Inspector's final message to try and persuade the capitalists in society who still choose to be obdurate and wilfully irresponsible to see the ramifications of their ignorance and make a change.
(The critique of gender roles and the exploitation of women is well-articulated. The paragraph effectively links Priestley's message to the historical context and the audience's potential response. (At the top of Level 5))
Mark: 27 - 30 (this is a beta feature and mark may not be very accurate)
Overall feedback: The student provides a well-structured and detailed analysis of how Priestley portrays an unfair society in 'An Inspector Calls.' The use of textual evidence is judicious, and the exploration of themes such as class prejudice, social responsibility, and gender roles is thoughtful and developed. The response demonstrates a clear understanding of the text and its context.
What went well: The student's ability to draw connections between the characters' attitudes and the broader societal issues is commendable. The use of textual references is precise and supports the interpretations effectively.
Even better if: To reach the top of Level 5 or even Level 6, the student could further explore the implications of the characters' actions and attitudes on the portrayal of an unfair society, making more explicit links to the question throughout the essay.
My Comments
I completely agree with the mark range - personally I would give this 29 or 30.
The grading of each paragraph is a new feature. This is useful. I’ve no idea how accurate it is, but it is a great way for you to see what ideas you most need to improve on in your essay.
Luckily Tilf.io has ignored the levels of each paragraph when giving the final grade, of Level 6.
I agree with Tilf’s advice and final mark, which is good. You can try it for free here.