How does JB Priestly explore and present the theme of gender in the play ‘An Inspector Calls?

The feminist school has various goals when being used to scrutinize a piece of literature. As Gillespie points out, historically texts were written by males with primarily male protagonists, and thus, the male sentiment is most dominantly expressed in many works of literature. The lessened representation of women in literature is usually confined to typical stereotypes of the historical period. This can be seen in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, and this will be further explored and discussed. Through the feminist lens, women’s presence and portrayal in the play, as well as the common stereotypes about women in Shakespearean society, can be studied carefully, despite the centuries that have passed between the play’s conception and the present. Additionally, as stated in Literary Theories: A Sampling of Critical Lenses,

The role of women has changed drastically over the last few decades. Not only has it changed in society, but also in playwrights and theater. In the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, women were looked down upon, and did not have the ability to make decisions in the household. Men were in charge of everything that occurred in the house, as well as, what his family did or did not do. Over the years, as the role of women changed in society, there was a similar change in the role of women in theater also. When theater first began, females did not play a role in performing plays. Young boys, and even men at times, were used to play the part of the women. Plays in the past are used today to show gender differences and the ways in which men viewed women. Although there were gender differences, when played important roles in playwrights and were faced with difficult situations.

The play is about a man taming a woman, but it is done comically. This play seems to be campaigning the suppression of women, and celebrating patriarchy and male dominance. Most directors try to even the score somehow, Zeferelli’s last scene shows Katherina one-upping Petruchio, making him seem gullible (Bate 243.) Even though this was released in the late 1960’s, it is the last film version and has the last word on America and the play. What an atrocious way to portray American ideals. Even though the play does seem anti-feminist in today’s culture, instead of ending the play with some sort of realization that genders can coexist, the play ends saying that genders must always be competing for dominance with the other. This applies to my peers and I, because many of us realize that genders should be equivalent. While they are not today, a good place to start is by reproducing Shakespeare plays that enforce this

Inspector calls is a play written by the author J.B priestly. Set in 1912, but performed in 1945, after 2 world wars, this play evolves around the suicide of a pregnant working-class girl whose name is Eva smith. An inspector by the name of Goole, questions the involvement of a family business with the name Birling. Co and its upper-class owners. Priestly, being a socialist, writes this play to prevent a social divide between classes.

Many times throughout the play, language is used to show women are inferior to men. The characters Kate and Bianca are two sisters who are the main focus of the suitors. Women were

For many years, women were perceived as unequal within their society. This is shown as women didn’t have any rights to vote until 1918, when the women voting act came into place. However this continuous slur would continue to follow women throughout history. As a result, the writers Shakespeare, Carol Ann Duffy and Robert Browning, all create female characters that have adopted a sense of anger and hatred towards their set society. In the poems and play the writers create strong female characters that have determined voices to deal with the various problems that society brings upon them.

Women were not entrusted with important social roles and had instructions to follow orders; not create them. According to Mr Birling, when his workers ‘came back from their holidays’ they unexpectedly starting demanding for a pay rise. Mr Birling, startled by their request, refused to give them the pay rise, insisting that if he has done so it would ‘have added about twelve per cent to [his] labour costs’. Mr Birling is more concerned about maintaining his wealth and power than he is worried about providing his workers with enough money to survive. Mr Birling considered Eva as ‘a troublemaker’ who had ‘far too much to say’ thus encouraging him to fire Eva from his works. Mr Birling clearly displays that he has no remorse for partaking in Eva death by forcing her into poverty and unemployment as ultimately his central concern is to ‘keep labour costs down’. Eva is exploited against for having an opinion – something which men do not want to hear from a woman. Mr

In the 20th century men were thought to be the supreme over women. Over the course of years the sexual differences were changed and gradually got better, but there were still many bias accusations. The theory that men had to provide and women had to stay at home to do housework was a key turning point in this play. Using the actions, dialogues, and events of this play Susan Glaspell shows the ideology of sexism in this time period.

The title makes women the sort of focus or central point to the play. The men are working, however its the women they are working towards that make it so nice. This was sort of contradictory to this particular time period’s beliefs in women, usually women were thought of as less than men or inferior. In this play though the women are brought to a certain standing that wasn 't heard of.

They seem to believe that women don’t have it hard and the husbands do everything. They think the women are funny because they talk about things like quilts, they state in the “Trifles” text that, “They wonder if she was going to quilt it or just knot it! [ The men laugh, the woman look abashed]”(Pg.750) I think that they really believe that women’s opinions do not matter and that they are not as smart as them. Women in the play are looked down upon. Although they are very important to everyday life, men don’t believe that. Woman in this play seem to be the ones that stay at home and take care of the children and keep up with the house. They cook, clean, wash. Basically, do everything.

Gender plays a huge role in the novel. Since the beginning of the story it is made perfectly clear that women are inferior. The author drops subtle hints that suggest to the reader that women are not equal to men. An example

course of the play. At the time when the play was set and written, women had a very limited role

The idea of gender and gender roles have evolved minimally from the time Henrick Ibsen “A Doll House,” was first published. In the late 1800s, just before the beginning of the first wave of feminism in the United States and Europe, women were looking for ways to gain independence from their “duty” to marry a man, have children, and live a life to home and yearned for the freedom to choose what kind of lives they wanted to live, what they wanted to do, etc. In the beginning of the play, the views of gender are fairly typical, though by the end of the play, the gender roles among the main characters change dramatically.

In this essay I will discuss why Priestley’s play ‘An Inspector Calls’ is effective, focusing on characterisation, dramatic devices and themes.

The author shows his feminist side as he has Eliza stand up for her self and break out of the traditional position of women in the era. This brings a very feminist, free-thinking theme to the play that challenges the audience to break the usual traditions of England’s segregated, unofficial caste-system of a society. In Shaw’s display against inequality and sexism, there is another theme that must be kept in mind. When thinking about how to achieve equality between the sexes, it has to be taken into consideration that true equality does not necessarily come from being treated equally. In order for equality to be achieved, we must feel equal to one another. This feeling comes from making the effort to meet the needs of all people so that they can reach a point in life where they feel dignified, and feel as though they have the ability and the will power to work to raise themselves up in society.