JB Priestley Definitions Social & Historical Background
John Boynton Priestley
Born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire SOCIALISM – a set of strong beliefs that states 1st performed in 1945 in Leningrad before
13th September 1894 (Queen Victoria was that all people are equal being produced in the UK in 1946
ruling 1837-1901) CAPITALISM – an economic and political system
Mother died in same year and his father (a in which a country's trade and industry are First World War = 28th July 1914 – 11th
schoolmaster) married again 4 years later -> controllled by private owners for profit rather November 1918
stepmother was very kind to him than by the state Titanic sank = 14th April 1912
SOCIAL CLASS – division of a society based on Between 1910-1950 miners’ strikes in
Left school at 16 instead of working towards social and economic status Britain:
a university scholarship -> pursue writing 1910 – South Wales Miners’ Strike
career 1912 – National Coal Strike
Didn’t find work in newspaper 1921 – UK Miners’ Strike
1910 – “Very junior clerk” at local wool firm 1921 + 3rd May-12th May 1926 – General
of Helm and Company Strike
1st publication = “Secrets of the Ragtime
King” 1928 – Women over 21 could vote thanks
to Equal Franchaise Act
When WW1 broke out -> joined Duke of 1929 – Wall Street Crash -> worldwide
Wellington’s West Yorkshire regiment “depression”
1915 – Sent to front-line -> lost friends, badly
wounded + buried alive by shell Second World War = 1st September 1939 –
After war -> became an officer + studied 2nd September 1945
Modern History and Political Science at Important events in news in Britain
Trinity Hall, Cambridge University Playwright , novelist + broadcaster between 1910-1913:
Served in WW1 – wound (1916) 1910 – King Edward died of 9yrs of
Married 3 times: Pat (died), Jane (divorce) & Socialist – accused of having communist monarchy
Jaquetta Hawkes tendencies 1912 – Titanic sank
Journalism for BBC during WW2 1958 – Founded CND (Campaign for Nuclear 1913 – Suffragette Emily Davison
Interested in politics + cofounder of the Disarmament) was killed by King’s horse
“Socialist Common Wealth Party” Believed in peace + helping poorer members of 1945 – Welfare State introduced (when
Believed in equality (rich + poor), got many society Labour Party won and took control of
rewards, had empathy for less fortunate and Blamed higher classes for mistakes which led to important parts of the enconomy +
believed in social justice 2 World Wars Churchill from Conservative Party lost)
Very liberal Traditionalist 1945 – Family Allowance Act
Against all forms of war + wanted people to Experienced labour – where he grew up (benefits directly to mothers)
learn from past 1946 – National Insurance Act
Died: 14th August 1984 1948 – NHS
,Background Information Key Events/Social Changes
Concerned about consequences of social inequalities 1912:
Written in 1945 but set in 1912 – set 30 years earlier than WW1 starts in 2 years – lasted for over 4 years
when he wrote it Wasn't as much support from the government for people in need like today e.g. welfare
1945 – First performed in Soviet Union state
1946 – First performed in Britain 1912 National Miners' Strike – over a million workers across Britain campaigned fairer wages
for miners -> at the time it was the largest strike in Britain
Priestley’s protest – ruling classes in 1912 + 1945 – his call RMS Titanic – struck an iceberg in the northern Atlantic Ocean and sunk with the loss of
for change in society 1,517-1,636 lives -> wreck was not discovered until 1985
Play promotes economic, political + social issues Russian Revolution (1917-1918) – removed Russia from the war, brought transformation of
(socialism vs free-market capitalism, democracy vs the Russian Empire in the USSR
fascism, communism vs individual rights + privileges) General Strike – 4 May 1926 -> overwhelming 1.5-1.75 million people
Weak trade unions – worker had fewer rights
Gives younger generation hope of better future – play Fire, blood and anguish – emotively hit audience who experienced wars + rebuilt England
warns everyone the “mistakes” in society
Women’s vulnerability evokes sympathy supporting 1945:
Priestley’s belief in gender equality as “one body” Post war drama – written after WW2
Wars would be avoided through cooperation + mutual WW2 (1939 -1945) people were recovering from 6 years in warfare
respect 6 million Jews were murdered by the Nazi's
Includes strong range of female characters – upper class Atom bombs – Hiroshima and Nagasaki were dropped on Japan in August 1945
snob, vain daughter, oppressed factory worker (conveys Socialism and other left-wing ideas became more popular after concerns were raised about
women from all types of social backgrounds) Britain's social structure, the distribution of wealth and power
The Labour Party won the General Election + focused on improving the welfare system to
Priestley clearly interested in the class system + how it look after the needs of the poorest people in society e.g. NHS was started in 1948 introduced
determines the decisions that people make – trying to by Labour Party
show that the upper classes are unaware that easy life People wanted to find out how to make a better society -> huge wave of support for social
they lead rest upon hard work for the lower classes and political change
Believed in responsibility, individuality + collectivity – for Darkest events during this period are represented in human history
every action there is a consequence which is portrayed in
“An Inspector Calls” if nothing is done, there’s no
improvement (older generation)
Shows his own ideas – class system was wrong + wanted
to get rid of it (need of change)
Encouraged people to seize opportunity to build better,
caring society
,Gender Roles Class System
1912:
1912:
Only men who owned property could vote in elections
The British society was divided in classes (upper class, new money,
Women couldn’t vote – had no rights
middle class, working, class, working poor, poverty level) the rich had
Gender boundaries ensured nothing will change – restriction
the most power
(portrayed as evil in play)
In rural places, the rich would have a garden with vegetables + grains
Women mostly stayed at home – housework
Children on farms were called to help the family workload - chores
Large working class were poorly paid
1945:
People who had money and power (rich class) saw no reason to change
Women had a more valued place in society than before
society - established rigid society
By 1928 all men + women over 21 had right to vote so power was
Wealthier classes had different lifestyles compared to other classes -
shared more evenly (Emmeline Pankhurst started movement for right
nightclubs, jazz clubs and cocktail bars flourished
to vote)
Rigid society-division between classes (no escape - stuck in same class)
Gender boundaries have been breached - less restrictions
There were 2 world wars which is what changed society
Women had to work (men were at war) - taken over jobs from men as
they went to war -> had prominent role - could work (divide between
1945:
classes – affected views of women)
Britain was still divided by class
Men acknowledged that women were just as capable at doing men's
No assistance for people who could not afford to look after themselves
jobs – changed their perception of women-no restrictions
Relaxed society - could become rich (classes broke down).
Women enjoyed a new found freedom
Attitudes towards relationships, sex and pregnancy
1912: 1945:
Advancement of birth control meant people could Family structure was more relaxed - women had more
control how many children they wanted freedom
Younger generation have socialist ideas More equality in relationships
Conservative - relationships were one-sided (father More relaxed in relationship - sex is still discouraged
had control)
Sex before marriage - religious, frowned upon (formal)
, Popular in 19th century
Plot is intricate + complex -> action builds to
a climax
Talks about events that happened before the
events of the play
An Inspector Calls is a well-made
Well-made play is a play Normally order is restored (Not in An
play as all the events in the play are
constructed to a predetermined Inspector Calls)
influenced by what happened to Eva
pattern and aiming at neatness of Smith before the play
plot and theatrical effectiveness
but often being mechanical and
stereotyped
J.B Priestley can manipulate
the audience, each
revelation is more
surprising + shocking to the
last
It is a dramatic genre from
19th century theatre first Other Dramatists:
systematised by the French Victoria Sardou
Dramatist Popular form of Alexandre Dumas
Eugène Scribe entertainment Emilie Augier
Wrote within the genre with
own spin on style
Order of features: Explanation of features:
Exposition = Obligatory scene =
Opening designed to provide a Scene(s) where a secret is
gentle, introduction to the story revealed, adds tension +
Introduce characters + setting the drama
scene The climatic curtain =
Extrances + exits = Act/scene ends on a
Timed carefully to heighten cliffhanger, when things are
tension + drama tense/dramatic
