AIC Character Grid – Didactic, Morality, - discusses the initial, transitional and final portrayals of a character
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Themes Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3
Mr Birling – ‘lower costs and higher ‘I’m a public man’ ‘I’d give you Class – a Priestley uses Priestley The character
Middle prices’ - instead of ’play golf’ – thousands – yes victim and a the character explores the of Mr Birling is
Class Sheila’s engagement thinks outward thousands’ – perpetrator of Mr Birling stark contrast the antithesis
Bourgeoise shows the capitalist self- appearance is repetition as a construct between the to the
Capitalist absorbed attitude. sufficient to highlights his Older for capitalism younger and Inspector.
Exploits the lower class. approve all individualistic Generation– and older Priestley
The profit comes with inappropriate nature, willing to entrenched demonstrates generation, explores the
the high social cost behaviour pay Inspector, but attitudes the regarding ideologies that
not Eva. Class individualistic their attitudes these
‘there’s a very good ‘Be quiet Sheila’ – prejudice. nature to characters
chance of a knighthood’ condemns Sheila’s of this responsibility. represent -
– focuses on impressing stance, and he “Why you ideology Mr Birling’s capitalism and
Gerald i.e. his family for thinks he can hysterical young through Mr initial rejection socialism,
less competition. control women. fool – get back – Birling’s of any respectively -
or appearance responsibility and how these
‘unsinkable, absolutely ‘The Press might I’ll – “ – Attacking and remains are also
unsinkable’ – repetition easily take it up’ – Eric, threatening personality constant indirect
accentuates the foolish more fixated on his child, irony as throughout the opposition.
connotations being his public he’s the hysterical capitalism play, as
attributed to capitalist appearance. one who isn’t dominated Priestley Labour
ideals. Everything he Social status taking socialism confines the landslide 1945
stands for is unreliable above all. responsibility for character of Mr NHS 48
his actions. Old vs Birling to a
‘This is the same port Young static
your father buys’ development.
demonstrates social ‘There’ll be a
etiquette. He is a show- public scandal’ – Huge effect of
off. Qualifier emphasises an echo of his ww1/2 on
this. previous fixated younger gen –
stance. Has not need change
"A man has to... look changed a bit.
after himself and his Entrenched
own-and" - This doorbell attitude
cut off is a dramatic
device used by Priestly ‘Probably a
to slice through the Socialist or some
jovial tone of the play sort of Crank’ –
and revert the form dismisses the
from a drawing-room Inspector role,
drama to a morally labelling him as a
challenging piece of ’crank’ which is
political theatre. The rude.
doorbell also forces the
audience to link the ‘Better ask Gerald
inspector's arrival to for that ring’ –
Birling's capitalist views. cyclical structure,
the cycle of greed
‘I can’t accept and hatred
responsibility’ - self-
centred, flawed
misleading person
Dominates Act 1 with his
self-indulged speeches.
Mrs Birling ‘leave you men’ – has a ‘Girls of that class’ ‘Oh – Eric – how Women Through the Priestley Priestly
– strong commitment to – strong prejudice could you… I’m suffrage character of explores how demonstrates
Upper Class maintaining the for the working absolutely Mrs Birling, the suffering of the hypocrisy
Aristocrat patriarchal status quo. class she is meant ashamed’ – Class Priestley the working of the upper
Husbands Does this herself without to help. Highlights doesn’t like his system explores the class is classes
social her husband’s influence. deep-rooted class inter-class resistance of perpetuated by through the
superior divide in 1912 relationship. Traditional the upper the class character of
Controlling ‘(reproachfully) Arthur, Britain. The Disapproves and Views class to the system through Mrs Birling.
Egocentric you’re not supposed to demosntrative still Flawed that change that Mrs Birling’s
say such things’ – cold pronoun unsympathetic has caused threatens denial Class prejudice
scanty attitude to emphasises her towards her ‘fire blood their social of financial aid – Rowntree
portray her superiority dislike and disgust children. If she and position. to Eva Smith as 1901 poverty
to Mr B. Bossy and of Eva. A had any anguish’ a result of 1/3 pop not
reprimands social class microcosm of responsibility with Refusal of class-based good for
attitudes. Thinks she’s popular upper- her childcare, it letting women prejudices anyone.
the best. class belief. would’ve been vote in 1912, towards her. Nothing done
Distanced herself avoided. from many until 1906+
‘You’ll have to get used from the over 21 Multiple strike Hypocrisy of
to that, just as I had’ – determiner. ‘Besides you’re getting vote in s 1910. Upper class to
Recognises her not that type – 1928 universal liverpool keep system
subservient status to ‘Well, really you don’t get women railway strike. as it benefits
men and inherent Aldermand drunk’ – Unaware suffrage – now Great Unrest in them.
societal double standard Meggarty!’ thinks of her own child’s Labour GOV 1910-14 Coal
that men can do what the upper class endeavours and will change Miners Strike -
they want but women are always character. Cold that. earned
cannot (sex outside perfect. woman who minimum wage
marriage) cannot control Evas minimal
‘We’ve done a her family but representation
great deal of doesn’t recognise in the play
useful work for her involvement. reflects her
deserving cases’ – absence of
Undermines Eva’s
Act 1 Act 2 Act 3 Themes Topic 1 Topic 2 Topic 3
Mr Birling – ‘lower costs and higher ‘I’m a public man’ ‘I’d give you Class – a Priestley uses Priestley The character
Middle prices’ - instead of ’play golf’ – thousands – yes victim and a the character explores the of Mr Birling is
Class Sheila’s engagement thinks outward thousands’ – perpetrator of Mr Birling stark contrast the antithesis
Bourgeoise shows the capitalist self- appearance is repetition as a construct between the to the
Capitalist absorbed attitude. sufficient to highlights his Older for capitalism younger and Inspector.
Exploits the lower class. approve all individualistic Generation– and older Priestley
The profit comes with inappropriate nature, willing to entrenched demonstrates generation, explores the
the high social cost behaviour pay Inspector, but attitudes the regarding ideologies that
not Eva. Class individualistic their attitudes these
‘there’s a very good ‘Be quiet Sheila’ – prejudice. nature to characters
chance of a knighthood’ condemns Sheila’s of this responsibility. represent -
– focuses on impressing stance, and he “Why you ideology Mr Birling’s capitalism and
Gerald i.e. his family for thinks he can hysterical young through Mr initial rejection socialism,
less competition. control women. fool – get back – Birling’s of any respectively -
or appearance responsibility and how these
‘unsinkable, absolutely ‘The Press might I’ll – “ – Attacking and remains are also
unsinkable’ – repetition easily take it up’ – Eric, threatening personality constant indirect
accentuates the foolish more fixated on his child, irony as throughout the opposition.
connotations being his public he’s the hysterical capitalism play, as
attributed to capitalist appearance. one who isn’t dominated Priestley Labour
ideals. Everything he Social status taking socialism confines the landslide 1945
stands for is unreliable above all. responsibility for character of Mr NHS 48
his actions. Old vs Birling to a
‘This is the same port Young static
your father buys’ development.
demonstrates social ‘There’ll be a
etiquette. He is a show- public scandal’ – Huge effect of
off. Qualifier emphasises an echo of his ww1/2 on
this. previous fixated younger gen –
stance. Has not need change
"A man has to... look changed a bit.
after himself and his Entrenched
own-and" - This doorbell attitude
cut off is a dramatic
device used by Priestly ‘Probably a
to slice through the Socialist or some
jovial tone of the play sort of Crank’ –
and revert the form dismisses the
from a drawing-room Inspector role,
drama to a morally labelling him as a
challenging piece of ’crank’ which is
political theatre. The rude.
doorbell also forces the
audience to link the ‘Better ask Gerald
inspector's arrival to for that ring’ –
Birling's capitalist views. cyclical structure,
the cycle of greed
‘I can’t accept and hatred
responsibility’ - self-
centred, flawed
misleading person
Dominates Act 1 with his
self-indulged speeches.
Mrs Birling ‘leave you men’ – has a ‘Girls of that class’ ‘Oh – Eric – how Women Through the Priestley Priestly
– strong commitment to – strong prejudice could you… I’m suffrage character of explores how demonstrates
Upper Class maintaining the for the working absolutely Mrs Birling, the suffering of the hypocrisy
Aristocrat patriarchal status quo. class she is meant ashamed’ – Class Priestley the working of the upper
Husbands Does this herself without to help. Highlights doesn’t like his system explores the class is classes
social her husband’s influence. deep-rooted class inter-class resistance of perpetuated by through the
superior divide in 1912 relationship. Traditional the upper the class character of
Controlling ‘(reproachfully) Arthur, Britain. The Disapproves and Views class to the system through Mrs Birling.
Egocentric you’re not supposed to demosntrative still Flawed that change that Mrs Birling’s
say such things’ – cold pronoun unsympathetic has caused threatens denial Class prejudice
scanty attitude to emphasises her towards her ‘fire blood their social of financial aid – Rowntree
portray her superiority dislike and disgust children. If she and position. to Eva Smith as 1901 poverty
to Mr B. Bossy and of Eva. A had any anguish’ a result of 1/3 pop not
reprimands social class microcosm of responsibility with Refusal of class-based good for
attitudes. Thinks she’s popular upper- her childcare, it letting women prejudices anyone.
the best. class belief. would’ve been vote in 1912, towards her. Nothing done
Distanced herself avoided. from many until 1906+
‘You’ll have to get used from the over 21 Multiple strike Hypocrisy of
to that, just as I had’ – determiner. ‘Besides you’re getting vote in s 1910. Upper class to
Recognises her not that type – 1928 universal liverpool keep system
subservient status to ‘Well, really you don’t get women railway strike. as it benefits
men and inherent Aldermand drunk’ – Unaware suffrage – now Great Unrest in them.
societal double standard Meggarty!’ thinks of her own child’s Labour GOV 1910-14 Coal
that men can do what the upper class endeavours and will change Miners Strike -
they want but women are always character. Cold that. earned
cannot (sex outside perfect. woman who minimum wage
marriage) cannot control Evas minimal
‘We’ve done a her family but representation
great deal of doesn’t recognise in the play
useful work for her involvement. reflects her
deserving cases’ – absence of
Undermines Eva’s
