How does J.B. Priestley portray women and attitudes towards women in
An Inspector Calls?
Mrs Birling's attitude towards her husband reflects the fact that women had to accept
a patriarchal system in the early 20th century. She tells Sheila: ‘When you’re married
you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes spend nearly all their
time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.’ Mrs
Birling's dismissive tone when she says 'get used to that' shows how unrelenting the
system seemed to be at the time - Mrs Birling does not think her daughter can hope
for more than putting up with her future husband.
Both men and women abuse Eva Smith in the play: Inspector Goole says 'each of
you helped to kill her'. The verb 'helped' has sinister undertones of a group effort,
implying that society was actively marginalising this group of people (lower-class
women). Priestley is highlighting that lower-class women were at the bottom of the
social hierarchy in early 20th-century Britain and could not even depend on support
from their upper-class counterparts.
Gerald speaks very superficially about women - saying things like 'I hate those hard-
eyed dough-faced women'. The 'h' and 'd' sounds in this phrase give Gerald's words
a venomous tone, as if he is spitting out his words in disgust. Gerald's attitude may
reflect that of other upper-class men at the time, who could and would objectify
women like this because of their power and influence over them.
An Inspector Calls?
Mrs Birling's attitude towards her husband reflects the fact that women had to accept
a patriarchal system in the early 20th century. She tells Sheila: ‘When you’re married
you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes spend nearly all their
time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.’ Mrs
Birling's dismissive tone when she says 'get used to that' shows how unrelenting the
system seemed to be at the time - Mrs Birling does not think her daughter can hope
for more than putting up with her future husband.
Both men and women abuse Eva Smith in the play: Inspector Goole says 'each of
you helped to kill her'. The verb 'helped' has sinister undertones of a group effort,
implying that society was actively marginalising this group of people (lower-class
women). Priestley is highlighting that lower-class women were at the bottom of the
social hierarchy in early 20th-century Britain and could not even depend on support
from their upper-class counterparts.
Gerald speaks very superficially about women - saying things like 'I hate those hard-
eyed dough-faced women'. The 'h' and 'd' sounds in this phrase give Gerald's words
a venomous tone, as if he is spitting out his words in disgust. Gerald's attitude may
reflect that of other upper-class men at the time, who could and would objectify
women like this because of their power and influence over them.
