Context:
-The play is set in 1912. This is significant because this is just before WW1. WW1
took place during August 1914. This play was written in 1942.
Significance:
-This play was made in a time when the British people were recovering from the
devastating effects of the second world war.
-He was distrustful of the government, which is why he opposed the Labour Party.
-This will set the scene for the irony to come in the play as the characters will
talk about things in the future which the audience will already know the outcome of
as they have already gone past that time and the war.
Irony is a central technique used by the author’s speaker to further prove his
point later on in the play by disproving the antagonising characters’ views via
forecast the future wrongly as a result of their views hence, disproving their
values also.
-This still serves a purpose today. It teaches us the issues faced by societies in
the past and the detrimental consequences these actions had on the community so
that we can avoid such blunders by learning from it.
It also allows the reader to ponder for a moment of self improvement. As time has
gone on since the time of the play, how much have I and those around us truly
changed to the people of that time. The people then didn't have things like the
internet and social media which keeps us ever so connected to the rest of the
world. Do we even have an excuse for lack of social reform? As time has passed,
have we really advanced or degraded to the generations before us? Such moments
encourage us for self improvement and to strive for a better future.
It still disproves the values of the antagonists as we also are on the receiving
end of the irony yet have yet to stand for action.
2)The main characters mostly consist of the upper class (They represent the upper
class in the play.)
Significance:
-They embody the rich audience for a more powerful effect and also because of the
rigid beliefs the upper classes used to have, not allowing for much change. Had the
play been based on another demographic, it would have easily lost its purpose as it
would seem outside their matters.
-Commodities such as viewing plays etc were exclusive to the rich that society.
Hence, having the main characters being upper class citizens makes it more
relatable than having them of any other class to the audience.
This will allow the play to have the intended effect of social reform by resonating
with the audience more and making them think of benefiting the community as a whole
through individual and communal change.
-This strikes reform even now. It allows the wealthy amongst us to think of how
their actions can affect others also.
It also raises the standards of the less fortunate to not tolerate discrimination
and disrespect on account of their living circumstances.
-It allows everyone to become more united through communal responsibility. It
allows the less fortunate of us to realise that sometimes the lack of action by
those in higher up positions can just be due to genuine ignorance which needs
addressing while reminding the well off of this timeless lesson.
Author:
J.B Priestley.