How far would you agree that marriage is based on social class?
In the extract, The Birlings are celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald. Even though everything seems fine, there are a few signs that not everything is perfect; Mr Birling is a bit too anxious impress Gerald, Eric seems rather nervous and Sheila is half-joking, half-serious to Gerald about last summer.
Even though Mr and Mrs Birling are happy about the engagement, Priestley gives us hints that The Crofts disapprove of the marriage as they weren’t at The Birlings’ dinner and Gerald’s mother feels that Gerald might have done better for himself socially. We know Mr Birling realises this when he says “it’s a pity Sir George and- er- Lady Croft can’t be with us”. Mr Birling is obsessed with status and desperately tries to win the Crofts approval with his expected future knighthood and the same port that Gerald’s dad buys.
Gerald manipulates The Birlings by making it seem that he wants to be part of the family by saying, “I insist upon being one of the family now,” and publicly gives the ring to Sheila, as if he is trying to be the best son-in-law and forget about the business of last summer.
Mrs Birling is Mr Birling’s social superior (Priestley tells us this in the stage directions) and we see that when Mrs Birling tells Mr Birling off when he said that the food was good in front of Gerald, as upper class families do not address their help. This tells us that Mrs Birling takes social etiquette very seriously- believing that a good reputation will improve her family’s status. It also tells us that even though Mr Birling is head of the household, Mrs Birling’s social background makes her the one in control of the marriage- just like Gerald. Also when Mrs Birling talks about marriage, stating that, “When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.” Priestley makes Mrs Birling consider marriage like it’s more of a
Even though Mr and Mrs Birling are happy about the engagement, Priestley gives us hints that The Crofts disapprove of the marriage as they weren’t at The Birlings’ dinner and Gerald’s mother feels that Gerald might have done better for himself socially. We know Mr Birling realises this when he says “it’s a pity Sir George and- er- Lady Croft can’t be with us”. Mr Birling is obsessed with status and desperately tries to win the Crofts approval with his expected future knighthood and the same port that Gerald’s dad buys.
Gerald manipulates The Birlings by making it seem that he wants to be part of the family by saying, “I insist upon being one of the family now,” and publicly gives the ring to Sheila, as if he is trying to be the best son-in-law and forget about the business of last summer.
Mrs Birling is Mr Birling’s social superior (Priestley tells us this in the stage directions) and we see that when Mrs Birling tells Mr Birling off when he said that the food was good in front of Gerald, as upper class families do not address their help. This tells us that Mrs Birling takes social etiquette very seriously- believing that a good reputation will improve her family’s status. It also tells us that even though Mr Birling is head of the household, Mrs Birling’s social background makes her the one in control of the marriage- just like Gerald. Also when Mrs Birling talks about marriage, stating that, “When you’re married you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business. You’ll have to get used to that, just as I had.” Priestley makes Mrs Birling consider marriage like it’s more of a