Challenge ‘9’ your Analysis –

Incorporating Critical Theory

Objective:
• To evaluate how
you can apply
Marxism,
Psychoanalysis and
Starter:
Feminist Theory to
‘An Inspector Calls’ • What do you think Feminism,
Marxism and Psychoanalysis
are?
• Mind map your ideas.
Theorist: Karl Marx Key ideas: Key Terminology:
• Society is capitalist as it is • Proletariat
based on making profit, rather • Bourgeoisie
than by the interests of all • Capitalism
people. • Conflict
• The proletariat (working class) • Division
make money for the bourgeoisie • Hierarchy
(upper class) who control the • Profit
means of production.

Tasks:
1. In your pairs analyse how the text could be viewed from a Marxist perspective.
- Which characters are important for this? Why?
- Which events? Why?
- What key quotations could you explore?
Challenge: Use the Key Terminology in your analysis.

2. Feedback to another Pair

3. Feedback as a group to the class.
Theorist: Simone de Key ideas: Key Terminology:
Beauvoir •Gender is different from one’s biological sex • Autonomy
and is a social construction. Society expects • Dominant ideologies
each gender to behave in a distinct way. • Dominant/submissive
•Women are oppressed as they are only valued • Equality
for their looks and their societal functions as • Gender role
wives and mothers. This is a restrictive gender • Liberation
role. • Objectification
•Women are ‘the second sex’ as they are seen • Patriarchy
as less powerful and important to men. • Power
•Society is therefore patriarchal (male • Reinforce/Subvert
dominated). • Stereotypical

Tasks:
1. In your pairs analyse how the text could be viewed from a Feminist perspective.
- Which characters are important for this? Why?
- Which events? Why?
- What key quotations could you explore?
Challenge: Use the Key Terminology in your analysis.

2. Feedback to another Pair

3. Feedback as a group to the class.
Theorist: Sigmund Key ideas: Key Terminology:
Freud • Freud’s theory of Psychoanalysis suggests that the • Conscience
human psyche (personality) has three parts. • Ego
•The id is with us from birth. This part wishes to satisfy • Freudian
every urge it has immediately, regardless of the • Id
consequences. This is why babies cry to be fed, will • Infantile
snatch toys etc. • Morals
• The ego develops next. It is the decision-making part • Psyche
of our psyche and works by reason and strategy. • Reason
• The superego develops last. It reflects the values and • Strategy
morals of society which are learned from our parents • Superego
and others. It is our conscience and means that we • Values
experience guilt.

Tasks:
1. In your pairs analyse how the text could be viewed from a Psychoanalytical
perspective.
- Which characters are important for this? Why?
- Which events? Why?
- What key quotations could you explore?
Challenge: Use the Key Terminology in your analysis.

2. Feedback to another Pair

3. Feedback as a group to the class.
 Silent debate
The rules:
1. No talking.
2. Make at least one argument in agreement or
disagreement of each question around the
room.
3. Extend someone’s argument if you agree and
can add to it.
4. Feel free to disagree with an argument
written but explain why- it is not just a case of
‘this is wrong’.
Silent debate
 AGREE?

The play is about male lust and sexual

exploitation of the weak by the powerful.

DISAGREE?
 AGREE?

Priestley’s main aim is to present a symbolic

confrontation between socialism and capitalism.

DISAGREE?
Homework: Apply your understanding
Marxism study question:
• The play is a symbolic confrontation between
socialism and capitalism, where neither
philosophy emerges triumphant. Discuss.

Psychoanalyst and Feminism study question:

• The play is actually about male lust and the
sexual exploitation of the weak by the
powerful. Discuss.
Support Station
An Inspector Calls: Marxist theorists may argue that …
• Eva Smith represents the proletariat, who has been exploited by the bourgeoisie.
•Mr. Birling represents capitalist ideas and the belief that profit is key.
• The Inspector hints at social revolution when he speaks of ‘fire and blood and anguish’ if the
bourgeoisie do not change their behaviour.

An Inspector Calls: Feminist Literary Critics may argue that …

• Mr. Birling expresses shallow and patronising opinions of women, claiming that clothes are a
‘token of their self-respect’, and refers to women who for him as ‘girls’ believing that thy would not
have the resolve to keep their strike.
• Gerald and Eric both express a mixture of disdain and attraction to the prostitutes who work in
the bar, and objectify them in their descriptions of the older women.
• When Gerald keeps Eva in his friends ‘rooms’, she stays for the six months that is convenient for
him, treating Eva as if she is a commodity, dismissing her when it is no longer easy for him to do so.

An Inspector Calls: A Psychoanalysist may argue that …

• Eric's character experiences all three stages: his initial treatment of Eva is the result of his id, he
wishes to satisfy his sexual urges without any consideration to Eva's feelings;
• when faced with the dilemma of unplanned fatherhood, Eric's ego uses logic to steal from his
father's work in an attempt to resolve his problems;
• in the end, when he hears of Eva's death, Eric's superego experiences deep and sincere guilt-
unlike that of Gerald or Mrs. Birling