By J.B. Priestley

Born: BRAdford, 1894 WAS A Socialist Conscious of poverty and the lives of the poor Understood problems of the poor, underprivileged and unemployed

 the class system  Community  responsibility

 Written  Set – DINING ROOM Of THE BIRLING FAMILY HOME, - BRUMLEY, WEST MIDLANDS - SPRING, 1912.

 Mr Arthur birling - a middle aged businessman  Mrs Sybil birling - his wife  Miss sheila birling - his daughter  Mr eric birling - his son  Gerald croft - Sheila’s fiance  Inspector goole  Edna – the maid  Eva smith

THE UPPER CLASSES  FAMILIES have wealth, property, estates, status, possibly titles.  Have always been rich- wealth has been passed down through generations of the family.  Women do not work.  Have many servants.  Seen as SUPERIOR to both middle classes and working classes

THE MIDDLE CLASSES  Some have had wealth, property, status for several generations. Others have made money and become more wealthy.  Many middle class men own businesses, and are striving to increase wealth and status.  Lower middle classes are striving to become upper middle class.  They have been educated, and are more socially mobile.  Many middle class women do not work. Lower middle class women tend to work as governesses/teachers  Have servants  Seen as inferior to upper classes, but superior to working classes

THE WORKING CLASSES  Have little money, and often live in poverty  Rent rather than own property  Little education, if any.  Have few prospects and life is a struggle  Both men and women have to work, generally in manual jobs e.g. In factories, shops, or as servants  Have little chance of ever improving their lives or prospects  Seen as inferior to both upper, and middle classes.

 It contains an inspector/detective who is central to the action.  A crime or mystery and a dead victim.  A limited number of suspects.  Unanswered questions which require the audience to think.  An investigation.

 A gradual unravelling of a mystery.  Unexpected developments that surprise the audience.  Intrigue and suspense which creates curiosity and excitement for the audience.  Cliff hangers at the end of each act.  Twists in the plot