Challenge ‘9’ your Analysis – Incorporating

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

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

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

Tasks:
1. How could the text 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.
 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?
 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.
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