attitudes to women in early 20th century

“several hundred young women” in Me Birlings employment who “keep changing”

Me Birlings superficial and cold treatment of Eva highlights the way young women were treated in the workplace during 20th century Britain

a lively good looking girl

This portrays the shallow way upper class men perceived young working class women as physical objects

they’d soon be asking for the Earth

Highlights the injustice of the treatment of women particularly those of the working class

she looked young and fresh and charming

casually commenting on her outward appearance linking to the way upper class men would view working class women in the classist society. This is reinforced by the phrase “any man would have done”.

very gallant about it

This phrase from Gerald highlights the way upper class men would casually treat young working class women as disposable objects

in that state when a chap easily turns nasty

this exposes the way people outside the working class were permitted to treat young working class women as objects simply for amusement. Priestley exposes the immorality of the patriarchal society of 20th century Britain.

oh mummy, isn’t it a beauty?

the highlights the way Sheila Birling was expected to be subservient in the early 20th century society in addition to acquiring a powerful social status through the marriage of a wealthy man