Critique of Patriarchal and Capitalist Ideologies in Priestley’s An Inspector Calls

Abstract

This thesis entitled “Critique of Capitalist and Patriarchal Ideologies in Priestley’s An Inspector Calls” is an analysis of the novel from the view point of Marxist Feminism. This work basically focuses on the domination of capitalists and patriarchs upon proletariats, especially on females and resistance of females to capitalistic and patriarchal norms and values. The central character Eva Smith is working as a laborer under capitalist and patriarchal mode of society. Wherever she goes, she cannot be free from the claws of bourgeois and patriarchs that make her life deplorable; she is time and again exploited by bourgeois and patriarchs and she finally is compelled to commit suicide which can be seen as a silent resistance to capitalistic and patriarchal norms and values. Though another female character, Sheila is from bourgeois class, as a female she is also dominated inside her class. She is used as a means of upgrading business by her family and her lover’s family. The degrading situation of female has been portrayed as an inevitable consequence of private accumulation of capital. Mr. Birling, his wife Sybil, son Eric, daughter Sheila and Gerald Croft dominate Eva Smith by means of capitalist and patriarchal ideologies. They present their cruel behavior towards Eva either exploiting sexually or by dismissing from job; she becomes a victim of their patriarchal and capitalist beliefs. So, to avoid the capitalist and patriarchal domination and exploitation, she has to leave this world. Her suicide is a silent slap on the face of capitalistic and patriarchal domination