Is Drama a good medium for conveying a social message? Discuss.

Certainly drama is a useful and forceful medium for conveying a social message J. B. Priestley uses the dramatic art very convincingly to highlight certain issues. The basic issue is the exploitation of housewives and mothers of the families. The play presents the plight of Mrs Pearson. She has to dance to the tune of her husband George and children Doris and Cyril. The play ends with a social message. The message is the message of equality. Equal work for men and women. ‘Forty-hour week for all now’ says Mrs Pearson (actually Mrs Fitzgerald).

J.B. Priestley effectively uses drama as a powerful medium. He uses it to highlight the protest of a mother against her exploitation by her spoilt children and husband Mrs Pearson is helped in this way by Mrs Fitzgerald. She knows how to change personalities through magic. Mrs Pearson and Mrs Fitzgerald are two contrasting characters in every way. The familial issues and problems find a good expression through this drama. Not only that, Priestley also reveals the tender heart of a mother. When Mrs Fitzgerald shouts at Mr Pearson saying “I’ll slap your big fat silly face”, the wife in Mrs Pearson revolts. She realises that this drama “has gone far enough”. She tells her frankly that she can’t bear it any more.