Having served as a soldier in the First World War, Priestley knew about the importance of the maintenance of Home Front morale in times of war. J.B. Priestley was a very skilful broadcaster who knew how to create a foundation of trust between himself and his audience, namely by identifying with the ordinary British population, and by letting them take part in his own life and experiences. He managed to maintain the morale of his compatriots by glorifying them in their ordinariness and by juxtaposing their naturalness, courage and their ability not to let the war get them down to the soulnessness of the German military machine, devoid of all human feeling. Through his criticism and verbal attacks on the Nazis, Priestley surely might have won recognition on the part of the Churchill government but the fact that he openly expressed his views about the necessity of a fundamental reconstruction of the society after the end of the War, which was mostly connected to his liberal socialist ideals, nevertheless made him fall out of favour with the government since it refused to commit itself to any post-war programmes. As a consequence of the ongoing quarrel with leading officials of the BBC and the Ministry of Information, Priestley was forced to quit his Postscripts in March 1941 and refused to accept the offer of returning to microphone some weeks or months later. Priestley even accused the BBC and the Ministry of being a “political Gestapo”. Although Priestley is very critical about his Postscripts in his autobiography Margin Released (1962), one single sentence perhaps resumes best his role during the blitzkrieg: “To this day middle-aged and elderly men shake my hand and tell me what a ten-minute talk about ducks on a pond or a pie in a shop window meant to them, as if I had given them the Eroica or King Lear.”
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. J.B. Priestley and the BBC
2.1. The role of the wartime BBC
2.2. The Postscripters
3. The Postscripts
3.1. What are the Postscripts?
3.2. The Postscripts as morale boosters
3.2.1. Close reading of Postscript 5 June, 1940
3.2.2. Denunciation of the Nazis
3.2.3. Glorification of the British
3.3. The Postscripts
3.3.1. Post-war reconstruction
3.3.2. Socialist ideas
4. The audience's attitude towards Priestley and the Postscripts
5. Concluding remarks
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper examines the role of J.B. Priestley as a prominent wartime propagandist for the BBC during World War II, specifically focusing on his influential radio series, the "Postscripts." The research explores how Priestley used these broadcasts to boost British morale during the Blitz, promote his vision for post-war social reconstruction, and disseminate socialist ideals, while simultaneously analyzing the government's and the public's conflicting reactions to his unconventional, populist approach.
- The historical context and role of the wartime BBC in shaping public opinion.
- The function of the "Postscripts" as effective tools for maintaining national morale.
- Priestley's rhetorical strategies, including the denunciation of Nazi ideology and the glorification of ordinary British citizens.
- The tension between Priestley's social reform agenda and the government's political objectives.
- Audience reception and the impact of Priestley’s unique broadcasting personality on his popularity.
Excerpt from the Book
3.2.1. Close reading of Postscript 5 June, 1940
Priestley’s very first Postscript was broadcast on Wednesday, 5 June, 1940, only shortly after the Battle and the evacuation of British soldiers from Dunkirk and Churchill’s famous speech in which he had to deliver the government’s decision to fight on, and thus to accept the consequences of this grave decision, to the British people. Churchill ended his address with the following words which were to become famous all over the world:
We shall not flag nor fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.
On the following day, Priestley’s Postscript captured and continued in exactly the same mood, in which Churchill’s speech was delivered to the House of Commons. The Postscript was a “masterpiece of downplayed propaganda”: “What began as a miserable blunder, a catalogue of misfortunes and miscalculations, ended as an epic of gallantry” (Postscripts, 2). At the beginning of the speech, Priestley talks about how typically English this chapter in history is. He underlines that his nation had gone wrong like this before but that this time, “when apparently all was lost, so much was gloriously retrieved”(Postscripts, 2), and goes on contrasting this very Britishness with the soulless German military machine, which does not make such mistakes – “a grim fact that we should bear in mind”(Postscripts, 2) – but which, however, does not achieve such epics. “That vast machine of theirs can’t create a glimmer of that poetry of action which distinguishes war from mass murder. It’s a machine – and therefore has no soul”(Postscripts, 2).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of J.B. Priestley's career and outlines the central research objective regarding his influence as a BBC broadcaster during World War II.
2. J.B. Priestley and the BBC: The section discusses the vital role of the BBC as a wartime communication medium and the search for appropriate speakers like Priestley to engage the public.
3. The Postscripts: This chapter provides a detailed analysis of the broadcasts, covering their nature as morale boosters, their rhetorical themes, and Priestley’s vision for a post-war, socially reformed Britain.
4. The audience's attitude towards Priestley and the Postscripts: The chapter examines the immense popularity of the broadcasts based on listener research and identifies the reasons for Priestley's connection with the British public.
5. Concluding remarks: The conclusion summarizes how Priestley’s unique blend of morale-boosting and social criticism ultimately led to his eventual exit from the BBC.
Keywords
J.B. Priestley, BBC, World War II, Postscripts, Wartime Propaganda, British Morale, Blitz, Post-war Reconstruction, Socialist Ideals, Public Broadcasting, Radio Personality, National Identity, Home Front, Political Criticism, Dunkirk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary subject of this research?
This paper explores the role of J.B. Priestley as a radio personality and propagandist during the Second World War, focusing specifically on his "Postscripts" broadcasts for the BBC.
What were the central themes discussed in the "Postscripts"?
The broadcasts centered on maintaining morale during the Blitz, contrasting the "soulless" Nazi war machine with the resilience of the British people, and advocating for a just, classless post-war society.
What was the primary objective of Priestley’s broadcasts?
Priestley aimed to bridge the gap between the government and the ordinary citizen, providing reassurance during wartime while simultaneously campaigning for social and political change.
Which methodology does the author use?
The paper utilizes a qualitative analysis of historical texts, including the original "Postscripts," contemporary BBC listener data, and scholarly literature on wartime propaganda.
What content is covered in the main body of the text?
The main body examines the evolution of the Postscripts series, specific rhetorical strategies like the "Dunkirk myth," and the conflict between Priestley and the government over his advocacy for social reform.
Which keywords define the research?
Key terms include J.B. Priestley, BBC, World War II, Wartime Propaganda, Morale, Post-war Reconstruction, and Socialist Ideals.
How did the British public react to Priestley’s political message?
A significant portion of the public identified with his political ideals and his lack of party affiliation, making him one of the most popular voices on the radio second only to Churchill.
Why did Priestley eventually stop his broadcasting career at the BBC?
Priestley faced increasing pressure and censorship from the government and the BBC, who grew concerned that his outspoken demands for social reconstruction were too populist and politically controversial.
What specific rhetorical metaphor does Priestley use to describe the British nation?
Priestley frequently uses the metaphor of "the boat," emphasizing that all citizens are in the same vessel and must rely on one another to survive the war and build a better future.
- Citation du texte
- Katharina Herrmann (Auteur), 2008, In the hope for a better world: J.B. Priestley as propagandist in the Second World War, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/163078
