The contextual values in skull come through in the theme, and are reflected in the setting:
- Women, PD James as a woman, Cordelia-female protagonist. 80's professional women however, James still brings through the gender bias of the 1980's- think about Ralsons reaction to her being a woman, how she didn't want to change the sign etc. PD James earlier novel was " an inappropriate job for a woman" (i think). Gender bias: "disconcerted by her sex and her youth". James makes Cordelia more complex then earlier female detectives, Miss Marple.
- Class. The varied social classes in the novel, think about how they deal with death. Higher classes indulge themselves with death- Ambrose the mansion, Clarrissa the notes, Ivo is dying... etc. Setting shows the class values.
The main thing contextual with PD James is she uses the 80's to redefine the cosy school subgenre,,,, almost every theme and character represents a minority or majority in her society....
