The play An Inspector Calls written by J.B. Priestley explores the beliefs and values. Priestley’s believes that people should take responsibility for their actions. The play is set in 1912 before World War I, centering on the upper class Birling family. Priestley’s views were to encourage people to take responsibility for their actions, and not to shift blame onto others. The Birling family and Gerald Croft contacted Eva Smith; all characters were unaware of the part they playe in the tragic end. An Inspector Calls explores the effect of class, age and people’s attitudes to responsibility and how prejudice can prevent people from taking responsibility in society.
Arthur Birling, a wealthy capitalist and pretentious man, began the cycle of events that led to Eva Smith’s suicide. Mr. Birling runs his own factory and believes that survival of the fittest. Priestley emphasises his beliefs on capitalism through Mr. Birling dealing with Eva Smith demanding a pay rise. She had a lot to say, far too much so she had to go. Capitalism is shown as Mr. Birling adds Well, it’s my duty to keep labour costs down, and if I’d agreed to this demand for a new rate we’d have asked about twelve per cent to our labour costs. Mr. Birling exploits Eva Smith and the workers for his own
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Birling’s selfishness who is unable to admit responsibility for his part in Eva’s death. Mr. Birling’s views of a man has to make his own way in his narrow minded view meant that Eva was fired, left to fend for herself. Socialism is the belief that as a society, we have to look after one another, evident in We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. By the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive-community and all that