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Theme Of Social Responsibility In An Inspector Calls

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Priestley wrote “An Inspector Calls” in 1945, when two dominant superpowers, representing the conflicting ideologies of capitalism and socialism, emerged victorious at the end of the Second World War. The play focuses on the conflict of interest between capitalism and socialism: social responsibility. Birling is symbolic of self-interested capitalism, an ideology that completely rejects all forms of social responsibility: ‘a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own’. Inspector Goole is a mouthpiece for Priestley's authorial voice, insisting that social responsibilities be acknowledged: ‘We are responsible for each other’. Priestley portrays the capitalist, Birling, as the foolish antagonist of the play and the socialist, …show more content…

Goole is introduced immediately after Birling’s declarations that ‘a man has to mind his own business’, indicating that he will offer a counterpoint. Priestley has Goole do this by focusing his lines of inquiry on the social, rather than legal, transgressions an inspector would not ordinarily be interested in. Goole condemns Birling for firing striking workers merely because he considers it his ‘duty to keep labour costs down’. Goole tells Birling that ‘it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it', which prompts Birling to warn Goole that he is an old friend of the Chief …show more content…

We are responsible for each other.’ Priestley (through Goole) presents social responsibility as a moral duty necessary for all of us to share as society is 'one body’ and not a hierarchy of different classes. In addition, Priestley vilifies Birling by having him consistently mention the damage that the news of the investigation will do to his career. Birling claims he ‘was almost certain for a knighthood’ and must ‘cover this up as soon as I can’. The portrayal of the characters ensures that Priestley’s view on social responsibility (echoed by Goole) is favoured both in the play and by the

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In An Inspector calls, Priestley uses The Inspector to present injustice in society through his questioning of the Birling family and Gerald Croft. The Inspector gradually uncovers the selfish and unjust acts which the family enacts upon the lower classes through their abuse of their power and status over people, not showing the slightest bit of care for their wellbeing, barely treating their workers as individual beings with their own lives and emotions, just caring about the money they are making for them, and treating the lower class in general as lower beings in general, not being worth the time to understand or sympathise with. The Inspector exposes the acts of injustice by the upper class towards the lower classes through his questioning

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As a result of the Birlings'' for all intents and purposes capitalist viewpoint, Priestley clearly actually shows the disparity between the for all intents and purposes upper and definitely lower classes in An Inspector Calls, which basically leads to Eva Smith\'s very tragic suicide as a result of the Birlings\' kind of capitalist viewpoint on life in a subtle way. There specifically is no doubt that Priestley focused on the patriarchal nature of sort of British society at the time, doing so to emphasise the need for change to basically take place in Britain, especially for families like the Birlings, who mostly are represented by Priestley\'s work, which basically is quite significant. At the start of the play Priestley actually highlights

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1855 Words | 8 Pages

In the play An Inspector Calls, Priestley fundamentally presents a class ridden society through the characters attitudes and behaviour's within the play. The Birling family is seen to be attentive towards their class in society, especially Mr and Mrs Birling. Priestley uses the Birling family and The Inspector to imply how an arrogant and conceited mindset can destroy the lives of the less privileged through actions and words. Mr Birling is shown to be an extremely selfish, arrogant and stubborn character in the play.

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The repition of "I am a hard headed man of business" shows his arrogance and his capitalistic and emotionless mentality. "I say there isn't a chance of war" show his stubborn and arrogance. Priestly uses this dramatic irony to persuade the audience to side against Birling as they will think that he is foolish, unsympathetic and untrustworthy. As of portraying their stubborn and heard headed personality was not enough, Priestly makes it sure that the audience is able to clearly see mentality and coldness that capitalism brings to a human by making men emotionless and unsympathetic. "Well, we've several hundred young women there, y'know, and they keep changing.

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In the play An Inspector Calls written by J.B Priestley, the use of morality and double standards gives us an insight into the society of the early 1900s; which remains relevant in social stratification, cultural and deviance aspects. Through the story of Arthur Birling, Mrs. Sybil Birling and their children Eric and Sheila. The upper-class family, with untouchable reputation, enjoy of an intimate party soiree in honour of Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft. Son of a well-known business man, Sir George Croft from Crofts Limited. When Inspector Goole pays a mood-changing visit, resulting in the systematic manipulation of the presumably respectable characters.

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J.B Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1945, the last year of World War 2 but sets it in 1912 a time of inequality where upper and lower class was distinguished and treated differently within society and where a big gap existed among poor and rich people. The play introduces us to the theme of social inequality and social responsibility displaying the fact that trade unions were very weak, workers had few rights, wages were very low and many other injustices where made specially towards women; they were treated very differently then men and they were looked on as less important in society. Lighting is changed at the arrival of the Inspector "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder" this displays a contrast between scenes and atmosphere. It also shows the change in mood; suggesting a cheerful environment and a very joyfully and delight mood, everybody feeling thrilled for Shelia 's engagement and celebrating united as a family. But it changes to "brighter and harder" at the arrival of the Inspector and

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Inspector Goole is a mouthpiece for Priestley in the didactic play An Inspector Calls, as Priestley frequently interweaves Socialist messages in the Inspector’s dialogue. In the final act of the play, the Inspector warns the Birling family “We are members of one body”. We are responsible for each other.” Here, the use of the metaphor “members of one body” conveys the message that our lives are in a way intertwined with one another, emphasising the need to demonstrate a sense of compassion and consideration for others in society; this could have religious connotations as the body symbolises the “Body of Christ”. Hence, Priestley chooses to incorporate religious imagery to persuade the contemporary audience, who were mostly of Christian belief,

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Through the character of the Inspector, Priestley advocates for the lower class and their welfare; a change in society’s attitude,

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In An Inspector Calls the character Sheila changes and matures significantly throughout the play. Priestly aims to encourage and persuade the 1912 audience to consider the negative power of capitalists and that socialism is a better way forward. Sheila contributes to Priestly’s moral message about socialism and capitalism by emphasising the possibility for change which is up to the younger generation. At the start of the play, Sheila is portrayed as a spoiled daughter who has been taught to be submissive to her parents.

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Explore the ways in which Priestley presents social inequality in ‘An Inspector Calls’ In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents social inequality through the events leading to the death of Eva Smith. The play is set in 1912 and takes place in the dining room of The Birling’s – a wealthy upper middle-class family, who are ignorant to the struggles of the world around them and are self-absorbed in their own affairs. Priestly examines the reaction each individual has to the supposed suicide of a young girl – Eva Smith to highlight the prevalence of social inequality in society in order to encourage the audience to sympathise with his socialistic views rather than the capitalistic views of that time.

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An inspector calls In the intriguing play ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J. B. Priestley, there is a character who plays a key role - Inspector Goole. The play is set in 1912 in England, a time of a gender inequality issues. The drama begins with a family gathering to celebrate Sheila Birling's engagement with the rich Gerald Croft. Their evening is interrupted by inspector Goole, who interrogates each of them about their role in Eva Smith's death.

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He is constantly attempting to impress his guests with his wealth and social standing. This is clear in the manner in which he discusses his accomplishments, such as his “imminent knighthood” and “his position on the local Bench”. He says in Act 1: ”I might find my way into the next Honours List. Just a knighthood, of course” in this setting, Mr Birling's language demonstrates his desire for social recognition and prestige, his statement about “finding his way into the next Honours List” implies that he is actively seeking some form of official recognition from the government which would raise his status and enhance his reputation. Mr Birling's obsession with his public image and standing is exemplified further by his attempts to intimidate the Inspector by revealing his connections and influence with local authorities.

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Through Mr Birling, Priestley demonstrated the life of the 1920s ‘hard-headed businessman’, influenced by greed, money and power. He shows no remorse or concern for his wrongful actions unless they affect his position in society or finances. Priestly believes that capitalism was responsible for both world wars and Mr Birling portrayed as a defiant capitalist. Priestley used Mr Birling in ‘An Inspector Calls’ to highlight the need for change in his 1946 audience if they want a peaceful, fairer, more caring future society.

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In the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ by JB Priestley, Eva Smith is, in my opinion the most important character. Despite her not speaking or being shown even once in the entire play, she is arguably even more important than Inspector Goole, who is used by Priestley to convey his own opinions on society, and the divide between rich and poor. In this essay, numerous points which explain why Eva Smith is the main character, and therefore the most important character in the whole play will be highlighted. Foremost, nobody is willing to take responsibility for what allegedly happened to Eva Smith.

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J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls" is a morality play set un 1912 but written in 1945 just after The Second World War. Priestley wrote the play to attempt to change the views of the mostly middle-class audience to support the socialist movement. Priestley chose the perfect opportunity to write such a play as big changes where already beginning in Britain, such as the introduction of a Labour government and the overwhelming amount of involvement of women in the war effort showing the beginnings of equality and the breaking of gender norms. So, how does Priestley present ideas about society in An Inspector Calls?

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