An Inspector Calls deals with themes of class, social change, workers' rights, responsibility, gender and generational differences. Each of the themes is interrelated, building a complex web of meaning in the play. In An Inspector Calls, the central theme is responsibility. Priestley is interested in our personal responsibility for our own actions and our collective responsibility to society, to take care of one another. An Inspector Calls Themes Wealth, Power, and Influence. The Birlings are a family of wealth and power, who take pride in their high social position. Blame and Responsibility. Public versus Private. Class Politics. Morality and Legality. The Inspector wants the family to accept the pain it has caused Eva/Daisy. In this way, guilt plays an important role in the Inspector's politics. Arthur is more concerned with the family's good name, and Sybil believes that in denying Eva/Daisy charity, she did what any person in her position should have done. Birling
Sheila shows real emotion when she hears that a young woman has died. She was responsible for getting Eva Smith fired from her job in the dress shop. She realises the Inspector is important and should not be ignored / lied to. After hearing about Gerald's affair, she breaks off her engagement with him.
Eva was sacked from the Birling factory She took her own life by drinking disinfectant. He reveals the girl's name - Eva Smith, and that she used to work in Mr Birling's factory. Mr Birling had Eva sacked as she was the ringleader of a group of workers who had asked for higher pay.
Social responsibility in An Inspector Calls. An Inspector Calls was first performed in the UK just after the end of World War Two, in 1946. This is why social responsibility is a key theme of the play. Priestley wanted his audience to be responsible for their own behaviour and responsible for the welfare of others.
Role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley The inspector is an enigmatic character; playing one of the biggest parts in the drama. He is described on his entrance as creating "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit
Being a socialist Priestley believed in responsibility, both individual and collective believing that for every action there is a consequence and Priestley try to portray this message in his play 'An Inspector Calls' which was written in 1945 within a week of World War Two ending but is set before World War One.
Mr Birling is to blame, because he started the bad chain of events that lead to Eva Smith's death. He could of just increased Eva Smiths pay, or even lower her pay because of her actions. But on the other hand he did not know that him firing her will lead to her death.
Priestley is a play with lots of political messages. Priestley believed in socialism and it is clear to the audience that he used 'an inspector calls' to try and convince people to his way of thinking. The main device Priestley uses to convey his socialist ideas is the character of the inspector.
An Inspector Calls is a morality play because all of the Birlings and Gerald Croft commit crimes which are similar to the seven deadly sins. Mr Birling is greedy because he wants more money, Sheila is guilty of wrath and envy when she spitefully complains about Eva Smith and so on.
J B Priestley believed in socialism, the political idea based on common ownership and that we should all look after one another. Mr Birling represents greedy businessmen who only care for themselves.
What has Mrs Birling learned by the end of the play? Nothing. She feels she has done her duty and refuses to accept or acknowledge any responsibility. She is perhaps the most unsympathetic and uncharitable character in the play.
Priestley was influenced by G. B Shaw- a significant playwright who was also a socialist. In 1912 the titanic sank, this represents capitalism- it is dying and also sinking. In 1912 England was a mainly capitalist country. J. B Priestley feels passionately towards socialism but is strongly against capitalism.
what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven her to suicide.
Throughout the play, Priestley presents Mr Birling as a clear representation of the patriarchal upper class. Mr Birling is described as being a "heavy looking, rather portentous man", which immediately indicates to the audience that he has significant wealth.
The change in Sheila here is clear. She has become more assertive, using phrases such as 'I tell you'. The events of the evening have made her aware of the serious impact one's actions can have. At a number of points, Sheila shows that she can see things that the other characters cannot.