"An inspector calls" by J.B. Priestly is a play that focuses on the idea of oppression throughout the setting of 1912. Priestly establishes this idea by using the characters and their actions to critique the division between the class systems. Social class is used to categorise people in society, based on their social or economic status. In act 1, we are first introduced to this idea of social division by Mrs. Birling "All right, Edna. I'll ring from the drawing room when we want coffee" priestly portrays Mrs. Birling as a middle class woman who believes she is superior through the play. From this quote, we understand that Mrs. Birling believes that Edna is not worthy of physically finishing Edna and telling her face-to-face that she wants coffee, instead she …show more content…
Rubbish! I'm a snoob! uf you dont come down darply on some of the people, theyd soon be asking for the earth" Mr birling critiques the working class for asking for a minuin wage however in this qoute we can develop an idea that mr birling believes the working class is greedy, which also shows that many middle class employees have a negative view on their eployees as greedy themselves beacuse they dont pay them a high enough wage. This quote can also suggest that the middle class is also grey as this is what they interpret as the working class. Sheila and Eric oppose the idea of the social division as they express empathy and reasoning for the middle class. "Bute these girls are cheap labour- they're people" this qoute may be an obvious common sense but at the time of 1945 people were still basing their supirouty depending on their wealth and regard the working class as not people, and this qoute displays an example of classism or elitism. In the play, J.B. primarily puts 'people' in italics, suggesting his emphasis to help people understand the importance of being
How Priestly Uses the Characters to Represent His Own Views on Society The play "An Inspector Calls" is set in 1912 but was written in 1945. Edwardian society at that time (1912) was strictly divided into social classes and over two-thirds of the nation's wealth was in the hands of less than 1% of the population. Below the very rich were the middle classes (doctors and merchants, shop workers and clerks), after that came the craftsmen and skilled workers. At the very bottom of the social ladder was the largest class of all - the ordinary workers and the poor, many of whom lived below the poverty level. The men of industry treated the workers very badly and they were paid pittance.
The characters in ‘An Inspector Calls’ are mainly upper-middle class (Mr and Mrs Birling, Gerald, Sheila, Eric), but the Inspector is middle class and Eva Smith is working class. Most of the characters in ‘An Inspector Calls’ have varied opinions about social classes, but there are mainly two sides. The first main opinion is that the upper-middle class are the most important and the lower working classes are not important and that it doesn’t matter what happens to them (this is the view of Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald). For example Sheila and Mrs Birling need to be protected from the horrid things such as Eva Smith’s death because they are upper-middle class, whilst Eva Smith doesn’t need to be protected from horrid things in life because she is working class. The other opinion is that although they are working class, they should still be treated fairly even if they are different classes and that Eva Smith’s death is very tragic even if she wasn’t upper class (this is Eric, Sheila and The Inspector’s...
An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 but set in 1912. The play shows the stark difference between 1912 and 1945. J. B. Priestley reveals the errors of society and the faults of capitalism as well as the bias of the upper class and social status. As a firm believer in the concepts of socialism, he uses this play to expose society’s poor attitudes to the working class of the period. The way they treat Eva Smith reflects on how many of the working class may have been treated by their social superiors. Eva was a victim in society as she was very low in the financial hierarchy as well as in reality where she was at the bottom of the classes. Women at that time were seen as being delicate, obedient to their husbands. The inspector is used to correct the
eager and keen to find out who is at the door and what they want. The
BIRLING I thought you must be. I was an alderman for years - and lord
An Inspector Calls' is primarily focused on he attitudes surrounding the higher classes in 1912, and how these attitudes can lead to actions with potentially devastating consequences. The attitudes are particularly aimed at women, especially those of working class status. In the play women are portrayed as second class citizens, after men. However the difference (e.g. in independence) between upper class men and women is greater than that of working class men and women.
‘ An Inspector Calls ’ is a play written by J Priestley in the year 1945 and but the play was set in the year 1912. The play is set right before World War One, in an upper-class house belonging to the Birlings, a high-status family, whose lives are suddenly affected by the death of a woman called Eva Smith. Throughout the play, there are 4 main themes; social responsibility, social class, and age. In the play, Priestley explores different social classes by presenting views from a range of characters with different social images and backgrounds. Priestley uses many devices such as irony and foreshadowing to
The Play ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a modern morality play, created by J. B. Priestley. A morality play is a play that is designed to teach the audience the difference between right and wrong; the morality of this play is a Christian and socialist morality. The play encapsulates on the Christian religious morality that you should treat people the way you want to be treated to ‘love thy neighbour as thy self’. J. B. Priestley was a socialist who believed that everyone was created equally and should be treated equally. He believed in this despite his lack of faith. Priestley presents this moral message and his politics and opinions through the Inspector who is a God-like figure and serves as a conscience for both the audience and the Birling family. The Inspector also serves a peculiar but important role in the play. The Inspector teaches the Birling family morality and serves them a conscience. The Inspector is nothing more than a phantasm or illusion, as we know from the end of the play. Priestley’s moral is mixed between his politics and the beliefs of a Christian. As a socialist J. B. Priestley expresses his opinions through this play, in the time politicians were hated so Priestley used the play as a device to put his points forward. The play was not just a political view; it was his personal dream and passion to write an entertaining play. He creates it as a detective play because they were interesting, popular and the audience could also try to crack the mystery themselves, this was a very intelligent and unique way of expressing his opinions, as he knew they would be heard this way.
In ‘An Inspector Calls’ J.B Priestley purposely embeds various messages in the text to voice his thoughts and concerns on the era. ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a play frequently described as a murder mystery, but underneath lies a strong political message. J.B Priestley uses numerous dramatic devices to attack the social mores of his time, such as the use of hindsight to show mankind’s mistake’s such as the wars and the sinking of the ‘unsinkable’ Titanic- a morality tale. The play is also used as a platform to preach Priestley’s socialist agenda. With the upcoming political election of 1945, J.B Priestley decided to write a play in an attempt to persuade people to vote for the socialist party. Hence, Priestley decided to use retrospect by basing his play in 1912 to show all the mistakes made by the political leaders at the time. Thus the role of The Inspector is used as a ‘voice of god figure’ exerting influence over the Birling household, does he then represent the voice of Priestley or a ‘god like’ figure? However all that can be said in essence is ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a modern day morality play in which the capitalistic Birling family is exposed by the inspector, who ultimately happens to be a representative of not the law but morality.
In the play “An inspector calls” by J.B priestly, Mr Birling and Shelia Birling have contrasting attitudes to social issues. The author uses this to difference to highlight the diversity between generations and their reaction to situations faced. Arthur Birling is the father to Shelia Birling and is presented as the old fashion generation whereas Shelia is the young generation, who is more aware of the responsibility she has towards other people.The play begins with Mr birling and his family celebrating the engagement of Shelia and Gerald. The atmosphere is happy and light-hearted. Before the inspector arrives, Mr Birling is happy with life and himself “It’s one of the happiest nights of my life.” This shows that Mr Birling is quire selfish because he only thinks that it is one of the happiest nights of his life and not of Shelia and Gerald.
In conclusion, Priestley presents Birling as a pompous, morally corrupt ruthless patriarch from the industrial ruling class. Through his presentation of Birling, he undermines the views for which Birling stands namely capitalism and conservativism. The purpose of his play ‘An Inspector Calls’ was to tell the post war audience of 1945 that the patriarchal Edwardian Era was not a time to be envied, and it was unwise to think of returning to that era. He displays the younger generation as the one which is sympathetic and the one which is prepared to change its ways and admit its wrongs. Priestley’s presentation of Birling highlights his own thoughts on the political issues of the time.
Priestley’s Main Aim in An Inspector Calls JB Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ to enhance the message that ‘we don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’. This is something Priestly felt strongly about and he succeeded in representing his views through the character of the Inspector in the play itself. He wanted to communicate the message that our actions, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, always affect others.
Although her contribution to the play, overall, is limited, her presence in this passage, and in the home, is a constant reminder of the more unfortunate, lower classes of the British society in 1912, which will always exist in the nation if the more conservative, individualistic people – such as the Birlings – are kept in power in Britain. Symbolically, she is the one to open the door to the inspector (i.e. the poorer people are the only ones who welcome the arrival of socialism in the country), despite the ignorance of Mr. Birling towards his [the inspector’s] presence (i.e. the richer, individualistic people in 1912 are reluctant to allow socialism to gain power/enter the politics of Britain – at the cost of their own wealth and prosperity). Edna is also evidence of the richer society’s ignorance and rudeness towards the lower classes and, in a sense, is seen as Priestley’s physical embodiment within the
The play is the tale of a rich family, that are accosted by a man
He wanted to give everyone a choice. Should we go back to the way it