Responsibility in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

Responsibility in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

J.B Priestly wrote 'An Inspector Calls' just as the 2nd World War was

coming to an end in 1945. The play was based in the time just before

the 1st World War, around 1912. At this time the wealthy were

considered superior to the poor, all this had to change, though,

during the war, as all the classes were forced to mingle together in

the armed forces, evacuation centres and in air raid shelters. The

play shows all the members either accepting or rejecting

responsibility; in this essay I will explain this.

In the opening scene of 'An Inspector Calls', we see a contented Mr

Birling enjoying dinner whilst celebrating the engagement of his

daughter, Sheila Birling, to a respectable, very wealthy young man

Gerald Croft, son of Mr Birlings 'friendly' rival in business Sir

George Croft, of Crofts Limited. Mrs Birling and Eric Birling are also

present. Mr Birling is pontificating to the younger male characters.

Gerald really seems to agree with most of Mr Birling's views on life

and the future. Eric doesn't seem to agree with his father as much

though, and often can appear to be rude to his father. Speaking to his

father on the issue of speeches he said " Well, don't do any, we'll

drink their health and have done with it."

Mr Birling begins to speak on the issue of responsibility, stating in

his opinion responsibility has been 'created by modern writers', this

shows he doesn't really believe responsibility has anything to do with

him, like responsibility is just something created to shake the

population up a little. Just as Birling talks about responsibility,

Edna informs the part...

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...eath is due to anybody, then its him."

This last sentence is particularly interesting. Little does she know,

in a clear piece of dramatic irony, she is naming her own, upper-class

son, as the main carrier of responsibility for Eva Smiths death.

Although later she attempts to redeem herself by saying things such as

'Eric isn't like that'. It's quite clear she has a limited knowledge

of the outside world and closer to home happenings. This point is

backed up when Alderman Meggarty is mentioned as a drunk and general

layabout, which seems common knowledge among the party and the

Inspector, but Mrs Birling sees it as a 'revelation' and says 'we are

learning something', Sheila replies ' Everyone knows about Big Joe

Meggarty," this says to me Sheila is more aware and awake to the

happenings than her blinkered mother.