Social Responsibility in An Inspector Calls

616 Words2 Pages

Indeed, it may be said that An Inspector Calls is a play more centred on themes and ideas than one driven by plot. Hence, Priestley uses a number of devices throughout the text to convey his ideas about social responsibility - juxtaposition being perhaps one of the more significant strategies employed by Priestley to highlight his ideas about the community and social responsibility. Thus, when Mr Birling – a stereotypical construct of Aristocratic English society – presents his monologue about the “unsinkable Titanic” and the “scaremongers making a fuss about nothing”, the audience re immediately made aware of his ignorance and self-inflated, pompous attitude, thus casting doubt over his capitalist ideas about “mind(ing) his own business”. This, then, is in direct contrast to the Inspector’s message on socialism, further highlighted by the clever timing of the doorbell which is designed not only to unnerve the audience and the characters, but to create a conflict between Mr Birling and the Inspector. This conflict between the Inspector and Arthur Birling serves as a powerful dichotom...

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