Themes in An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls is set in 1912 An Inspector Calls was written in 1945.

The First World War would start in two years. Birling's optimistic view that there would not be a war is completely wrong.

The Second World War ended in Europe on 8 May 1945. People were recovering from nearly six years of warfare, danger and uncertainty.

There were strong distinctions between the upper and lower classes.

Class distinctions had been greatly reduced as a result of two world wars.

Women were subservient to men. All a well off women could do was get married; a poor woman was seen as cheap labour.

As a result of the wars, women had earned a more valued place in society.

The ruling classes saw no need to change the status quo.

There was a great desire for social change. Immediately after The Second World War, Clement Attlee's Labour Party won a landslide victory over Winston Churchill and the Conservatives.

Main Theme

s

Responsibility

Class

Gender

Age

Responsibility• Primary theme• Words ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility’ are used by most characters throughout the play• The Inspector wanted each member of the family to share the responsibility of Eva’s death:"One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do." • The Inspector gives the Birlings a warning:“And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, when they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”What would Priestley want his audience to think of when providing the Birlings with such warnings?

The play is concerned with both personal responsibility and social responsibility

Character Attitude to Social Responsibility

Mr. Birling

Mrs. Birling

Eric

Shelia

“… a man has to make his own way – has to look after himself – and his family too, of course when he has one…”Doesn’t believe that an individual has a social responsibility to others.

Sees social responsibility in a limited way – while she is involved with a woman’s charity she has a very narrow sense of responsibility. She takes no responsibility for Eva’s death.

Has some innate sense of social responsibility “Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages.” He felt enough responsibility to offer Eva money.

Shelia’s sense of social responsibility is awakened throughout the play and she feels compassion for workers like Eva “But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”

ClassApart from Edna, the maid, the characters in the play are from the rich, upper classes. However, a lot can be learnt about the lower classes through the attitudes of the characters and their interactions with Eva Smith.Again make sure that you consider how each character views the lower classes at the beginning and the end of the play.

This theme is linked heavily with Priestley’s socialist views and the time periods in which the play were set and written (1912 and 1945).

Make sure that you understanding Priestley’s background and personal political views. (He worked in a factory in his early life and became interested in social inequality as he grew older. He was influential in helping to develop the Welfare State and was a socialist.)

Character At the start of the play this character was…

To this character Eva was…

Mr. Birling

Mrs. Birling

Shelia

Gerald

Eric

Keen to cement his social rise through Shelia’s marriage. Insecure about his social status.

Happy taking advantage of the benefits of her social class – spending time in expensive shops.

Prepared to marry Shelia despite her lower social status and the disapproval of his mother.

Feels awkward about the benefits from his social status.

Social superior to her husband and gets embarrassed by his social gaffes.

Simply cheap labour – he did not think of her as a person.

Someone beneath he social status who deserved to be fired out of spite.

An upstart who deserves what she gets.

A mistress to be used and discarded as he pleases.

Easy sex at the end of a drunken night out.

GenderBecause of her sex Eva was in an even more vulnerable position. When the play is set women were not yet valued in their own right by society and had not been awarded the right to vote.

Even upper class women had limited choices and were under the control of men. The situation was even worse for working class women. Eva Smith encompasses this plights and her life is heavily influenced by the men she encounters.

Why do you think Priestley decided to have the play based on the death of a young working class woman rather than the death of a young working class man?

Age The older and younger generations deal with the Inspector’s call in different ways.

The Old (Mr. and Mrs. Birling) The Young (Shelia and Eric)

The old are set in their ways. They are confident that they are right and the young are wrong.

They will do anything to protect themselves and their reputation – Mr. Birling’s first thought is to cover up a scandal

They have never been forced to examine their actions and they cannot do this now “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”.

Mr. and Mrs. Birling have much to fear from a visit from the real Inspector – they will lose the thing they value most.

More open to new ideas. Their views change throughout the play and they express sympathy for the striking workers

They accept responsibility for their actions and their effects.

Eric and Shelia examine their role in Eva’s death.

They have less to fear from the real Inspector as they have already admitted their wrong doing and it is suggested they will change.

How does Priestley explore age in ‘An Inspector Calls’?

Write about:- the ideas about age in ‘An Inspector Calls’- how Priestley presents these ideas by the

way he writes

[30 Marks][AO4 4 Marks]

How does Priestley explore age in ‘An Inspector Calls’?

Write about:- the ideas about age in ‘An Inspector Calls’- how Priestley presents these ideas by the

way he writes

[30 Marks][AO4 4 Marks]

notes• Act 1 – divide of the ages as Mr and Mrs Birling correct

their offspring and seem to know little about them• Act 2- Eric has got a girl pregnant and stolen money• Act 3 – Eric and Sheila in particular are seen to be affected

by the events of the night, whereas Mr and Mrs Birling, and Gerald to an extent, are keen to avoid a scandal but are unlikely to change their ways

• Context- the youth are key to change and socialism and Priestley is making audience aware that Capitalism practiced by the older generations is a dangerous way to live life