Contrasts In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
Contrasts in the play “ An Inspector Calls ”
Priestly has shown many contrasts in the play, “An inspector calls”. This play was set in 1912, but written soon after WWII. It was set in 1912 because it gave the audience a more dramatic impression of the class differences between the rich and the poor. The first of the contrasts that is shown in the play, is the contrast between the two generations. The Younger generation of the upper class is more open and sociable to the people around them. The younger generation is contrasted with the older generation throughout the play. Examples are when Sheila changes a lot more in the play to the level that she is frightened and ashamed of her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Birling, who do not accept any social responsibility for Eva Smith’s death, and reject the Inspector’s call as a “hoax”.
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The older generation are more interested in their social life, and their business, especially Mr. Birling. They didn’t think about the world because they didn’t think it brought them fortune and wealth. The younger generation has a social principle and takes social responsibility. On page 61, Eric says that “the girl’s dead… and that’s what matters”. The two generations create contrast because of their very different understanding and attitudes. Also because it has a dramatic effect in the play. This was one of the things Priestley was trying to say.
In this play, we can see that Priestly is a socialist. This shows that Priestly liked the younger generation, as well as those who wanted a more equal society.The message Priestly was trying to send, was that we are a community, and we should be responsible for one another. This is what separates the two generations; The principles they live up to.
Birling is full of lies. For example, on page 10, he said…. “you’ll hear some people say that war’s inevitable. And to that I say-fiddlesticks!” which means that
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