How Does Priestley Present Money In An Inspector Calls

In the enigmatic morality play ‘An Inspector Calls’ Priestley unequivocally conveys money as a fundamental theme, signifying how money motivates others, presenting how those at the lowest social order are dehumanised by their lack of money and how dependent on maturity the ability to handle money is affected.

Priestley exhibits how the level of maturity someone has affects how they handle money. This is portrayed through the characterisation of Eric as he lacks financial literacy. Mr Birling states Eric has 'more money to spend and time to spare than I had’ demonstrating his inability to appreciate the significance of money and his obliviousness of how individuals in the lower class, such as Eva, live in poverty struggling to make enough money

Priestley implies that higher social class makes people greedy, through creating Mr Birling as a symbol of pomposity of capitalists in Edwardian society. He is constantly insecure in his own position and comes from the nouveau riche, making him socially inferior to the Crofts. Priestly illustrates how even Mr Birling experiences class prejudice despite being middle-upper class which provokes him to work harder and explains why he cares so much about being a ‘practical man of business’ and expanding his business to earn more money to decrease his insecurity. This is displayed when he says ‘There’ll be a public scandal... and who here will suffer for that more than I will’ indicating how significant money and his business is to him that he cares for his reputation before anything else. The desire of being associated amongst a higher class is the crucial reason for Mr Birling’s perspective on life, he is constantly striving to make more and more money to be able to live happily. Having money makes him overconfident and feel important therefore he becomes greedy and always wants more. Additionally, Birling is corrupt, addressing the inspector he says ‘I’ll give thousands - yes thousands’ offering money only because he does not want his reputation ruined even if the method is not legal, he will do anything to protect what makes him money. He is a mouthpiece of capitalism and serves as a warning about the dangers of unchecked greed and ambition. His character highlights the corrupting influence of money and the lack of concern for the welfare of others. Eva smith rebrands herself as Daisy Renton as she turns to prostitution as her last resort to making money to survive. In order to just be able to live she turns to jobs that endanger her as she is ‘desperately hard up,’ presenting the great extent to which she would go as without