The Role Of Social Class In An Inspector Calls By J. B. Priestley
In J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," the theme of social class plays a significant role in the interactions and conflicts between the characters. The play, set in 1912 England, portrays the Birling family, a wealthy upper-class family, and Inspector Goole, who represents the working class and serves as a moral compass for the story.
The Birling family, particularly Mr. Birling, represents the capitalist upper class of the time, who prioritized their own wealth and status over the well-being of others. In the play, Mr. Birling states, "A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself" (Act 1, Scene 2), emphasizing the importance of looking out for oneself and disregarding the consequences of his actions on the lower class.
Examples Of Juxtaposition In Inspector Calls
331 Words | 2 PagesIn Act 1 of ‘Inspector Calls, Priestley utilises juxtaposition to present Sheila Birling as an empathetic character who subverts the expectations of the bourgeoisie in Edwardian England. This can be seen when Sheila’s response juxtaposes with Birling’s “These girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”. It is clearly evident to the audience that Sheila goes against Birling capitalist ideology; this highlights that Sheila is willing to change her ways and shows empathy by regretting her decision, unlike Birling because of his obstinate and hubristic attitude. While Mr Birling is a symbol of capitalist ignorance of the bourgeoisie, Sheila is a symbol of hope and change as the new generation who recognises the humanity of the proletariat. by recognising
Mr Birling Quotes
541 Words | 3 PagesIn J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," Mr Birling is portrayed as a wealthy businessman and a prominent member of the community. He is the head of a family that represents the upper class of Edwardian society, and his views and opinions reflect the prevailing attitudes of his time. Mr Birling's views on gender are typical of the patriarchal and conservative attitudes of his time. He believes that women should be submissive and should not have a say in political or economic matters.
How Is Mr Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls
1785 Words | 8 PagesAn inspector calls, written by J.B Priestly, is a play based on a suicide of a young woman Mr birling was the most to blame as he started the chain of misfortunate events of Eva Smith’s life which eventually lead to her suicide. Mr Birling is an exalted as well as being a wealthy capitalist, he is also portrayed as being a rather portentous man. Moreover, Priestly presents him as a middle-class citizen and extremely proud of his company Birling and co While boastingly claiming that he has “a couple of hundred workers under” him “which keep changing.” Due to his higher status to Eva Smith he views the working class as cheap labour rather than humans.
How Is Gerald Presented In An Inspector Calls
605 Words | 3 PagesAn Inspector Calls written by J. B. Priestly was first published in 1945. It is a play which has a strong focus on the themes of social responsibility, age, gender, and class. Priestly uses these themes to remind us that not being aware of our actions can sometimes lead to other receiving them as consequences. He wants us to be responsible for both the welfare and behaviours of ourselves but also of others. In the play, we find that some characters tend to be more immersed in either themselves or money/business and this leads them to being a lot less of an admirable character than the ones who are willing to recognise and acknowledge their mistakes.
How Does Priestley Create Tension In Act 1 An Inspector Calls
1072 Words | 5 PagesIn J.B Priestley's novel ‘An Inspector Calls’ Priestley uses a range of techniques to highlight the divergence between the upper and richer classes compared to the working poor classes. Their attitudes are represented through the characterisation of its characters significantly Mr Birling and Sheila during their first encounter with Inspector Goole. From the beginning Mr Birling is characterised as an embodiment of the social ideology capitalism and displayed all the negative consequences this belief has. In Act 1 he proudly reveals his narcissistic behaviours towards the audience and the inspector making his character intolerable to the majority. The first line of the entire text begins with Mr Birling offering Gerald the alcoholic drink
Hyperbole In An Inspector Calls
1522 Words | 7 PagesJ.B. Priestly's play, 'An Inspector Calls' explores the theme of responsibility using effective use of characterisation and dramatic structure. The play revolves around the upper-class Birling family and their involvement in the suicide of a young working-class woman. Through their actions, Priestly demonstrates that everybody has a responsibility to look out for each other and that we must consider the consequences of our actions. The play is set in 1912, just before the events of the first world war, in a small industrial town named Brumley.
How Does Priestley Present The Theme Of Power In An Inspector Calls
1519 Words | 7 PagesHow does Priestley use language and structure to present the theme of power in “An Inspector Calls”? JB Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls” uses numerous literary and structural techniques to convey the theme of power within London in 1912, when the play is set (shortly before the end of the Edwardian era). During this period, capitalism within Britain led to the division of the upper class and the working class. Throughout the play, the struggle for ‘Power’ can be represented through the characters of Arthur and Sybil Birling, who represent the capitalist beliefs, while the inspector who represents the socialist members of society and tries to challenge the Birling family's selfish attitudes and shows them how their actions have contributed
Inspector Calls Individualism
2983 Words | 12 PagesIn the morality play, “An Inspector Calls”, Priestley employs the concept of responsibility to express the haunting effects of individualism on people’s lives. Priestley introduces the theme of responsibility by utilizing the omniscient inspector Goole to advance the socialist viewpoint that each of us must be accountable for both our own deeds and the way we treat others. However, he contrasts this philosophy with the usage of figures like Mr. and Mrs. Birling, who are the complete antitheses of Priestley's message; they lack accountability and are self-centred, heartless, and prejudiced. Priestley portrays Mr. and Mrs. Birling as intolerant and selfish figures as a method to criticise the upper-middle class. The unity of the socialist ideologies
Social Responsibility In An Inspector Calls By J. B. Priestley
888 Words | 4 PagesIn J.B Priestley’s didactic play ‘an inspector calls’ responsibility is a theme shown throughout the play, as Priestley believed society needed to take on more social responsibility, this is shown through the inspector who acts as Priestley’s mouthpiece in the play, for his socialist message; with the play first being premiered in socialist Russia in 1945 it is clear to see Priestley wanted to teach an audience about socialism through the importance of responsibility. At the the start of the play we are introduced to the Birling family who are an upper-middle class family who made their money through the capitalist system, an ideology that Priestley is highly critical throughout the play. Its a sensible view to say that Mr Birling is a personification
How Does Priestley Present Injustice In An Inspector Calls
1425 Words | 6 PagesIn An Inspector calls, Priestley uses The Inspector to present injustice in society through his questioning of the Birling family and Gerald Croft. The Inspector gradually uncovers the selfish and unjust acts which the family enacts upon the lower classes through their abuse of their power and status over people, not showing the slightest bit of care for their wellbeing, barely treating their workers as individual beings with their own lives and emotions, just caring about the money they are making for them, and treating the lower class in general as lower beings in general, not being worth the time to understand or sympathise with. The Inspector exposes the acts of injustice by the upper class towards the lower classes through his questioning
The Role Of Lighting In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls
928 Words | 4 PagesJ.B Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1945, the last year of World War 2 but sets it in 1912 a time of inequality where upper and lower class was distinguished and treated differently within society and where a big gap existed among poor and rich people. The play introduces us to the theme of social inequality and social responsibility displaying the fact that trade unions were very weak, workers had few rights, wages were very low and many other injustices where made specially towards women; they were treated very differently then men and they were looked on as less important in society. Lighting is changed at the arrival of the Inspector "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder" this displays a contrast between scenes and atmosphere. It also shows the change in mood; suggesting a cheerful environment and a very joyfully and delight mood, everybody feeling thrilled for Shelia 's engagement and celebrating united as a family. But it changes to "brighter and harder" at the arrival of the Inspector and
Gender Stereotypes In An Inspector Calls Essay
1410 Words | 6 PagesPriestly depicts gender stereotypes to emphasise gender in a capitalistic, misogynistic and patriarchal society, in his play 'An Inspector Calls'. Priestly portrays women as emotional, commodified, materialistic and irresponsible to highlight the way that a misogynistic capitalist society operates. In a similar manner, Priestly presents men as arrogant, ambitious, dominant, and strong. By doing this Priestly aims to critique capitalism and the underlying implications and undercurrent of problems which capitalism brings to provoke a reaction in the audience to promote socialism. Priestly presents women as weak, emotional and irresponsible throughout the entire play by using Sheila to show the 'pink and intimate' safety bubble and facade which her family lives in.
Mr Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls
476 Words | 2 PagesIn the opening of the play the Inspector begins to question Mr Birling after dinner about a photo of a young girl. Mr Birling is shown to be narrow minded in the opening of an Inspector calls. He is displayed as this through his poor political understanding , his business minded views as well as this distancing him from people. Firstly, Mr Birling is shown as narrow minded through his poor political understanding.
Theme Of Social Responsibility In An Inspector Calls
1867 Words | 8 PagesPriestley wrote “An Inspector Calls” in 1945, when two dominant superpowers, representing the conflicting ideologies of capitalism and socialism, emerged victorious at the end of the Second World War. The play focuses on the conflict of interest between capitalism and socialism: social responsibility. Birling is symbolic of self-interested capitalism, an ideology that completely rejects all forms of social responsibility: ‘a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own’. Inspector Goole is a mouthpiece for Priestley's authorial voice, insisting that social responsibilities be acknowledged: ‘We are responsible for each other’. Priestley portrays the capitalist, Birling, as the foolish antagonist of the play and the socialist,
Morality And Double Standards In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls
504 Words | 3 PagesIn the play An Inspector Calls written by J.B Priestley, the use of morality and double standards gives us an insight into the society of the early 1900s; which remains relevant in social stratification, cultural and deviance aspects. Through the story of Arthur Birling, Mrs. Sybil Birling and their children Eric and Sheila. The upper-class family, with untouchable reputation, enjoy of an intimate party soiree in honour of Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft. Son of a well-known business man, Sir George Croft from Crofts Limited. When Inspector Goole pays a mood-changing visit, resulting in the systematic manipulation of the presumably respectable characters.
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