context

• Priestly

  . Priestley was a well-known socialist. He fought in WW1 and his radio broadcast supported the Labour party.
• Edwardian society: A strong class system with a huge divide between the rich and poor. No welfare state. Conservative society but lots of social unrest.
• 1912, play is set Pre world wars: a conservative, capitalist and more classist society.
• 1945 play is written: The World Wars (WW1 1914-1918; WW2 1939-1945) bought about much social change. The class system was less divided, society had become more socialist, the Labour party had won the vote by a landslide victory and women had the right to vote
• SOcial class: The division of society based on their social and economic status. Generally, those with titles e.g. Lord/ Sir would be considered Upper Class; those who owned businesses or were educated in a profession would be considered middle class and those who worked for others would be seen as working class.
• WOman's right: The suffragettes fought for women to have the right to vote which was granted in 1918 following women’s role in WW1. However, this was only for women over the age of 30 or who owned their own house (or their husband did). All women did not gain the right to vote until 1928.
• THe Greek unities:

  Time (no more than 24 hours, set it real-time); Place (only one setting); Action (only one story-line, no complicated sub-plots). All used to make the play seem more realistic. It also cause it to be more claustrophobic and intense. EMphaising Birling self-centred and unwelcoming arrival of inspectors
• A morality play: The characters all represents one (or more) of the seven deadly sins. The Inspector is there to teach the characters to steer away from the path of evil and adopt a more moral and Godly life.
• Proleptic irony: When the character gives a warning or hint about what’s going to happen in the future – for example in the Inspector’s final speech he alludes to the war.
• Dramatic irony: When the audience know something the characters don’t – for example the sinking of the Titanic or the World Wars
• Climatic Curtain: Each act ends on a high point of tension (see the act summaries).
• Didactic play: A play that teaches a lesson
• Detective genre: inspector is moreally inspecting the character behaviour
• Cyclical ending: character are back to their original state at the end of the play beacuse they refused to learn a lesson
• Responsibility: first performed in the UK just after the end of World War Two, in 1946. It was a time of great change in Britain and many writers were concerned with the welfare of the poor. At that time there was no assistance for people who could not afford to look after themselves. He also felt that if people were more considerate of one another, it would improve quality of life for all. Priestley wanted his audience to be responsible for their own behaviour and responsible for the welfare of others.
• Gender: Age is an important theme in An Inspector Calls. Priestley uses it to show how he believed that there was hope in the younger generation's ability to learn and change. The older characters' opinions and behaviours are stubbornly fixed. Mr Birling refuses to learn and Mrs Birling cannot see the obvious about herself and her children. Eric and Sheila however are younger - they accept their mistakes and offer the chance for a brighter future.
• CLass: An Inspector Calls was written after World War Two. As many British men went away to fight during the war, their positions in work had to be filled by women. This helped change existing perceptions. Men had to acknowledge the fact that women were just as capable as them. As a result of this, many women enjoyed a newfound freedom that working and earning money allowed them. Not all men saw this change in attitude as a good thing . Priestley explores the impact of these new gender roles through the independence of Eva Smith and the sexist attitudes of Mr Birling.
• Generations: Before World War Two, Britain was divided by class. Two such classes were the wealthy land and factory owners and the poor workers. The war helped bring these two classes closer together and rationing meant that people of all classes were eating and even dressing the same. The war effort also meant that people from all classes were mixing together. This was certainly not the case before. Priestley wanted to highlight that inequality between the classes still existed and there was still more change to be done
• Last month, just because the miners came out on strike, there's a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future. Don't worry. We've seen the worst of it." (Mr Birling)

  There were an increasing number of strikes during this era of history e.g. Eva Smith's strike.The second industrial revolution saw tremendous technological advances. The mass production ensured uniform quality at prices affordable to most people but workers were treated terribly. Eventually, there was a growth of trade unions and a politically mobilised working class.
• you'll hear some people say that war's inevitable. And to that I say - fiddlesticks!" (Mr Birling)

  World War One was an ideological struggle, a battle between democracy and dictatorship. World War I became a catalyst for change - women took on men's jobs and responsibilities and new stereotypes began to be formed. Change was possible. Priestley's audience may have lived through this change and would be aware of how ridiculous Mr Birlingsound, (dramatic irony).
• the Titanic- and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable." (Mr Birling)

  Titanic sank 1912. Under the command of Edward Smith, the ship's passengers included some of the wealthiest people.The builders and owners of Titanic claimed she was 'practically unsinkable'. The disaster was greeted with worldwide shock and outrage at the huge loss of life and the regulatory and operational failures that had led to it. The confidence that had been placed on such new technology was severely questioned - thus Priestley is again using dramatic irony to demonstrate Birling's arrogance and pomposity.
• Probably a Socialist or some sort of crank" (Birling)

  In 1945 the Labour Government (with such notions) did win the general election. They had policies such as decent pensions, better regulations for workers . They called for a dramatic turn in British social policy, with NHS, free education for all, national insurance etc.
• "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people." (Sheila)


  19th century Britain saw a massive population increase and rapid urbanisation due to the Industrial Revolution. The large numbers of skilled and unskilled people looking for work kept wages down . Available housing was expensive. Employers could afford to treat their workers very badly, as there was always somebody else looking for a job. Girls like Eva Smith could often find themselves pushed into prostitution through desperation, and not as a result of low moral standards.
• Priestly as a socialist

  During World War II, he was a regular broadcaster on the BBC and extremely popular. His broadcasts helped the Labour Party gain its landslide victory in the 1945 general election. His political views are the direct opposite of Birling, we are more likely to be sympathetic to the Inspector's message of Socialism and equality. We are shown that there must be a change from the elite system based on class.
• When you're married, you'll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business.' (Mrs Birling)

  In 1912 If married, they stayed at home to look after the children while their husband worked . If single, they did work which usually involved such as working as a waitress, cooking etc. Many wives could not leave their husbands because they did not have the financial independence. divorced woman was shunned by society and treated as an outcast. Many women were forced to stay in unhappy marriages.
• The famous younger generation who know it all."

  World War I was the turning point for the suffragette campaign. As men went to the Western Front, women worked in factories. By 1918, the Representation of the Peoples Act allowed women over 30 the right to vote. Put men and women on an equal position. Birling's attitude here reflects how little respect he has for Sheila's generation's attitude, yet clearly they were willing and able to fight for change - Priestley shows perhaps how we have to work with the younger generation to make progress
• Gerald Croft

  Gerald represents upper class status and wealth. The fact that his parents are 'Lord and Lady Croft'. He is used to being treated with respect, and perhaps even fear. 1912 society was extremely patriachal and his male (upper class) identity would have placed him at the top of the hierarchy. Gerald abuses his position with Eva to serve his male ego . THe society allows him to act in this way, much like Alderman Meggarty. Mr Birling sees the marriage between Gerald and Sheila as a business arrangement. 'is it the one you wanted me to have?' he values images over everything else.
• Mrs Birling

  Mrs Birling is a capitalist who only cares about the upper class and keeping her wealth and privileges reserved for the elite few. She is very money-oriented and, despite being heavily influential with a charity for women, she is more concerned by profits than compassion.At the end of the play, she firmly feeling that status protects her from the law. she has absolutely no loyalty towards other women, Mrs Birling merely uses the façade of the charity to make herself look good.
• Inspector Goole

  The Inspector is a mysterious figure. The Inspector represents the voice of socialism and left wing politics. This play would have helped cement the need for such reforms Priestley is also hugely encouraging us to see that we are capable of making positive changes and that we must continue to build on this - a message still relevant today? He also stands as the moral conscience. against the evils of the seven deadly sins: avarice (greed for money), pride, envy, lust, greed, sloth.
• Mr Birling

  Mr Birling symbolises the typical role of a 1912 capitalist businessman. He takes advantage of his power and attempts to threaten the Inspector, even reminding him, 'I was the Lord Mayor you know'. the rich clearly were not used to answering to justice and were clearly used to being treated as above the law. The 1945 audience is immediately reminded of how society can be run very unfairly.
• Eva Smith


  Eva Smith / Daisy Renton represents the mistreated lower class of 1912 society. She forces an audience to witness the ridicule, hypocrisy and oppression that workers often endured due to lack of any kind of welfare state. She is forced into prostitution due to absolute desperation and lack of support, and then criticised for living in such a way by the upper classes, who wished to maintain a barrier between them.
• Sheila Birling

  Represents the upper social class and privilege
• We feel a little sympathy for Sheila as she is raised by a mother who encourages her to abdicate all responsibility to men
• Even upper class women still suffered forms of oppression in a patriarchal society
• Sheila

  • Begins to show the transformation that will be needed for the suffragettes
  • The catalyst is the Inspector's visit
  • It's to encourage those in 1945 to feel proud of their progressive change
• Sheila does not directly deny marriage to Gerald
• This again ensure that we stay dedicated to change and do not allow ourselves to slide back into previous roles
• Eric Birling


  Eric represents the upper social class and privilege. He is clearly spoilt and used to receiving exactly what he wants, treating those in lower social classes with almost contempt. We perhaps feel a little sympathy for him as he is raised by a father who has little respect for himand encourages Eric to be selfish in all regards and almost abdicate any morals.Loyalties in the play seem to be to money, business and capitalism, rather than family and compassion. Through watching this play, we are expected to lean towards more left-wing morals.