Themes

• The 4 key themes of inspector calls:

  1. age
  2. gender
  3. responsibility
  4. class system
• The theme of age is significant because it shows the divide between the older and younger generations. The older generations do not accept responsibility wheras the younger generations do
• The older generations in the play represent capitalistic views and are seen as selfish because they do not accept responsibility. Priestley wanted to highlight the problems in society by representing the higher class capitalists in this way
• Mr Birling and Mrs Birling do not really change wheras Sheila and Eric accept responsibility and learn important lessons
• Sheila and Eric learn important lessons because they accept responsibility which may show us that they will not repeat their mistakes in the future
• Priestley has presented the younger generations (Sheila and Eric) to be open minded and accept responsibility for their actions. They represent Priestley's more socialistic views and are more aware of the problems both they have caused and the problems of their Edwardian society.
• Gender is an important theme in inspector calls because it represents the inequality between men and women in 1912
• Social class is a key theme in AIC because it is a massive part of each of the character's identity. Priestly showed throughout the play how members of the lower class are treated unfairly and how they are often exploited by the upper class