THEMES

• Themes in "An Inspector Calls":

  • Social responsibility
  • Age
  • Gender
  • Class
• The consequences of the Birlings' actions highlight Priestley’s ideas on social responsibility
• Difference between younger and older characters' reactions to Eva Smith's death shows Priestley's view on different generations
• Priestley viewed the younger generation as hope for the future
• Both Sheila and Eric learn a lesson from the Inspector
• Male characters' behavior towards females in the play highlights points on gender and inequality
• Class issues are addressed by involving a middle-class family in the death of a working-class girl
• J.B. Priestley explored these themes in much of his work
• Themes are political in nature and remain relevant today
• Sheila feels socially responsible
• Sheila takes responsibility for her actions and tells the truth
• Sheila acknowledges that Gerald may have done things he's ashamed of too
• Mr Birling does not feel socially responsible
• Mr Birling refuses to take any responsibility for Eva Smith’s death
• Mr Birling dismisses the idea of being responsible for each other, suggesting it would be 'awkward'
• Eric feels socially responsible
• Eric shows that he takes responsibility for his actions in the final act of the play
• Eric expresses that he can't let himself off the hook for Eva's death, unlike Gerald and his parents
• Eric even confronts his mother about her responsibility in Eva's death
• Mrs Birling does not feel socially responsible
• Sybil Birling refuses to take any responsibility for Eva Smith's death
• Mrs Birling shows no remorse or understanding of her role in Eva's death
• She criticizes Eric instead of reflecting on her own actions
• The Inspector's lessons
• The Inspector suggests that it is socially irresponsible to be greedy and 'take' things without permission
• The privileged Birlings are used to taking things without considering the consequences
• 'An Inspector Calls' was first performed in the UK in 1946, just after the end of World War Two
• It was a time of great change in Britain, with many writers concerned about the welfare of the poor
• At that time, there was no assistance for people who could not afford to look after themselves
• Priestley wanted to address the lack of assistance for the poor in society
• Priestley believed that if people were more considerate of one another, it would improve the quality of life for all
• Social responsibility is a key theme of the play
• Priestley wanted the audience to be responsible for their own behaviour and the welfare of others
• 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.
• Eric stands up to his parents when they refuse to take responsibility
• Eric sees that his parents are trying to 'pretend' that nothing happened when it is suggested that the Inspector was not real
• Eric and Sheila still feel responsible for their actions
• Mrs Birling explains her decision to turn away Eva when she came to her for help
• Mrs Birling is unmoved and stubbornly stands by her decision to turn Eva away despite hearing about all the misfortune that Eva Smith has suffered
• Mr Birling turns on his son Eric and nearly attacks him physically