context

• J.B. Priestley wrote 'An Inspector Calls' in a single week, first performed in Moscow and Leningrad, Russia, in 1945, then in London in 1946, and on Broadway in 1947
• The play 'An Inspector Calls' is viewed as an example of a 'drawing room play', fitting the trend of detective thrillers and serious dramas of the time
• The play fell out of fashion after the 1960s due to the rise of Social Realist Theatre, but revivals in the late century brought it back to popularity, celebrated for Priestley's criticism of Capitalism and middle-class hypocrisy
• J.B. Priestley, born in 1894 in Bradford, Yorkshire, was influenced by the poverty among the working classes and the industrial economy of the city
• Raised in a Socialist environment, Priestley's experiences in World War I shaped his views on social inequality and class prejudice
• After the war, Priestley became a famous essayist, novelist, radio broadcaster, and a prominent Socialist advocating for class inequality and poverty in Britain
• Priestley's work often focused on themes of responsibility and theories of time, exploring the effects of individual actions over time, similar to 'An Inspector Calls'
• Victorian values, such as views on charity and the treatment of the poor, are reflected in 'An Inspector Calls', showcasing the destructive impact of these values on society
• Victorian society idealized gentlemanly chivalry towards "fallen women," punishing the women while celebrating the men who 'helped' them
• Priestley suggests that the romantic ideal of chivalry was based on sexual exploitation and lust, with men preying on "fallen women" as easy targets to satisfy their own needs while gaining credit from their peers
• The Victorians were obsessed with strict rules and hierarchy, deriving many morals from the Bible but often interpreting them harsher and more extreme than the original texts
• Victorians believed in sexual restraint, honesty, politeness, cleanliness, and obedience of the law, living in a hierarchy determined by age, gender, wealth, and heritage
• Repression in Victorian society led to hypocrisy, with upper-class individuals living double lives, engaging in 'sinful' activities they publicly condemned
• The First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945) irreversibly changed the economic, political, and social landscape of Britain
• Both World Wars dismantled the class system, as everyone, rich or poor, experienced the same blackouts, bombing raids, rations, and fears, leading to a reduction in class differences and fewer upper-class individuals
• Attitudes towards war changed during the First World War, initially met with optimism and enthusiasm but later shifting as large massacres and the gruesome reality of war became evident
• The Second World War brought a sense of unification and teamwork to the country, with bombing raids and evacuations highlighting extreme poverty in cities and fostering a community spirit
• During World War Two, the government became more involved in people's lives, implementing measures like rationing and evacuation to protect its citizens
• The Great Depression, starting in 1929 with the Wall Street Crash, was the worst economic event since industrialization, causing worldwide recession, decreased consumer spending and investment, increased unemployment, and bank failures
• In the 1912 class system, there was a stark distinction between the upper and lower classes in terms of living conditions, education, and opportunities, with lower-class women facing particularly difficult circumstances
• In the 1912 class system, the lower classes were expected to serve the upper classes, often working as maids or servants in wealthier households
• After the Industrial Revolution, many working-class people worked in factories or warehouses, owned and controlled by wealthy families, perpetuating the idea of the poor working for the rich
• Stereotypes of the lower classes included being seen as dirty, sinful, thieves, criminals, and sinners, threatening the purity of the nation
• Many rich people believed the lower classes were to blame for their own troubles, considering them stupid, idle, or not working hard enough
• Social mobility in 1912 was nearly non-existent, as lower classes couldn't access well-paying jobs due to lack of education or skills, and employers' reluctance to hire them for better positions
• Social class in 1912 was determined by more than just wage or job, with family heritage playing a significant role, making it challenging for individuals to move between social classes
• The Industrial Revolution, occurring between 1760 and 1840, transitioned manual labor to machinery, increasing production efficiency and changing Britain's workforce
• The Industrial Revolution led to the emergence of a new class of people with 'new money' who made their fortunes from industry, causing tension with the 'old money' families who had wealth for generations
• Working conditions in the early twentieth century were atrocious, with poor living conditions, dangerous machinery, lack of health and safety regulations, and child labor being prevalent issues
• Workers' rights movements, like trade unions, emerged in response to poor working conditions, aiming to secure better rights and conditions for workers
• The trade union movement faced resistance initially but gained support throughout the twentieth century, advocating for child labor laws, women's workplace rights, better conditions, fewer work hours, and higher wages
• Strikes were a common form of protest by workers to demand better rights and conditions, with notable strikes like the Liverpool general transport strike in 1911 and the national coal strike of 1912
• In 1945, the UK went on strike for 37 days with the main demand being a secured minimum wage for miners, which was granted by the government intervention
• By 1945, workers' rights had improved, with trade unions gaining traction and attention, and the establishment of a World Federation of Trade Unions
• During the war, the need for a constant supply of machinery, equipment, and weapons led to a significant increase in the number of people working in factories, including a rise in the number of women in the workforce
• Temporary changes during the war allowed women to work, have positions of authority, and earn a wage, but after the war, societal expectations pushed for women to return to being housewives
• The Labour government in 1945 implemented the Welfare State to address issues identified by Beveridge, providing benefits like financial protection for unemployment and sickness, pensions for the elderly, and standardised minimal living conditions for the employed
• Nationalisation in 1945 involved the government taking control of Britain's main industries to create and maintain jobs, preventing mistreatment and exploitation by employers and keeping unemployment rates low
• Strikes continued in 1945, especially due to falling wages post-war, leading to national and international unrest
• In 1912, British politics were characterized by conflict and apprehension, with a growing number of strikes indicating unrest despite a predominantly Capitalist and conservative country