English

• Social responsibility is the most obvious theme. Inspector goes to the Birling’s to encourage them to be accountable for their actions and take responsibility for others.  Many members are vulnerable or mistreated. 

   

  Priestley shows his audience that all actions have consequences, it is impossible to live in isolation. Be mindful of your own actions, you help take responsibility for others. Society will benefit.
• The play penalises those in power for not protecting the people they were supposed to, and for leading the country into war without considering who it would affect.

   

  Mr birling represents the antithesis of Priestley’s message on social responsibility. He only seems to care about himself. Throughout the play he exhibits a oblivious state towards others hardships especially those in the working class. 
• “The way that some cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all missed up together like bees in a hive- community and all that nonsense”. 

   
• His intolerance of socialism reflects political climate of the 1910’s and suggests he is narrow-minded.

   

  His harsh and insensitive language “cranks” and “all that nonsense”- would have made Priestley’s audience recognise him as heartless.

   

  The simile “like bees in a hive” implies social responsibility is primitive and demeaning.  The phrases “you’d think” and “as if” suggest he fins it preposterous. 
• He tells the inspector “its my duty to keep labour costs down”

   

  Implying his business pursuits require him to exploit his workers. He feels as duty to his business but not to his society. Neglect and inhumanity are a part of business. 

   
• Finally shows how Mr Birling prioritises himself over his duty to others. His motto about family loyalty is repeated several times. “A man has to make his own way-has to look after himself – and his family too”

   

  The repetition of “a man has to” reveals Mr birling believes men are born with an obligation to themselves.

   

  The pause before “and his family too” suggest even family is an after thought.

   

  John Donne- no man is an island