inspector calls

• Birlings


  • Created by Priestley to convey the views of upper class capitalists
  • Represent a microcosm for capitalists in society
• Priestley's portrayal of the Birlings

  He is vilifying them to make the audience intentionally dislike them
• Birlings


  • Irresponsible
  • Unscrupulous
  • Immoral
• Birlings


  • Stagnant characters who do not develop or evolve
• Priestley's structure of the play

  He gives the Birlings the opportunity to evolve by removing the Inspector, but they do not learn the lesson
• Birlings' attitude to the causes of World Wars

  They profited from the wars, so they were invested in creating war
• Priestley presents a cyclical structure in the play, where the ending mirrors the beginning with another Inspector's call</b>
• Sheila and Eric


  • Liberated by socialism through the Inspector
  • Develop a collective social conscience
• Sheila

  Represents the Inspector's point of view, acting as his proxy
• Eric

  His insight may be fueled by alcohol, rather than true understanding
• Sheila and Eva are both victims of the patriarchal society portrayed in the play
• Sheila and Eva are both described by their physical characteristics, suggesting their value is based on appearance in the patriarchal society
• Women were expected to be subserviant to their husbands subserviant to the men in society basically bow down to them to be submissive
• Sheila and Eva are both described by their characteristics by their physical characteristics they are both branded as pretty
• The most important and valuable thing about Sheila and Eva is their external appearance
• In a patrial society women didn't hold much more value than how they appear their ability to be a mother be nurturing so it wasn't like their contribution society
• Despite the progression of women in 1945 women were still subject to being objectified because of their external Nots
• Priestly focuses on that and says look that leads to sexual exploitation
• Eric distances himself from what he's done he says I was in that chat in that state where a chat easily turns nasty
• This is a male justification for exploiting women
• When Gerald offers back the engagement to Sheila, she doesn't say no way pal have you just forgotten everything everything that's happened she says no not yet it's too soon I must think
• Sheila's only way out of the influence of her mother and father is going to be to marry a man and so why wouldn't you marry a really powerful man like Gerald
• The cyclical structure is symbolic of how the world wars continue and of course this attitude doesn't really change much
• Priestley is communicating that socialism is the progressive idea that we move Society forward but we have to do more we can't just hold these attitudes and hold ourselves accountable we have to take action
• Sheila and Eric do become Progressive they do show remorse which is like regret they do actually start exhibiting the traits of a socialist compassionate moral scrupulous
• It doesn't matter what Sheila learns she's not going to get the power to influence Society because women don't even have the vote in 1912
• People like the Birlngs lost their sons much more regularly than average everyday people
• Priestley sets it in 1912 because in 1945 it's the children of the Erics and the sheers who are now able to change the world
• Omniscient


  All knowing
• The inspector is presented as omniscient, he comes in and he's instantly presented as all knowing, he understands about the Burling they've done their immoralities
• The inspector holds this position of power and authority, this is shown through his the way he speaks Mr Burling lengthy long speeches but the inspector short and concise phrases and speeches and also the stage directions he interrupts Mr burn a lot
• Priestley makes morality synonymous with socialism and therefore power
• Dramatic vehicle


  The inspector literally carries the Socialist message through the play
• Priestley wants to Ally the Socialist message to the Christian message because his audience are mainly Christian
• Moral compass


  The inspector gives Sheila and Eric direction of morality, he provides them a moral compass to navigate Society and their own feelings and moral situations
• Socialism is almost the belief that will carry Sheila and Eric through, that will help them avoid exploitation and immorality, it will align them more with Christian teachings
• Capitalism and capitalist ideologies will always cause war and suffering because it's motivated by selfish gains
• Priestley is making socialism synonymous with morality and of course with morality comes compassion and with compassion comes a fair society that eradicates war
• Inspector: 'If men will not learn that lesson they will be taught it in fire blood and anguish'