Social Responsibility: AIC

• The Inspector


  • Goes to the Birlings' to encourage them to be accountable for their actions, and to take responsibility for others
  • Shows that all actions have consequences, and it is impossible to live in isolation
• The play condemns those in power for not protecting the people they were supposed to, and for leading the country into war without considering whom it would affect
• These teachings are in keeping with the Socialist direction society was taking in the 1940s after the war, when the standard of living was so low
• Mr Birling


  • Represents the antithesis of Priestley's message on social responsibility
  • Only cares about himself and always puts himself first, even when this means harming others
  • Completely oblivious about what other people go through, or how his actions impact others
  • Never accepts responsibility
• Mr Birling: '"The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense."'
• Mr Birling's intolerance of Socialism reflects the political climate of the 1910s, and suggests he is narrow-minded
• Mr Birling's harsh and insensitive language - "cranks" and "all that nonsense" - would have made Priestley's audience recognise him as heartless
• The phrases "you'd think" and "as if" show Mr Birling finds the idea of social responsibility preposterous
• Mr Birling's motto about family loyalty


  "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 alone
• The delay before "and his family too" even suggests his family comes as an afterthought
• Mr Birling's continued rejection of responsibility seems to be a result of arrogance and disrespect for others
• Even after the family have been taught about the consequences of their actions, Mr Birling claims "There's every excuse for what both your mother and I did - it turned out unfortunately, that's all"
• Mrs Birling


  • Personifies the upper classes' contempt towards the poor and authorities' neglect of those in need
  • Committed to the idea of her own innocence, refusing to accept the smallest bit of the blame
• Priestley uses Mrs Birling to suggest the hatred of social responsibility comes from classism and prejudice, as the upper classes didn't want to associate themselves with the lower classes
• Mrs Birling's responsibility


  1. Willing to condemn the anonymous father of Eva's unborn child

  2. Regrets this instantly when she finds out Eric is responsible
• Because she readily sacrifices her beliefs about duty to protect her son, it seems she never fully meant them
• Priestley suggests the upper classes' idea of duty is superficial and hypocritical
• Mrs Birling is happy to admit her prejudices against Eva, saying "I don't suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class -" and "Naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case"
• Priestley suggests the upper classes, particularly the older generation, are governed by bigotry and unrepentant in their actions
• As a "prominent member" of the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation, Mrs Birling has a duty of care to those who come to her, but she blatantly neglects this responsibility
• Priestley argues that institutions of care are run by the upper classes, who despise the poor and care only about their own status, meaning the lower classes will never get the help they need
• Despite hearing of Eva's suicide, Mrs Birling says "I consider I did my duty [...] I've done nothing wrong", showing her ignorance as it was her "duty" to give Eva help, not judge her
• Mrs Birling thinks her role in Eva's life ended when she left the room, signifying the heartlessness of the upper classes
• Mrs Birling's uncaring attitude is juxtaposed with Sheila's empathy


  Priestley demonstrates how the older generation are content to blame the poor for their own problems, while the younger generation understand that the lower classes are subjected to events beyond their control
• Priestley presents the older generation as remorseless, as Mrs Birling knows they won't face any consequences, so sees no reason to change her ways
• Sheila


  The first member of the Birling family to truly grasp the concept of shared responsibility, the first to repent, and takes it upon herself to continue the Inspector's message. She represents the way society can improve, and is a symbol of the compassionate, Socialist younger generation.
• Sheila does not start as a compassionate and responsible person, but is shaped by the Inspector, probably in a similar way Priestley hoped the play would shape the audience
• Sheila's character development is central to the play
• Sheila at the beginning


  • An example of how people fail to consider the consequences of their actions
  • Unable to predict the significance of their actions, meaning they need to act responsibly, being mindful of everything they do
• Sheila learns of Eva's death

  She can realise the extent of what she caused
• Priestley illustrates how the upper classes have the luxury of behaving however they wish and living in ignorance of the consequences, while the lower classes are left to cope with the aftermath in silence
• This could also be a criticism of the government for enabling tragedy by not foreseeing it, such as by not setting up a Welfare State
• Sheila's transformation


  • Her readiness to learn from the Inspector
  • She acknowledges her guilt, which goes against our instincts
  • She pledges to change her ways of her own accord
• Sheila recognises her whole family's involvement in Eva's death, showing how guilt and blame are important tools in society
• Sheila: '"Probably between us we killed her"'
• Sheila's statement is a direct confession of guilt, a refreshing change from her parents' deceit and ambiguity
• The metaphor reveals Sheila's shaken state of mind and the severity of the situation, acknowledging both the Inspector's role in bringing justice and the Birlings' part in causing their own fall from grace
• Priestley suggests those in power incriminate themselves, and the younger generation have the responsibility to hold them accountable
• Mrs Birling's uncaring attitude


  Juxtaposed with Sheila's empathy