Capitalism/Socialism

• 'As if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive - a community of nonsense'

  1. Priestly uses zoomorphism to characterize society, particularly the lower class likening them to insignificant creatures like 'bees.' Birling portrays the degradation and mockery of the notion of responsibility creating it to be an animalistic and primal behavior fit for only the 'bees.'
• 'As if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive - a community of nonsense'

  2. The use of the hyphen creates a theoretical pause when articulating the word 'community.' This shows how he couldn't verbalize that word and instead feel physical repulsion to it
• 'As if we were all mixed up like bees in a hive - a community of nonsense'

  4. Therefore, Mr Birling, who is a microcosm for the upper-class ideology, is vilified from the offset because he chooses materialism over human relationships. Priestley could be suggesting the inhumanity of the capitalist men which has been normalized.
• 'But these girls aren't cheap labour -- theyre people'

  1. Connotation of girls: The connotation of the word 'girls' creates vulnerability and innocence which exposes Mr Birling's exploitative nature for capitalist advancements. This highlights how the capitalists prey on the disadvantaged.
  2. This revelation is unimaginable for Sheila's sheltered past self. It fuels her disgust towards capitalist men, viewing them as unscrupulous and dehumanizing people.
• 'But these girls aren't cheap labour -- theyre people'

  3. Act one's docile Sheila, who was cocooned by privilege, is freed from the shackles of opressive privilege and undergoes metamorphosis under the Inspector's scrutiny. Her infantile facade crumbles and she becomes a champion of social justice.
• 'I did what I did. Mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her.' Act 3 / Eric Birling

  1. Personal 'I': The use of the personal pronoun 'I' shows a growth sense of personal accountability, social awareness and maturation towards his introspection.
  2. Eric was a '[half shy]' boy in Act 1 and turns into a person who compels their family into confronting them of their moral failings to make them take ownership of their unethical behavior.
• 'I did what I did. Mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her.' Act 3 / Eric Birling

  3. The parallelism of the words 'did what' in every segment of the sentence indicates a collective sense of responsibility.

  4. Furthermore, Eric points out that their negligence and exploitations are their burdens and it is something they must accept.
• 'I did what I did. Mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her.' Act 3 / Eric Birling

  5. Alternatively, the parallelism of 'did what' gives a ambiguous quality because Eric does not specify what they have 'did.' This could be a way to please the lower classes although not feeling any remorse or personal accountability.
• 'Girls of that class-' Act 2 / Mrs Birling

  1. The connotation of girls: The diction 'girls' connotes vulnerability and innocence and it shows Mrs Birling's willingness to exploit the vulnerability of society in order to gain capital advancements.
• 'Girls of that class-' Act 2 / Mrs Birling

  2. The demonstrative adjective of 'that' showcases Mrs Birling's views on the lower classes making them seem inferior and homogeneous as a group.

  3. It also portrays Mrs Birling as arrogant as she operates through her social class and not herself. Therefore, Priestly could be evoking that capitalism could lead to feelings of entrapment and confinement.
• 'We are members of one body' Act 3 / Inspector

  1. Imagery on the word 'one': this serves as a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness that binds humanity together. Therefore, the Inspector indicates to the Birling family that they have a duty to fulfill, which is to take care of the community and members of society depsite the difference of social class.
  2. This realisation of interconnection conveys a message to the Birlings and the audience that society can strive to be an empathetic, compassionate, socially aware society rather than a segregated and a hated one.