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How does Priestley present the theme of social class in An Inspector Calls?
How does Priestley present the theme of social class in An Inspector Calls?
Class drives the plot and shapes the characters
Priestley designed the characters to put across his message.
The message is about social responsibility, so class plays a central part in the plot.
The characters in the play represent the classes and Priestley challenges their views and behaviour in order to challenge the class hierarchy.
There was a clear class structure in the early 20th century. Many things contributed to what class you were in, but most of it came down to money - those who had it and those who didn't. There were 3 main classes:
Working class
Had all the hardest jobs and little money.
Eva Smith struggles through life, doing tough jobs, only earning enough to survive.
Middle class
Owned factories or were professionals (like lawyers). Had plenty of money and control.
The Birlings are wealthy, own a business and are able to live very comfortably.
Upper class
Inherited loads of land and money. Were often Lords and Ladies.
Gerald's family own land, and are socially superior to Arthur's. Inherited money had a higher status than trade.
Priestley thought class should not matter
Priestley uses the play to reveal the unfairness of the class system - he uses the Birlings as exaggerated caricatures of all the bad qualities he thought the ruling classes had.
The play isn't just about one family's scandal, it shows how Priestley saw society. Priestley presents the Birlings' arrogant behaviour and selfish attitudes as common to the middle class.
Priestley presents the working class as victims of the class system, although Eva Smith's story is unique, the miseries she suffered were probably quite common. Eva Smith could have been anyone.
How people act is not just about class
Eva Smith is expected to have low morals, but she reuses to accept stolen money even when she is desperate.
The Birlings think that class is all that matters, but Priestley is trying to present the opposite view. He suggests that class only clouds people's judgements, and people should be judged by what they do, not by what class they happen to be in.
By presenting Sheila and Eric as having changed at the end of the play, turning against the views of their own class, Priestley is saying that class is not all that matters - individuals can break out and choose to act differently.
The Birlings think that class is all that matters
Birling's biggest concern about Eva's death is that he won't get his knighthood because there will be a 'public scandal'.
Birling thinks his positions of authority make him more important. He had been Lord Mayor and an Alderman (council member) for many years, and he's now a magistrate who sits in courts and dishes out justice.
He uses Gerald to promote his social class - he asks him to hint to his parents that he's expecting a knighthood, and he is also very pleased that his daughter is marrying into a higher class
Sybil Birling is a leading member of the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation. This group is supposed to give money to desperate women, but Mrs Birling's only involved for the social status.
The class system meant the lower classes struggled
The class system could make life difficult for those lower down - it would have been hard for people like Eva Smith to help themselves if they were in trouble.
Priestley portrays the upper classes as having a limited sense of social responsibility for those less well off. They either didn't know, didn't want to know, or didn't care.
Mrs Birling claims not to recognise Eva Smith's photo. For her, Eva Smith has no identity.
Priestley suggested that the higher classes didn't question the class system as it worked for them. This is the same reason why they also overlooked problems of alcoholism and womanising - it was easier to ignore unpleasant things than to deal with them.
The Inspector tells the Birlings that they must accept that everyone should take responsibility for each other or it will all end in 'fire, blood and anguish'.