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An Inspector Calls - THEMES, J.B Priestley - Coggle Diagram
An Inspector Calls - THEMES
Social Responsibility
(1946) Priestley concerned with welfare of poor. No assistance for people who weren't able to look after themselves
How do people look after each other in society?
Consequences of the Birlings' actions
Birling family not considerate of other people, only their wealth and reputation
Theme Shown through:
Treatment of Eva Smith
If/How each character chooses to accept or pass on blame
The Inspector's actions
How does each character do this?
Mr Birling
Doesn't
feel responsible - Refuses responsibility
"If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody"
Believes people should look after themselves, not others -
Capitalistic view
Mrs Birling
Doesn't
feel responsible - Believes her actions were justifiable
"And look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility."
"But I think she had only herself to blame"
Learned nothing, questioning behaviour of others and justifying her own actions (treatment of Eva)
Eric
Takes responsibility in final act
Takes matter seriously
Tells Mrs Birling she should feel responsibility
"You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can't. Nor can mother."
Sheila
Shocked and upset at her role in Eva's death
Doesn't lie or try to cover up her actions. Doesn't justify them/
Annoyed at Gerald who judges her, despite him not taking responsibility for his actions
"All right Gerald, you needn't look at me like that. At least I'm trying to tell the truth. I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too."
"It's better to ask for the earth than to take it." - Questioning the socially irresponsibly actions of the Birlings
Priestley uses this theme to show how the world would be an awful place if nobody took responsibility for their actions (towards other people)
"But there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" - backs up the idea of how we need to be responsible for each other
Age
Different reactions to Eva Smith's death
Youth = more understanding of their actions/willing to change
Older = Don't see it as their problem, want to keep things as they are
Priestley uses age to show how there is hope and change with younger generations
Older people in the play are represented as having stubborn view points
The views of the different ages: older people perceive the younger as ridiculous and will be the downfall of the Birling name
Mr Birling & Mrs Birling: No remorse for their involvement with the death
Age and social responsibility link to eachother
Sheila & Eric desperate to make changes to the way they do things in order that it never happens again
Mr & Mrs Birling think that they are "off the hook" when Gerald suggests the inspector isn't real: older people = capitalist
Eric & Sheila still believe that they behaved badly and should change, even if he inspector wasn't real
How is this shown in the characters?
Eric
Eric stands up to his parents when they don't take responsibility for their involvement.
"You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all."
He and Sheila still feel responsible, despite the suggestion of the Inspector being fake/not real
Mrs Birling
Explains why she turned Eva away
Abuse of power is attempted to be justified
"I was perfectly justified in advising my committee not to allow her claim for assistance."
Youth v Older
"Why, you hysterical young fool - get back - or I'll -""
Birling things younger people are "fools"
Almost resorts of violence
Gender Roles
Gender Equality
How the characters treat each other throughout the play
E.G: Gerald having Eva Smith as his mistress for a summer
E.G: Mrs Birling leaving Mr Briling and Gerald alone to talk
Mr Birling remaining stuck in the past (prior to WW2), not believing strongly in women workers as such
Mr Birling = sexist attitudes
How Gerald and Mr Birling view women, as well as their actions towards them
How Mrs Birling treated Eva
Eva presented as independent & outspoken (fights for her rights)
Mr Birling's patronising statements about women liking clothing and how they couldn't organise a proper strike
Mrs Birling: Old fashioned. Believes women should suppor their husbands and not speak out against them
Priestley wants the audience to question stereotypes and societal rules/expectations of people and genders.
How is this shown through characters?
Mr Birling
Tells Gerald about women's attitudes towards clothing
"Make 'em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect."
Patronising of women via his stereotypical view.
Suggests that they all think the same way.
Mrs Birling
Suggests Eva is incapable of having feelings
"She was claiming elaborate feelings that were simply absurd in a girl in her position."
Mrs Birling is cruel, maybe even more than Mr Birling. Doesn't try to empathise with another woman, highlighting her negative ideology towards people in the working class
Gerald Croft
Comments he makes about the women in the bar he visits
"Women of the town"
"I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women."
If women don’t meet his standard of how they "should" look, he dislikes them. (Superficial & sexist)
Links with class system - how women are respected and represented
Class System
How the Birlings have treated this lower, working class girl
"These girls aren't cheap labour, they're people"
Society at the time = Factory owners/rich and poor working class
War effort = Classes were mixing together
Priestley = highlight class inequality and upper classes look down upon working classes
Upper Class = Owned most of Britain & earned most of the money
Working Class = Poor living conditions
Class explored (through Eva):
Factory worker -
Asks for higher wages & sacked
Shop worker -
Sacked after a complaint by Sheila
Homelessness -
Gerald looks after her when she's homeless, dumps here when he no longer wants her
Potential single mother -
Mrs Birling doesn't help her when she comes to her committee for help
Eva is treated badly by wealthy upper/middle classes
Priestley wants to clearly show the injustice of the classes
How do the characters do this?
Mr Birling
How he sacked Eva
"If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the Earth."
He feels that it is his responsibility. Wrong attitude - look after the people, not to punish them
Mrs Birling
How Eva approached her organisation
"As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!"
Prejudiced towards the working class
Believes that those of the working class lack morals
Birling's friends
Gerald's story of Joe Meggarty
"He's a notorious womaniser"
Family shocked to find out he is a 'sot' (drunk)
Shows how the upper classes can behave badly
Joe Meggarty = "Alderman" (Council member)
J.B Priestley
Socialist
Uses the characters to convey the issues with society/his opinions/viewpoints.
Pollitical
Still relevant