Priestley wrote an Inspector Calls in 1945 – just before the end of WWII. However, The play itself is set in 1912 – just before the start of WWI, and in Edwardian England. Priestley was a socialist writer who had left wing political views with very strong beliefs; he enjoyed using types of theatre to get his messages across. When the platy was set, there was a lot of historical events going on at the time; Titanic, Captain Scott falling to reach S Pole, Suffragette movement campaigning for women’s rights, worker striking for better pay and conditions, Russia unrest, no NHS/DHS S, and no help from state for poor. All of these are mentioned in the play at some point – either briefly or to get messages across. In Edwardian times – when the play was set – class was deemed as being very important.
You were expected to know your class and stick to it. The Birling’s were wealthy middle-class landowners; they were well respected and had hopes of climbing the social ladder. Mr. Birling had hopes of a knighthood, putting him in high up in the social status, and he was the owner of a factory he had a lot of power. This was shown when he got rid of Eva Smith. Although we only see him speak of the event, you can tell from the way he speaks about it – “they suddenly decided to ask for more money…
I refused, of course”, and then after questioned why, he replied, “I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours how I choose to run my business.” Here, he shows his stubbornness; as he sacked her, it must ” ve been the right decision. Not only this, but it’s showing how he doesn’t care about his workers plight, and those lower down the class system. In the play, this is an issue with all the higher-class people; how they think they are always right and can’t look beyond what they want to. In An Inspector Calls, Mr. Birling is a prime example of this stereotypical character of the time.
The Report on Pride and Prejudice: a Novel Where Social Class Played an Enormous Role
Pride and Prejudice a novel by Jane Austen social class played an enormous role. “In marrying your nephew, I should not consider myself as quitting that sphere. He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter: so far we are equal”. According to Elizabeth Bennett, she is equal to Mr. Darcy, who is rich (which Elizabeth is not). She believes it’s acceptable but in reality it’s not. In mid- 18th ...
In Mr. Birling’s big speech before the Inspector arrives, there are many moral issues raised: First of all, the issue of whether the marriage is for love, money, respect or business – “Your engagement to Sheila means a tremendous lot to me… your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for some time now… and now you ” ve brought us together.” While Mr B does mention that they will make each other very happy he mentions his business a lot, and this shows how he wants the wedding for two reasons, as he wants to climb the social ladder to the top. This is mentioned a number of times at different sections of the play. Mr B refers to business later on in his speech, with the prosperity of the country brought up in the speech suggesting the marriage is for money, and when it turns out Gerald has been keeping a mistress, he still wants the marriage to go ahead making excuses for Gerald; this shows that all Mr.
Birling wanted from the marriage was money, respect and prosperity for himself.
