Priestly criticises the selfishness of people like Birling, what methods does he use to present the selfishness?
J.B Priestly who wrote the play ‘An inspector calls’ has created a family named the Birlings who are Middle/Upper class, to represent the selfishness of people who were similar to them in 1912. Throughout the play he uses the Birlings to bring across the moral message, and his view being a socialist that people should be able to feel equal and that no class is better than the other.
The fact that this play is set in 1912, however was written by Priestly in 1945/6 shows that people such as the Birlings continued to be social superior, and have not learnt from past mistakes.
At the beginning of act one, the play is opened with ‘Giving us the port Edna’ from Mr Birling, giving the reader the idea that Mr Birling is wealthy. Priestly has indicated this well due to Birling emphasising that he can afford such luxuries, and also a maid. This then gives the reader the idea that Birling does not care for the working class (such as Edna) as he does not continue to say ‘please’ or ‘Thank you’, as he believes that because of his class he does not have too. Edna is just one of the characters Priestly has used to show just how selfish Mr Birling is. We find that the reader may begin to feel sympathy for Edna and also giving a disliking towards Mr Birling as he gives an appearance of being selfish, and inconsiderate of others.
The Essay on Flower Girl Play Class Social
Entertainment from today's astounding visual effects in movies to men acting as women in Shakespearean plays some centuries ago, have always been and will always be appreciated by many. Even George B. Shaw's play Pygmalion, has given a few laughs, but not only made for engaging an audience in something fun and making money, instead to a noticeable extent for people to learn. "Pygmalion" in fact, ...
Throughout the play of ‘The inspector calls’ the Birlings use their name (surname) and status for power, this is first shown in act one when Birling expresses to the inspector that he was ‘An alderman for years, and Lord mayor two years ago’ he finish’s emphasising that he is ‘Still on the bench’. Priestly uses this to highlight that Birling intimidates those who he believes are a lower class to him, however him and the inspector are from the same class, although because of his surname he has more power. Readers may gain more of a disliking towards Birling.
When the Inspector questions Birling about Eva Smith, he confesses that ‘she was one of my employees and then i discharged her’ as she was one of the ring leaders for those who ‘wanted the rates raised so that they could average about twenty-five shillings a week. I refused, of course’. This attitude that Mr Birling has, shows that he does not care for the working class, or the struggles they may face if not earning enough to live on. Priestly makes Mr Birling seem that he does not see what his actions can do to affect others which make him even more selfish.
Another way priestly tries to show selfishness in this play is through Sheila abusing the power which she has. Priestly has made Sheila seem spoilt as she asks for the sales assistant Eva to be sacked for being ‘Impertinent’ where actually it was because she was jealous as a dress which she tried on ‘didn’t suit’ her ‘at all’, and when Eva tried it on ‘It just suited her, she was the right type for it’. Priestly shows Sheila in a negative light, and also irresponsible. Readers may begin to dislike her as she is unaware of the working class and the struggles/hard times that they face in life.
Priestly also shows selfishness through Sybil (Mrs Birling), and the use of position in society. When Eva Smith applies for help at the committee which Sybil works for she saw it as her ‘duty’ to refuse to help her, as she could not believe that a working class girl would refuse money, even if it was stolen. Priestly easily shows that Sybil does not feel guilty about her actions, as she continues, referring to Eva as ‘Girls of that class’. The reader may begin to feel sympathy, not only for Eva but the Working class overall, which is Priestley’s intentions.
The Term Paper on Priestly Class Nietzsche Socrates Philosophy
Socrates has undoubtedly had a major impact upon western philosophy and society in general. Plato, whose work is essentially an elaboration and expansion upon that of Socrates, has had a similar effect. Naturally, these two philosophers have been subjects of immense academic interest for over two thousand years. With this great interest comes both praise and criticism. One of the most critical ...
To conclude i feel that Priestly wrote this play to give the moral message to the community that we should not be separate and should live as one, and it should not depend on how much we earn, where we come from, or what family we are born into.
