An Inspector Calls, Social Responsibility
An Inspector Calls was written by J.B. Priestley after the Second World War. It is set in the spring of 1912 at the Brumley home of the Birlings, a prosperous industrial family in the North Midlands.
When the Inspector Goole first enters the scene, Mr. Birling is giving some ‘good advice’, as he calls it, “A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself…The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has look after everybody else, as if we’re all mixed up together”. Collectively, the Birlings had been celebrating, rather decadently, a celebration of Gerald and Sheila’s engagement and Mr. Birling had also been talking about there being a good chance that he will be in the next honours list.
There is also an interesting point when Mr. Birling talks openly of Gerald and Sheila’s social divide, “Your mother…feels you might have done better for yourself socially [than Sheila]”. This shows that the Birlings and the Crofts, both rich families, opinion that social class is everything and cannot be overlooked. Overall, the evening is almost entirely focused on society itself and how to ‘properly’ act in it.
When the Inspector comes in, his manner is completely different and, as we find out later in the play, his opinion of society too.He is reserved, inquisitive and not afraid to ask impertinent questions to those who may be of higher social ‘standing’ than himself. Even more significance is shown later on in the play when the characters of Mr. Birling and that of the Inspector are found to be polar opposites.
The set for "An Inspector Calls"
Source: Wiki Commons
Whenever you refer to text in the book, remember to put in the page number so that the examiner knows you are not "making it up." It also shows you have more confidence in the points you are writing about.
In his notes J.B. Priestley describes Inspector Goole as “a big man” but “creates an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.” (p.11). The
When the Inspector Goole first enters the scene, Mr. Birling is giving some ‘good advice’, as he calls it, “A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself…The way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has look after everybody else, as if we’re all mixed up together”. Collectively, the Birlings had been celebrating, rather decadently, a celebration of Gerald and Sheila’s engagement and Mr. Birling had also been talking about there being a good chance that he will be in the next honours list.
There is also an interesting point when Mr. Birling talks openly of Gerald and Sheila’s social divide, “Your mother…feels you might have done better for yourself socially [than Sheila]”. This shows that the Birlings and the Crofts, both rich families, opinion that social class is everything and cannot be overlooked. Overall, the evening is almost entirely focused on society itself and how to ‘properly’ act in it.
When the Inspector comes in, his manner is completely different and, as we find out later in the play, his opinion of society too.He is reserved, inquisitive and not afraid to ask impertinent questions to those who may be of higher social ‘standing’ than himself. Even more significance is shown later on in the play when the characters of Mr. Birling and that of the Inspector are found to be polar opposites.
The set for "An Inspector Calls"
Source: Wiki Commons
Whenever you refer to text in the book, remember to put in the page number so that the examiner knows you are not "making it up." It also shows you have more confidence in the points you are writing about.
In his notes J.B. Priestley describes Inspector Goole as “a big man” but “creates an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.” (p.11). The