Sympathy In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

An Inspector calls shows us many elements that leads to create sympathy and J.B Priestly made a good play out of it. This political play brings lots of irony message especially on the way of the upper class or the middle class people treat the working class people. As one can see, the idea of the ignorance of the upper class people is being portrays since the very beginning of the first act. For example, the scene where they ignore the ring of the doorbell somehow symbolizes their ignorance. Although the ring interrupted Arthur from talking but he continues to talks especially about his so-called philosophy of life.
Basically, this play is to give voice for lower class people that being oppressed by the powerful class among the society. In
We were aware with the current issue that involves the working class people. As one can see, although Eva Smith is an unseen character, but the whole play is about her which she represents the oppression of the working class people. This play brings out the themes of social injustice and in the same time to create awareness and sympathy towards this working class people. Living in poverty makes this class desperately to do anything to survive for living especially through the socialist and capitalist system. The two different views of society are represented by Birling and the Inspector. The Inspector tells Birling that: “We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” Birling tells his family that everyone is on their own, “A man has to make his own way –has to look after himself.” The relationship between the working class and the rich is the way that Priestley explores the struggle between socialism and capitalism. Eva Smith is symbolic of the way that all workers are treated. The Inspector tells Eric that he used Eva like “an animal, a thing, not a person.” The idea of the play is what happens to Eva Smith represents what happens to all poor workers. In his final speech the Inspector makes that obvious “One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined