TJNOTES
How does priestly present some of the differences
between the older and younger generation in inspector
calls?
There is a clear visible divide between the two generations within the play.
Priestley presents the older and younger generations contrarily, the older
generation of Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald and the younger generation of
Sheila and Eric. They are divided through their contrasting views and their
reactions to certain points in the play.
Priestly presents the Birling’s as stubborn and ignorant to any new ideas. Mr
Birling believes himself to be a “hard-headed business man” and is
constantly concerned with earning higher profits and having the cheapest
possible production costs- at the expense of the workers like Eva. This
highlights the ideology of the older generation during the ’19..’ of which their
main concern was only to gain status within society. This is contrasting to
Eric and Sheila’s behaviour in which everyone’s rights mattered to them no
matter what their significance in society was. Priestly presents them as
young and open to new ideas, this is clearly seen in act 1 when both Eric and
Sheila express sympathy for the strikers. Eric even says that he’d “have let
her stay” which is unthinkable and outrageous for Mr Birling. Sheila
sympathises with the young women her father employs by saying “But these
girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people” which Birling never considers as
he strives for his higher profits. This contrasting ideology between the 2
generations illustrates how the older generation simply cared in regards to
wealth, business and status in the hierarchy however the younger
generation was significantly different by opposing to the older generations
ideology.
Moreover, the older generation refuse to accept any form of responsibility
for Eva Smith’s suicide. Mr and Mrs Birling lie and deny everything even
when they are aware that they know the girl in the photograph shown to
them in order to reject all possible blame. They reject all responsibility and
their primary concern is that there will be scandal and bad publicity if the
press find out about their actions. However, Sheila and Eric accept their part
in her death and feel guilty as a result of their actions. A point in the play
when there was a belief that the death was a ‘hoax’ the parents pretend
nothing happened which Eric and Sheila cannot do. In Eric’s words, “the fact
How does priestly present some of the differences
between the older and younger generation in inspector
calls?
There is a clear visible divide between the two generations within the play.
Priestley presents the older and younger generations contrarily, the older
generation of Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald and the younger generation of
Sheila and Eric. They are divided through their contrasting views and their
reactions to certain points in the play.
Priestly presents the Birling’s as stubborn and ignorant to any new ideas. Mr
Birling believes himself to be a “hard-headed business man” and is
constantly concerned with earning higher profits and having the cheapest
possible production costs- at the expense of the workers like Eva. This
highlights the ideology of the older generation during the ’19..’ of which their
main concern was only to gain status within society. This is contrasting to
Eric and Sheila’s behaviour in which everyone’s rights mattered to them no
matter what their significance in society was. Priestly presents them as
young and open to new ideas, this is clearly seen in act 1 when both Eric and
Sheila express sympathy for the strikers. Eric even says that he’d “have let
her stay” which is unthinkable and outrageous for Mr Birling. Sheila
sympathises with the young women her father employs by saying “But these
girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people” which Birling never considers as
he strives for his higher profits. This contrasting ideology between the 2
generations illustrates how the older generation simply cared in regards to
wealth, business and status in the hierarchy however the younger
generation was significantly different by opposing to the older generations
ideology.
Moreover, the older generation refuse to accept any form of responsibility
for Eva Smith’s suicide. Mr and Mrs Birling lie and deny everything even
when they are aware that they know the girl in the photograph shown to
them in order to reject all possible blame. They reject all responsibility and
their primary concern is that there will be scandal and bad publicity if the
press find out about their actions. However, Sheila and Eric accept their part
in her death and feel guilty as a result of their actions. A point in the play
when there was a belief that the death was a ‘hoax’ the parents pretend
nothing happened which Eric and Sheila cannot do. In Eric’s words, “the fact
