Combination of An Inspector Calls
Essays
1.How does Priestley use Mr Birling to explore ideas about social class?
In the didactic play “An Inspector Calls”, Priestley creates the character of Mr Birling to
represent the arrogance and selfishness of the Capitalist Upper Class, and his refusal
to take any responsibility reflects the denial of social accountability that Priestley
criticises. It could be argued Mr Birling is the antithesis to the Inspector, and so his
role potentially is to expose the flawed nature of a Capitalist 1912 society to the 1945
audience through his presentation as untrustworthy, ignorant and old-fashioned.
In Act 1, before the Inspector has arrived, Priestley constructs Mr Birling through
dramatic irony of his optimism, perhaps to highlight the vulnerability of a hierarchal
class system. Priestley tactically engages the audience through relevant events, as Mr
Birling claims the ‘Titanic – unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ and that the ‘Germans
don’t want war’. The confidence in his flawed predictions, emphasised through
‘absolutely’, symbolises Capitalist hubris as the dramatic irony that these tragic
events do happen, undermines his authority in the play. This is cleverly structured
before the Inspector even arrives, as it makes both a modern audience and 1945
audience question his judgement and perhaps the wider values he stands for:
Capitalism. Priestley also does not use any events that have happened but provides
examples that connect emotionally to the audience who have just suffered tragic, life-
changing events because it could promote the urgency of a Socialist reform in society.
Mr Birling further becomes a figure of the vulnerability caused in society by
Capitalism, as following his extreme and inaccurate predictions; he claims,
“community and all that nonsense”, comparing them through the simile “like bees in
a hive”. This may enhance the presentation of social class constructs as futile, as
ironically Mr Birling contradicts his own point. He likens communal responsibility to
‘bees in a hive’, implying its worthless – but actually Priestley may use this because it
further undermines Mr Birling and his values as ‘bees’ are necessary for a stable
ecosystem to thrive. From the beginning, Priestley carefully constructs Mr Birling as a
character who represents the Upper-class Capitalism but may be subtly hinting at the
fragility of his arguments in order to convey his own views on social class and society.
Later in Act 1, when faced with the Inspector, Mr Birling is shown to be uneasy as he
feels threatened by the Inspector’s lack of traditional treatment towards those of a
higher status; as in Edwardian society the hierarchy was valued greatly by those in
power as it allowed them to keep control over others. By showing a power struggle
, between Mr Birling and the Inspector just as the interrogation begins, as he
immediately questions his authority claiming, “I don’t like that tone”, Priestley may be
interrogating class systems – as the audience is already aware of his previous views
as ‘nonsense’ from the beginning of Act 1. This phrase also reflects the upper-class
arrogance to believe that just because they ‘don’t like’ something, they should be able
to ignore any consequences of immoral behaviour towards others. It also shows the
rigidity of the hierarchy as it has become so ingrained into the character’s lives, even
for Mr Birling who originally came from a lower class status. Furthermore, upon being
challenged about his decision to fire Eva, he replies “Well, its my duty”, which uses
the interjection to show his reluctance to justify himself, yet he continues to give
reasons which could demonstrate how he already feels threatened by the Inspector.
The significance of him attempting to justify his actions that it’s his ‘duty’, could
present him as a devoted, thoughtful businessman who is trying to fulfil his ‘duty’.
However, the fact that it is only to ‘keep labour costs down’ may reveal the tendency
of the upper class to maximise their profits no matter the consequences, as he
dehumanises people like Eva Smith to simply a ‘labour cost’. While Mr Birling could
feel he has successfully justified himself, although in his view unnecessary, Priestley
possibly begins to subtly highlight his lack of moral judgement to reflect the wider
futility of the hierarchal class system, as a man who is meant to take care of his
workers and help the economy is proven to be only focused on ‘look[ing] after
himself’.
Finally, Priestley could be exploring Mr Birling’s failure to learn the importance of
social responsibility and looking after those of other classes as a way to express the
urgency of taking action. Unlike Sheila and Eric who arguably appear to have grown
over the course of the evening, Mr Birling’s sole focus remains on himself, and his
‘family too, of course’. Upon finding out Eric is in trouble, his first response is “I’ve got
to cover this up as soon as I can”, which displays his aim of protecting his potential
honour title. It could also reflect the wider responses of the upper class motive to
maintain their privilege by exploiting the working class. Mr Birling also completely
ignores the Inspector’s prophetic message that ‘We are members of one body.”
Instead claiming that ‘We’ve been had”; the complete rejection of such an omniscient
message to instead argue it is a joke perhaps continues to undermine his authority. Mr
Birling’s reaction the responsibility remains constant, as he is confined to a static
character development that contrasts the Inspector; Mr Birling’s capitalist ideology
directly contradicts The Inspector’s socialist ideals which could highlight the tension of
progress and tradition. By providing a stark contrast between the two characters, and
displaying Mr Birling to be untrustworthy and flawed in predictions in comparison to
the wise, logical Inspector, Priestley is urging a 1945 audience to reflect on the
societal and class values they align with.
Priestley’s constructs the character of Mr Birling as a symbol of outdated Capitalist
arrogance and upper-class entitlement. Through his ignorance, dramatic irony and
constant refusal to accept any responsibility, Birling embodies the selfishness and
moral blindness Priestley seeks to expose. His static character development serves as
Essays
1.How does Priestley use Mr Birling to explore ideas about social class?
In the didactic play “An Inspector Calls”, Priestley creates the character of Mr Birling to
represent the arrogance and selfishness of the Capitalist Upper Class, and his refusal
to take any responsibility reflects the denial of social accountability that Priestley
criticises. It could be argued Mr Birling is the antithesis to the Inspector, and so his
role potentially is to expose the flawed nature of a Capitalist 1912 society to the 1945
audience through his presentation as untrustworthy, ignorant and old-fashioned.
In Act 1, before the Inspector has arrived, Priestley constructs Mr Birling through
dramatic irony of his optimism, perhaps to highlight the vulnerability of a hierarchal
class system. Priestley tactically engages the audience through relevant events, as Mr
Birling claims the ‘Titanic – unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’ and that the ‘Germans
don’t want war’. The confidence in his flawed predictions, emphasised through
‘absolutely’, symbolises Capitalist hubris as the dramatic irony that these tragic
events do happen, undermines his authority in the play. This is cleverly structured
before the Inspector even arrives, as it makes both a modern audience and 1945
audience question his judgement and perhaps the wider values he stands for:
Capitalism. Priestley also does not use any events that have happened but provides
examples that connect emotionally to the audience who have just suffered tragic, life-
changing events because it could promote the urgency of a Socialist reform in society.
Mr Birling further becomes a figure of the vulnerability caused in society by
Capitalism, as following his extreme and inaccurate predictions; he claims,
“community and all that nonsense”, comparing them through the simile “like bees in
a hive”. This may enhance the presentation of social class constructs as futile, as
ironically Mr Birling contradicts his own point. He likens communal responsibility to
‘bees in a hive’, implying its worthless – but actually Priestley may use this because it
further undermines Mr Birling and his values as ‘bees’ are necessary for a stable
ecosystem to thrive. From the beginning, Priestley carefully constructs Mr Birling as a
character who represents the Upper-class Capitalism but may be subtly hinting at the
fragility of his arguments in order to convey his own views on social class and society.
Later in Act 1, when faced with the Inspector, Mr Birling is shown to be uneasy as he
feels threatened by the Inspector’s lack of traditional treatment towards those of a
higher status; as in Edwardian society the hierarchy was valued greatly by those in
power as it allowed them to keep control over others. By showing a power struggle
, between Mr Birling and the Inspector just as the interrogation begins, as he
immediately questions his authority claiming, “I don’t like that tone”, Priestley may be
interrogating class systems – as the audience is already aware of his previous views
as ‘nonsense’ from the beginning of Act 1. This phrase also reflects the upper-class
arrogance to believe that just because they ‘don’t like’ something, they should be able
to ignore any consequences of immoral behaviour towards others. It also shows the
rigidity of the hierarchy as it has become so ingrained into the character’s lives, even
for Mr Birling who originally came from a lower class status. Furthermore, upon being
challenged about his decision to fire Eva, he replies “Well, its my duty”, which uses
the interjection to show his reluctance to justify himself, yet he continues to give
reasons which could demonstrate how he already feels threatened by the Inspector.
The significance of him attempting to justify his actions that it’s his ‘duty’, could
present him as a devoted, thoughtful businessman who is trying to fulfil his ‘duty’.
However, the fact that it is only to ‘keep labour costs down’ may reveal the tendency
of the upper class to maximise their profits no matter the consequences, as he
dehumanises people like Eva Smith to simply a ‘labour cost’. While Mr Birling could
feel he has successfully justified himself, although in his view unnecessary, Priestley
possibly begins to subtly highlight his lack of moral judgement to reflect the wider
futility of the hierarchal class system, as a man who is meant to take care of his
workers and help the economy is proven to be only focused on ‘look[ing] after
himself’.
Finally, Priestley could be exploring Mr Birling’s failure to learn the importance of
social responsibility and looking after those of other classes as a way to express the
urgency of taking action. Unlike Sheila and Eric who arguably appear to have grown
over the course of the evening, Mr Birling’s sole focus remains on himself, and his
‘family too, of course’. Upon finding out Eric is in trouble, his first response is “I’ve got
to cover this up as soon as I can”, which displays his aim of protecting his potential
honour title. It could also reflect the wider responses of the upper class motive to
maintain their privilege by exploiting the working class. Mr Birling also completely
ignores the Inspector’s prophetic message that ‘We are members of one body.”
Instead claiming that ‘We’ve been had”; the complete rejection of such an omniscient
message to instead argue it is a joke perhaps continues to undermine his authority. Mr
Birling’s reaction the responsibility remains constant, as he is confined to a static
character development that contrasts the Inspector; Mr Birling’s capitalist ideology
directly contradicts The Inspector’s socialist ideals which could highlight the tension of
progress and tradition. By providing a stark contrast between the two characters, and
displaying Mr Birling to be untrustworthy and flawed in predictions in comparison to
the wise, logical Inspector, Priestley is urging a 1945 audience to reflect on the
societal and class values they align with.
Priestley’s constructs the character of Mr Birling as a symbol of outdated Capitalist
arrogance and upper-class entitlement. Through his ignorance, dramatic irony and
constant refusal to accept any responsibility, Birling embodies the selfishness and
moral blindness Priestley seeks to expose. His static character development serves as
