So what is the main idea within An Inspector Calls?
● Priestly explores the theme of social class and
social responsibility in his play, ‘An Inspector Calls’
● He employs the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling,
as well as Gerald Croft to demonstrate the
unfairness of the British class system. They are all
metaphorical representations of different
facets of society.
● He exhorts us to consider the consequences
which the British class system brings. Those
who are born into the aristocracy use their status
to exploit and abuse. While those who are born in
the middle classes look up to, and admire those
above them.
● Ultimately, he warns us of the corrupting nature
of the class system and the inequality it brings.
,So what is the main idea within An Inspector Calls?
This play is a socialist diatribe. Priestley eschews (deliberately avoids)
realism in his portrayal of his characters. His characters are not believable;
they are symbolic representations of different facets of society. They are
exaggerated representations of groups within society, used as tools. A more
nuanced representation would dilute his socialist argument.
Remember! Everyone is a victim of the class system.
The play AIC teaches us about social responsibility and how not to fall back
into the capitalist trap, which leads to exploitation, powerlessness, and
inequality for the working class. Priestley seeks to eradicate the class
system, thus ensuring social mobility.
,So what is the point of An Inspector Calls?
Priestley wanted to:
● Challenge capitalist greed
● Expose the selfishness of the ruling elite
● Dismantle the class hierarchy
● Reveal the corruption and exploitation of the bourgeoisie
● Promote justice and social responsibility
● Priestley’s damning didactic message about the dangers of capitalist greed
● The play is a political diatribe, seeking to show the consequences of capitalism and promote
socialism, collectivism and society.
● The play is a microcosm for the hierarchical and starkly divides in Edwardian society.
● Priestley dismantles the class hierarchy by highlighting how the ruling elite and older generation were
shackled by their ignorance and blindness to the brutal world around them.
● The allusions to the world wars allow Priestley to remind an audience in 1945 of the horrors of the
early 20th century, which he implies were caused by individualism and capitalism.
, So what is the point of An Inspector Calls?
1. Priestley exposes the individualistic values of 19th century Britain
2. Priestley critiques the arrogance of the bourgeoisie in 19th century Britain
3. Priestley warns a post war audience of a society where wealth will remain in the hands of a few if people do
not take responsibility for each other
4. Priestley portrays his anxieties about a future society who does not learn from their lessons
5. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a didactic, well-made play which seeks to highlight the class and social
disparities for the Edwardian Era and their cyclical effects.
6. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a didactic, well-made play which seeks to highlight the moral injustices
suffered by the proletariat due to the staunch capitalist ideology of the Edwardian era and their destructive
impact on society.
7. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a didactic, murder mystery which seeks to evoke an emotional and
intellectual response from its audience in order to reflect on the harsh realities and hypocrisies of the
Edwardian British class system and their everlasting impact on society.
8. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls exhorts that society needs to reflect on its collective social care and
responsibility in to ensure equality; freeing us from the ongoing metaphorical manacles of the capitalism.
9. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls implores that we, as a society, learn from our past mistakes and collectively
rid ourselves of misogyny and classism in order to grow and develop as a community.
● Priestly explores the theme of social class and
social responsibility in his play, ‘An Inspector Calls’
● He employs the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling,
as well as Gerald Croft to demonstrate the
unfairness of the British class system. They are all
metaphorical representations of different
facets of society.
● He exhorts us to consider the consequences
which the British class system brings. Those
who are born into the aristocracy use their status
to exploit and abuse. While those who are born in
the middle classes look up to, and admire those
above them.
● Ultimately, he warns us of the corrupting nature
of the class system and the inequality it brings.
,So what is the main idea within An Inspector Calls?
This play is a socialist diatribe. Priestley eschews (deliberately avoids)
realism in his portrayal of his characters. His characters are not believable;
they are symbolic representations of different facets of society. They are
exaggerated representations of groups within society, used as tools. A more
nuanced representation would dilute his socialist argument.
Remember! Everyone is a victim of the class system.
The play AIC teaches us about social responsibility and how not to fall back
into the capitalist trap, which leads to exploitation, powerlessness, and
inequality for the working class. Priestley seeks to eradicate the class
system, thus ensuring social mobility.
,So what is the point of An Inspector Calls?
Priestley wanted to:
● Challenge capitalist greed
● Expose the selfishness of the ruling elite
● Dismantle the class hierarchy
● Reveal the corruption and exploitation of the bourgeoisie
● Promote justice and social responsibility
● Priestley’s damning didactic message about the dangers of capitalist greed
● The play is a political diatribe, seeking to show the consequences of capitalism and promote
socialism, collectivism and society.
● The play is a microcosm for the hierarchical and starkly divides in Edwardian society.
● Priestley dismantles the class hierarchy by highlighting how the ruling elite and older generation were
shackled by their ignorance and blindness to the brutal world around them.
● The allusions to the world wars allow Priestley to remind an audience in 1945 of the horrors of the
early 20th century, which he implies were caused by individualism and capitalism.
, So what is the point of An Inspector Calls?
1. Priestley exposes the individualistic values of 19th century Britain
2. Priestley critiques the arrogance of the bourgeoisie in 19th century Britain
3. Priestley warns a post war audience of a society where wealth will remain in the hands of a few if people do
not take responsibility for each other
4. Priestley portrays his anxieties about a future society who does not learn from their lessons
5. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a didactic, well-made play which seeks to highlight the class and social
disparities for the Edwardian Era and their cyclical effects.
6. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a didactic, well-made play which seeks to highlight the moral injustices
suffered by the proletariat due to the staunch capitalist ideology of the Edwardian era and their destructive
impact on society.
7. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is a didactic, murder mystery which seeks to evoke an emotional and
intellectual response from its audience in order to reflect on the harsh realities and hypocrisies of the
Edwardian British class system and their everlasting impact on society.
8. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls exhorts that society needs to reflect on its collective social care and
responsibility in to ensure equality; freeing us from the ongoing metaphorical manacles of the capitalism.
9. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls implores that we, as a society, learn from our past mistakes and collectively
rid ourselves of misogyny and classism in order to grow and develop as a community.
