How does J.B. Priestley portray power as a significant theme in An
Inspector Calls?
● The physical power of Mr Birling symbolises his wealth and status ‘a
heavy looking, rather portentous looking man’. Mr Birling’s imposing
appearance reflects the disproportionate power of the wealthy, upper
classes in a capitalist society.
● The Birlings and Gerald abuse their power to deprive Eva Smith and/or
physically assault her. Inspector Goole’s integration is structured to
reflect the decline of Eva Smith from Mr Birling’s employee to a helpless
prostitute who later dies. This reflects the unfairness of the capitalist
system in pre-war Britain but not the less wealthy minority.
● Inspector Goole controls the structural release of information to the
audience and the Birlings through his interrogation despite being a
lower- class character. As inspector Goole symbolises morality,
Priestley could be suggesting that society should prioritise morality and
good principles over selfish capitalist ideas.
Inspector Calls?
● The physical power of Mr Birling symbolises his wealth and status ‘a
heavy looking, rather portentous looking man’. Mr Birling’s imposing
appearance reflects the disproportionate power of the wealthy, upper
classes in a capitalist society.
● The Birlings and Gerald abuse their power to deprive Eva Smith and/or
physically assault her. Inspector Goole’s integration is structured to
reflect the decline of Eva Smith from Mr Birling’s employee to a helpless
prostitute who later dies. This reflects the unfairness of the capitalist
system in pre-war Britain but not the less wealthy minority.
● Inspector Goole controls the structural release of information to the
audience and the Birlings through his interrogation despite being a
lower- class character. As inspector Goole symbolises morality,
Priestley could be suggesting that society should prioritise morality and
good principles over selfish capitalist ideas.
