How does Priestley present social responsibility in ‘An Inspector
Calls’?
In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents social responsibility as
inescapable, as everyone must take responsibility for their actions in order
to allow a society to function fairly and peacefully; therefore Priestley
frequently alludes to the two world wars that his audience have witnessed
in order to warn them against a lack of responsibility and promote his own
socialist beliefs of collective responsibility. Nevertheless, Priestley does
create some sense of hope for progress towards a less self-centred society
through his presentations of Sheila and Eric, who, in their acceptance of
responsibility, become socialist models for the audience.
In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley suggests that taking social responsibility
is vital for a well-funtioning (namely equal and peaceful) society through
his warnings to the audience of the possible violent consequences of
failing to accept collective responsibility. Throughout the play, Priestley
uses allusions to the world wars, initially through dramatic irony that
undermines Mr Birling, who dismisses the idea of war as “Fiddlesticks!”,
and later through the Inspector’s almost prophetic threats, which the post-
war audience can recognise are true consequences of the social divide.
For example, in his final speech, the Inspector “(steps centre)” as he
seems to address the whole audience (rather than just the Birlings) in his
forewarning of a lack of social responsibility leading to “fire and blood and
anguish”. Priestley perhaps speaks through the Inspector - a mouthpiece
for his socialist views - and uses this final hellish allusion to the wars as a
plea to his post-war audience to reflect on themselves and their own
responsibility as “members of one body”. Perhaps for this reason, Priestley
presents a middle class (not upper class) family to whom the audience
can relate more easily. Therefore Priestley creates a more accessible
message as he suggests all members of the community, rather than just
the aristrocracy, must accept social responsibility for a society to properly
function, an idea mirrored in Eric and Gerald’s returns before the Birlings
must once again face the consequences of their irresponsibility.
Furthermore, Priestley suggests taking social responsibility is inescapable.
The use of the 3 Unities, which initially provide safety and security in what
seems to be a family drama, quickly imprisons the Birlings as the lights
change from “pink and intimate” to “brighter and harder” with the
introduction of the aural motif of ringing. As the Birlings’ sheltered
domestic sphere becomes a prison, Priestley plays into the detective
genre, suggesting to the audience that the characters cannot leave until
each one’s part in the “chain of events” has been uncovered. Perhaps,
through his use of the medieval morality play alongside the unfolding
Calls’?
In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents social responsibility as
inescapable, as everyone must take responsibility for their actions in order
to allow a society to function fairly and peacefully; therefore Priestley
frequently alludes to the two world wars that his audience have witnessed
in order to warn them against a lack of responsibility and promote his own
socialist beliefs of collective responsibility. Nevertheless, Priestley does
create some sense of hope for progress towards a less self-centred society
through his presentations of Sheila and Eric, who, in their acceptance of
responsibility, become socialist models for the audience.
In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley suggests that taking social responsibility
is vital for a well-funtioning (namely equal and peaceful) society through
his warnings to the audience of the possible violent consequences of
failing to accept collective responsibility. Throughout the play, Priestley
uses allusions to the world wars, initially through dramatic irony that
undermines Mr Birling, who dismisses the idea of war as “Fiddlesticks!”,
and later through the Inspector’s almost prophetic threats, which the post-
war audience can recognise are true consequences of the social divide.
For example, in his final speech, the Inspector “(steps centre)” as he
seems to address the whole audience (rather than just the Birlings) in his
forewarning of a lack of social responsibility leading to “fire and blood and
anguish”. Priestley perhaps speaks through the Inspector - a mouthpiece
for his socialist views - and uses this final hellish allusion to the wars as a
plea to his post-war audience to reflect on themselves and their own
responsibility as “members of one body”. Perhaps for this reason, Priestley
presents a middle class (not upper class) family to whom the audience
can relate more easily. Therefore Priestley creates a more accessible
message as he suggests all members of the community, rather than just
the aristrocracy, must accept social responsibility for a society to properly
function, an idea mirrored in Eric and Gerald’s returns before the Birlings
must once again face the consequences of their irresponsibility.
Furthermore, Priestley suggests taking social responsibility is inescapable.
The use of the 3 Unities, which initially provide safety and security in what
seems to be a family drama, quickly imprisons the Birlings as the lights
change from “pink and intimate” to “brighter and harder” with the
introduction of the aural motif of ringing. As the Birlings’ sheltered
domestic sphere becomes a prison, Priestley plays into the detective
genre, suggesting to the audience that the characters cannot leave until
each one’s part in the “chain of events” has been uncovered. Perhaps,
through his use of the medieval morality play alongside the unfolding
