Themes of An Inspector Calls.
• Social Responsibility
Priestly was a socialist who promoted social responsibility and throughout the play criticises
the class divide because he felt that if people were more considerate to each other, it may
improve the quality of life for all. The Inspector provides a stronger message about social
responsibility due to some of the characters narrow-minded, ignorant views. This is why
social responsibility is such a key theme of the play because Priestly wanted his audience to
be responsible for their own behaviour and feel responsible for the welfare of others.
In an Inspector Calls, Priestley explores social responsibility through:
The treatment of Eva smith
How each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their own behaviour.
The Inspectors lesson’s.
• Age
The older generation and the younger generation take the Inspector’s messages in different
ways. As the older character’s, Mr and Mrs Birling, opinions and behaviours are stubbornly
fixed and see the younger generation as foolish and extremely confident that they are right.
Whereas the younger generation, Sheila Birling and Eric Birling, are regretful and understand
that their decisions affected other people so as a result embraced socialism and rejected
capitalism. Priestley uses the various reactions between the two different generations to
show the audience that they can be optimistic that there is hope in that younger generation
to learn and change.
In an Inspector Calls, Priestley explores the theme if age through:
Sheila and Erics response to Eva’s death.
Mr and Mrs Birling’s response to Eva’s death.
How the older characters perceive the younger ones.
• Gender
As many British men went to fight during WW2, their positions in work had to be filled by
woman this meant that pre-existing perceptions were changed. Eva/Daisy and Sheila tried to
rebel against these sexist and prejudiced rules that the Edwardian society has unfairly
labelled them with, by:
- Eva/Daisy questioning the decision of her boss, instead of quietly accepting it.
- Eva/Daisy also instead of relying on a man to save her when she had no money, she
refused to accept Eric’s stolen money to prove her independence.
Priestley explored these new gender roles through the independence of Eva Smith and the
sexist and patriarchal attitudes of Mr Birling.
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley explores the theme of gender through:
How Mr Birling and Gerald Croft viewed women.
How Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton.
How Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton is portrayed as independent and outspoken before her
tragic death.
• Social Responsibility
Priestly was a socialist who promoted social responsibility and throughout the play criticises
the class divide because he felt that if people were more considerate to each other, it may
improve the quality of life for all. The Inspector provides a stronger message about social
responsibility due to some of the characters narrow-minded, ignorant views. This is why
social responsibility is such a key theme of the play because Priestly wanted his audience to
be responsible for their own behaviour and feel responsible for the welfare of others.
In an Inspector Calls, Priestley explores social responsibility through:
The treatment of Eva smith
How each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their own behaviour.
The Inspectors lesson’s.
• Age
The older generation and the younger generation take the Inspector’s messages in different
ways. As the older character’s, Mr and Mrs Birling, opinions and behaviours are stubbornly
fixed and see the younger generation as foolish and extremely confident that they are right.
Whereas the younger generation, Sheila Birling and Eric Birling, are regretful and understand
that their decisions affected other people so as a result embraced socialism and rejected
capitalism. Priestley uses the various reactions between the two different generations to
show the audience that they can be optimistic that there is hope in that younger generation
to learn and change.
In an Inspector Calls, Priestley explores the theme if age through:
Sheila and Erics response to Eva’s death.
Mr and Mrs Birling’s response to Eva’s death.
How the older characters perceive the younger ones.
• Gender
As many British men went to fight during WW2, their positions in work had to be filled by
woman this meant that pre-existing perceptions were changed. Eva/Daisy and Sheila tried to
rebel against these sexist and prejudiced rules that the Edwardian society has unfairly
labelled them with, by:
- Eva/Daisy questioning the decision of her boss, instead of quietly accepting it.
- Eva/Daisy also instead of relying on a man to save her when she had no money, she
refused to accept Eric’s stolen money to prove her independence.
Priestley explored these new gender roles through the independence of Eva Smith and the
sexist and patriarchal attitudes of Mr Birling.
In An Inspector Calls, Priestley explores the theme of gender through:
How Mr Birling and Gerald Croft viewed women.
How Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton.
How Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton is portrayed as independent and outspoken before her
tragic death.
