Summary Equality in An Inspector Calls

Equality in An Inspector Calls

● Priestley presents the audience with a powerful social and political
message. The inspector is the mouthpiece. He is the character
who highlights the inequalities in society.

● The comfortable life of the middle class Birlings is compared to the
lives of their working- class employees.

● The inspector highlights injustices and inequalities. He makes his
point, more and more forcefully as the play progresses. In his final
monologue he says that if injustice is allowed to continue it will
lead to dreadful consequences - to ‘fire and blood and anguish’

● Sheila and Eric are affected by the inspector's words and are
fearful of what the future will bring if society does not change.

● Priestly is saying that hope for a more just society lies with the
younger generation. The young are not set in their ways like the
older generation, but are ‘more impressionable’ according to the
inspector


- Mr Birling shows his belief in the class structure by acknowledging
Lady Croft’s superior position.
- Mr Birling explains why he dismissed the strikers, Gerald agrees
however Eric does not.
- Sheila challenges her mother’s belief in their superior social
position.