Themes in An Inspector Calls - past question on age

1. Themes in An
Inspector Calls

2. An Inspector Calls is set in 1912 An Inspector Calls was written in 1945.
The First World War would start in two
years. Birling's optimistic view that
there would not be a war is completely
wrong.
The Second World War ended in
Europe on 8 May 1945. People were
recovering from nearly six years of
warfare, danger and uncertainty.
There were strong distinctions between
the upper and lower classes.
Class distinctions had been greatly
reduced as a result of two world wars.
Women were subservient to men. All a
well off women could do was get
married; a poor woman was seen as
cheap labour.
As a result of the wars, women had
earned a more valued place in society.
The ruling classes saw no need to
change the status quo.
There was a great desire for social
change. Immediately after The Second
World War, Clement Attlee's Labour
Party won a landslide victory over
Winston Churchill and the
Conservatives.

3. Main
Themes
Responsibility
Class
Gender
Age

4. Responsibility
• Primary theme
• Words ‘responsible’ and ‘responsibility’ are used by most characters throughout the play
• The Inspector wanted each member of the family to share the responsibility of Eva’s death:
"One Eva Smith has gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and
John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of
happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do."
• The Inspector gives the Birlings a warning:
“And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, when they
will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”
What would Priestley want his audience to think of when providing the Birlings with such
warnings?
The play is concerned with both personal
responsibility and social responsibility

5. Character Attitude to Social Responsibility
Mr. Birling
Mrs. Birling
Eric
Shelia
“… a man has to make his own way – has to look after himself –
and his family too, of course when he has one…”
Doesn’t believe that an individual has a social responsibility to
others.
Sees social responsibility in a limited way – while she is involved
with a woman’s charity she has a very narrow sense of
responsibility. She takes no responsibility for Eva’s death.
Has some innate sense of social responsibility “Why shouldn’t
they try for higher wages.” He felt enough responsibility to offer
Eva money.
Shelia’s sense of social responsibility is awakened throughout the
play and she feels compassion for workers like Eva “But these
girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”

6. Class
Apart from Edna, the maid, the characters in the play are from the rich, upper classes. However, a
lot can be learnt about the lower classes through the attitudes of the characters and their
interactions with Eva Smith.
Again make sure that you consider how each character views the lower classes at the beginning
and the end of the play.
This theme is linked heavily with Priestley’s socialist
views and the time periods in which the play were
set and written (1912 and 1945).
Make sure that you understanding Priestley’s
background and personal political views. (He worked
in a factory in his early life and became interested in
social inequality as he grew older. He was influential
in helping to develop the Welfare State and was a
socialist.)

7. Character At the start of the play this
character was…
To this character Eva was…
Mr. Birling
Mrs. Birling
Shelia
Gerald
Eric
Keen to cement his social rise
through Shelia’s marriage. Insecure
about his social status.
Happy taking advantage of the
benefits of her social class –
spending time in expensive shops.
Prepared to marry Shelia despite
her lower social status and the
disapproval of his mother.
Feels awkward about the benefits
from his social status.
Social superior to her husband and
gets embarrassed by his social
gaffes.
Simply cheap labour – he did not
think of her as a person.
Someone beneath he social status
who deserved to be fired out of
spite.
An upstart who deserves what she
gets.
A mistress to be used and discarded
as he pleases.
Easy sex at the end of a drunken
night out.

8. Gender
Because of her sex Eva was in an even more vulnerable position. When the play is set women
were not yet valued in their own right by society and had not been awarded the right to vote.
Even upper class women had limited choices and were under the control of men. The situation
was even worse for working class women. Eva Smith encompasses this plights and her life is
heavily influenced by the men she encounters.
Why do you think Priestley decided to have
the play based on the death of a young
working class woman rather than the death
of a young working class man?

9. Age
The older and younger generations deal
with the Inspector’s call in different
ways.
The Old (Mr. and Mrs. Birling) The Young (Shelia and Eric)
The old are set in their ways. They are
confident that they are right and the
young are wrong.
They will do anything to protect
themselves and their reputation – Mr.
Birling’s first thought is to cover up a
scandal
They have never been forced to
examine their actions and they cannot
do this now “you can’t teach an old dog
new tricks”.
Mr. and Mrs. Birling have much to fear
from a visit from the real Inspector –
they will lose the thing they value most.
More open to new ideas. Their views
change throughout the play and they
express sympathy for the striking
workers
They accept responsibility for their
actions and their effects.
Eric and Shelia examine their role in
Eva’s death.
They have less to fear from the real
Inspector as they have already admitted
their wrong doing and it is suggested
they will change.

10. How does Priestley explore age in ‘An
Inspector Calls’?
Write about:
- the ideas about age in ‘An Inspector Calls’
- how Priestley presents these ideas by the
way he writes
[30 Marks]
[AO4 4 Marks]

11. How does Priestley explore age in ‘An
Inspector Calls’?
Write about:
- the ideas about age in ‘An Inspector Calls’
- how Priestley presents these ideas by the
way he writes
[30 Marks]
[AO4 4 Marks]

12. notes
• Act 1 – divide of the ages as Mr and Mrs Birling correct
their offspring and seem to know little about them
• Act 2- Eric has got a girl pregnant and stolen money
• Act 3 – Eric and Sheila in particular are seen to be
affected by the events of the night, whereas Mr and
Mrs Birling, and Gerald to an extent, are keen to avoid
a scandal but are unlikely to change their ways
• Context- the youth are key to change and socialism and
Priestley is making audience aware that Capitalism
practiced by the older generations is a dangerous way
to live life