The document provides historical context for the play An Inspector Calls, setting it in 1912 Britain prior to World War I. Society was highly unequal, with a tiny minority owning most wealth. Conditions for the poor were appalling. The play reveals truths about Britain's social and political class structures and the arrogance of the upper/middle classes and desperation of the lower classes. It warns that society needs to change to become more equal and caring, otherwise consequences could follow.

1. Historical Background [Context ]
You shouldn’t write lots and lots about this in your exam [a small paragraph at
most: 5-6 line summary]
IC is set in 1912, two years before one of the most important events in world history
-the outbreak of the First World War.
Life in the early part of the twentieth century was very hard for poor people and
society was still very unequal:
• Vast riches were enjoyed by a tiny minority of the population - 5 % of people
owned 85 % of the nation’s wealth.
• There was a very fixed class system – upper class, middle class [the new rich
who had made their money in industry or commerce] and working class. You
were born into the relevant class and it was almost impossible to move
between them.
• Conditions for poor people were appalling, with no form of welfare or health
care to assist. Many had no proper homes and large numbers slept rough.
Disease was rife and many struggled to bring up families. Many ended up in
the workhouses.
One historian commented: ‘class divisions were never so acutely felt as by the
Edwardians.’
Various Important Background Events
The Trade Union movement was becoming an increasingly important force, aimed
at improving worker’s rights. Unemployment and recession were serious problems.
There were strikes by dockers, railway workers and miners but the govt sent in troops
to break up these strikes. However, there was a growing feeling that workers were
gaining more rights.
The Russian Revolution occurred in 1917. This was where the masses rose up
against their ruling classes and formed a socialist state with the aim of making sure
people in society were equal and that wealth was shared out evenly. This event sent
clear warning signals around the world that, if the working classes remained locked
out of power and were left suffering in poverty for ever, then there was a danger of a
civil rebellion. [The Inspector warns of this danger when he prophesises about a time
ahead of ‘blood and fire and anguish’]
The 2nd
WW forced people from all different classes to pull together – fight together,
work together, live together, suffer together. It became harder for the Eva Smiths of
this world to be cut off from the Birlings.
The Labour Party had been set up in 1900 to look after the interests of the working
class. In 1945 the Labour Party swept to power with a massive majority. This event

2. was seen as a real chance to improve the life of the poorer members of society. The
nation was caught up in the excitement about the creation of a new society,
particularly after the hardships of the 2nd
WW:
• Start of the Welfare State
• Huge programme of Nationalisation [ things run by govt not for profit but for
benefit of nation ]
Although set in 1912, IC was written and published in 1945. Its author Priestley
was a committed socialist and believer in the above new changes. IC is a product of
this excitement and is designed to show the need for the sort of policies advocated by
Labour. The suffering of Eva Smith and the ‘ideas’ of the Inspector were intended to
demonstrate the need for social change and to convince its audience that we are all,
indeed, ‘ members of one body’ and so ‘ responsible for each other’. The implicit
message to the audience in 1945 is ‘let’s not go back to the type of society we had in
1912’ – the sort of time when the Eva Smiths were not cared for.
Themes
Play is an attempt to reveal the truth of the social & political class structures of early
1900’s in Britain & arrogance of upper / middle class & desperation of lower classes.
It is designed to make the audience reflect on their own attitudes and on the type of
society they live in.
Priestley was a political and social thinker. IC has a clear moral and political message
– about creating a fairer and more just society. His son called him ‘the conscience of a
nation’ in his obituary.
Responsibility – Individual and Collective
Play teaches the message that society needs to change and become more equal, or at
least compassionate towards those less well off. Priestly intended the play to have a
deeply- felt social message: ie that we all have a responsibility towards each other and
that community is a crucial part of a responsible and caring society. The Inspector is
Priestly’s mouthpiece for his socialist viewpoint and instrumental in unveiling the
layers of deceit which have existed in the family [who are a mini – reflection of a
larger group in society]
Play is a warning to individuals and society about the severe social and political
consequences of not changing.
One critic called IC ‘a sermon’ and another ‘a lesson in civics’
Another critic has referred to it as being ‘like a medieval morality play where we
enjoy the overthrown of several sins’ [ eg lust / pride etc ] Like the morality plays of
the late middle ages, this is a modern ‘morality’ style play which similarly focuses on
‘the condition of man’.

3. Summary:
The play:
Reveals truth…..Teaches moral message about responsibility…..Warns of
consequences if message not heeded.
Characterisation
General: Birlings
The play highlights the current attitudes and problems within the privileged echelons
of society. Be aware: the Birlings are a reflection of many people with similar
attitudes in society. One critic has called them ‘a stereotype for their time.’ Just as
there are millions of Eva Smiths, so there are lots of Birlings.
Behind their alleged superficial respectability and outward signs of wealth [note stage
directions at start with ‘champagne’ and ‘port’ etc ] there is a deep rottenness and
hypocrisy quickly evident. They are not really respectable at all, certainly not in
morality or decency.
They are complacent, self – satisfied and believe they can get away with behaving
badly.There are other sin society like them – Alderman Meggarty taking advantage
of Eva Smith is a good symbolic example of privileged elite and powerless
working people.
The best metaphor to use is the example of their house collapsing during the
National Production of IC. The Inspector has revealed the truth about them all,
and at this point their house collapses – exposing, despite the veneer of
respectability, their moral decay and bankruptcy.
It becomes clear during the play that some of the younger Birlings [ Sheila and Eric]
accept their responsibility whereas the older ones [ Arthur and Mrs Birling in
particular ] do not – the message seems to be that the hope for changed attitudes lies
with the younger generation coming through.
Arthur Birling
Role in play is to:
• Reflect greed and hard-hearted employer attitudes in society. Values
business and profit more than people:
P4- ‘lower costs and higher prices’ are his priority – not the welfare of his employees.

4. He describes himself using the pre-modifier ‘hard headed’ [businessman] Almost a
throwback to harsh Victorian employers – typical of greedy employers of time.
P6 – uses the personal pronoun ‘our’ to refer to employers’ interests
P 17 - verb ‘discharged’ is particularly callous and depersonalised to describe his
treatment of Eva Smith.
Once critic has called him: ‘a caricature of the heartless capitalistic
businessman’
• Reflect naivety of upper class / detachment from reality:
Comments about Titanic and his view there will never be a war or major labour unrest
/ strikes
• Reflect individual selfishness and moral decay:
Rejects any sense of social responsibility or equality – uses metaphor of bees in a hive
and complains about ‘community and all that nonsense.’ Sarcastically dismisses
socialists and people who want a more equal society as ‘cranks’ [P10]
His priority is all about superficial signs of respect and his public image [not his inner
core decency] Note how he tries to impress / intimidate people with his constant
references to being a magistrate / Lord Mayor / Knighthood / Knowing Colonel
Roberts. His biggest worry is a ‘scandal’ and ‘the press.’
The Inspector tries to challenge him explicitly and teach him that his priority should
not be his own image / position, but rather he should look outward at society:
P41- ‘Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges’
Message from the Inspector is that he has a personal responsibility for Eva Smith’s
situation and death – he has contributed to the ‘nasty mess.’ [P21]
The fact that Birling rejects the Inspector’s message and doesn’t learn symbolises the
entrenched views of many in his class. Note his behaviour after he learns the
Inspector isn’t really a police officer – he thinks he has escaped and disregards the
younger ones’ views that they are still guilty. The stage directions are particularly
important at revealing his attitude here:
‘produces a huge sigh of relief’ [ P 70]
Adverbs like ‘jovially’ and ‘triumphantly’ [P70]
Mrs Birling
Described as her husband’s ‘social superior’ at the start of the stage directions.

5. Stage directions also use the adjective ‘cold’ to describe her.
Haughty, condescending, full of pride – she is very much presented as a member of
the privileged elite who has no understanding of the lives of ordinary people like Eva
Smith. One of her main roles in play is therefore: to reflect narrow, uncaring,
privileged hypocrisy of many in her class and the gulf between the classes – note the
irony of her views which come through in her choice of words such as: ‘respectable’/
‘duty’/‘deserving.’
She makes a number of comments about: ‘lower-class’ persons and ‘girls of that sort.’
She snobbishly criticises Eva using nasty pre-modifiers like ‘ridiculous airs’ and
‘elaborate fine feelings’ – she sees lower class as almost a different species.
Verb ‘slammed’ [ door ] is used to describe metaphorically what she did to Eva’s
request for help.
She refuses to recognise the truth in various situations:
• Denies Eric is a heavy drinker
• Lies about initially knowing the name Daisy Renton
• Focuses on superficial things like manners and social respect [ ‘I consider that
a trifle impertinent’ ] and not what really matters [ a girl has died]
• Resents any suggestions from Inspector she is to blame or must change. One
of her other roles is to reflect how difficult it will be for society to change
when it is full of people who refuse to acknowledge the part they have played
– note the irony in her statement: ‘ I must say, we are learning something
tonight’ p35 [ no she’s not ]
Like her husband, her views are entrenched and offer little hope if society itself is to
change.
Sheila Birling
Prior to Inspector’s arrival, presented as somewhat silly and ‘very pleased with life.’
Other stage directions include ‘playful’ and ‘gaily.’ This is soon to change.
She initially seems unaware of wider social issues, or the hypocrisy of much of her
family’s behaviour / attitudes. Her attention is focused on herself and her plans for
marriage to Gerald.
Her ‘sin’ is vanity / jealousy and she uses her social power in a spiteful way to get
Eva removed from her position in the shop.
But she is impressionable and is deeply affected by the Inspector’s revelations – note
the stage directions, with adverbs such as ‘miserably’ and verbs like ‘distressed’ [p23]
Note also how she refuses to be shielded from the truth:
‘I’m not a child…I’ve a right to know’

6. Her attitude quickly changes and she becomes almost an ‘ accomplice’ of the
Inspector and challenges / criticises other characters – despite her own guilt, she
accepts responsibility and it seems Priestly uses her [ and Eric to a degree ] to suggest
that there is optimism and hope for social change – but it lies more with the younger
generation whose views are less entrenched:
P40 – ‘you and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here’
P71 - ‘you began to learn something…now you’re ready to go on in the same old
way’
Eric Birling
During the play he is exposed as:
• A drunkard
• The father of an illegitimate unborn child – possibly result of a sexual assault
• A liar
• A thief
• An embezzler
Although a weak and lonely figure, again he seems to be one of the younger
generation who offers hope for society:
Critical of his father’s heartless business attitudes and shows sympathy with
disadvantaged people:
P16 – ‘Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages?’
Offers Daisy Renton money
Rage at mother’s lack of charity
Seems to accept the Inspector’s message, even after knows he was a fake:
P59 - ‘He was our police Inspector all right’
P65 – ‘It’s what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters’
Gerald
One of the most complex characters and a real mix. On the one hand;
He is similar in outlook to Mr Birling and agrees with his capitalistic business views:
‘You couldn’t have done anything else’ [Eva’s dismissal]
He has lied to Sheila and conducted a secret affair – effectively to satisfy his own lust.
When things become too awkward, he dropped Eva. He causes her huge emotional
pain because she described him as her ‘Fairy Prince’ and remember how she went to

7. the seaside and pretended they were still together in her head for a bit – ‘just to make
it last longer’ [p37] This is particularly poignant.
At end states ‘we’ve been had’ and, with a clear head, is responsible for finding out
the Inspector was a fake.
Yet, despite this, he has redeeming features:
• Shows genuine upset / remorse when the news of her death sinks in
• Originally rescued her from clutches of drunken Alderman Meggarty
• Set her up in Charlie Brunswick’s flat and gave her money for food and
clothes etc
• Gave her parting gift of money
Eva Smith
She dominates the action invisibly.
Her role is to:
1. Represent situation of many in lower class [‘millions and millions of Eva
Smiths’ ]
2. Reflect, through her mistreatment, individual and collective attitudes prevalent
in society.
One critic has called her ‘a victim of selfishness and exploitation’
She represents the ordinary people in society - particularly in the lower classes – who
can be destroyed by indifference, complacency and selfishness when society fails to
grant them the right of basic human dignity and care.
As play progresses, people’s sins against her seem worse because she is presented
almost as a noble figure, someone who is the complete opposite to most of the
characters. For example:
Initially described using pre-modifiers like ‘young’ and ‘fresh’ [ p35] and as having a
nice little promising life’ [ p21] This makes her later status as a victim
Her clear loneliness and suffering reinforce her victimhood and the others’
selfishness:
• ‘No work…no money…no relatives…half starved’ [ p19]
• ‘desperately hard up’ [ p36]
• Listing of 3 pre-modifiers: ‘alone, friendless, penniless’ [ p45]
Her nobility of character is reinforced by fact we learn she refuses to take stolen
money or name Eric directly as the father.

8. Her method of suicide is so brutal that this also hardens our attitudes to Birling and
co: ‘burnt her insides out’ [ p11]
It doesn’t matter she turns out to be made up – she reflects what could easily happen
because of selfishness etc. Because we get to know her quite well in some ways, the
‘wall’ [ p30 ] that Sheila refers to becomes partly broken down as she is
personalised.
Inspector Goole
An enigmatic figure - single minded, doesn’t deviate from his task or moral position.
Described using abstract nouns such as ‘purposefulness.’
Who is he? Various interpretations:
Name is an obvious pun on ‘ghoul’ – could be seen as some kind of spirit, sent to
torment the consciences of the characters / conduct a preliminary kind of Day of
Judgement. Note he doesn’t forgive or punish – his job is to uncover the truth and
encourage them to acknowledge their guilt and learn from it. He uses the noun
‘lesson’ [ p56 ] Although he addresses individual characters on stage, in many ways
his message is for those in the audience as well.
Priestley’s own mouthpiece – the voice of social conscience, with a clear moral
message about what needs to happen to society – ie to break down what Shelia
recognises is ‘a wall’ between classes
Point is this: it doesn’t matter who he actually is – it’s pretty irrelevant. What matters
is the message he brings about individual and collective responsibility in society for
others. As stated earlier his role is therefore:
1. To uncover truth and show reality of hypocrisy [ note stage directions at start
about light changing from pink to hard – crucial symbolism]
2. To instruct / teach – ie message [especially p56- ‘we are members of one
body’]
3. To warn / foretell consequences socially and politically if society does not
look after those who are less well off and disadvantaged [‘fire, blood and
anguish’ – p56]
Final General Point
You will get a question on a character in all probability - remember to explore their
incidents in detail and link to themes of responsibility / hypocrisy / change etc. I
suspect this year it may be Eva Smith but that is purely guesswork! Always be
thinking when you revise that their role is to reflect……..
Remember to build in language [stage directions / pre-modifiers etc] and learn a
couple of critical quotes as well – gives a nice touch.

9. If you get a scene to analyse – don’t panic! Remember to use it to show wider issues
about attitudes and themes.

10. If you get a scene to analyse – don’t panic! Remember to use it to show wider issues
about attitudes and themes.