The upper class setting in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley effectively develops the central theme of responsibility. The setting shows how the upper class characters ignore responsibility and are blind to the consequences of their actions, such as Eva Smith's suicide resulting from the combined actions of the Birling family. It also conveys that the characters value their social status over responsibility. Through the setting, Priestley criticizes the lack of responsibility in upper class society and aims to make readers reconsider their own views and actions.

1. Extended Written Text
Level 2 Student Exemplar

2. Q: Analyse how at least ONE setting helped develop an
important theme.
The essay
has a clear
and basic
In the drama An Inspector Calls, by J.B. Priestley,
introduction.
one of the settings is upper class England. This The candidate
setting effectively develops the central theme in has identified
the social
the play of responsibility. The setting conveys this
setting and
theme as it shows how people in this social has linked
setting ignore responsibility, the results that a it to the
major theme.
lack of responsibility can have, and also how the
However, the
people in this setting are blind to the candidate
consequences. hasn’t
identified how
yet

3. One of the ways in which the social setting in An Inspector
The candidate
Calls shows the theme responsibility is the way people in this
has used the
social setting ignore responsibility. The characters in this play characters
value social status much more highly than responsibility. This as a vehicle
aspect is conveyed in the play through the characters, to discuss
particularly Mr. Birling. Mr. Birling is a proud man who is setting,
always striving to move higher up on the social ladder. When shows clear
he is being partially blames for a girl’s suicide, he exclaims: understanding of the
purpose of
characterisation, and
weaves
quotes in
with ease (next slide)

4. “There is a big difference between a lot of these The candidate
things coming out in private and a downright has teased
public scandal!” This quote puts to the reader that the example
out and clearly
Mr. Birling is not concerned at all about the poor explained its
girl who is dead, but only about what it would do purpose in
to his social status if it were to come out in public. furthering the
thesis. The
Mr. Birling has completely missed the lesson to be candidate has
learned and does not show any signs of guilt or made a clear
remorse. He is portrayed to the reader as and concise
point and has
corrupted, reinforcing the writer’s intended shown an
theme of responsibility as the reader can see understanding
what is more important. of the writer’s
purpose

5. The upper class social setting in this play also The
develops the theme of responsibility through candidate
has
displaying the results the lack of responsibility of identified
characters in the upper class have had on the lower an upper
class. In the play, it is found that a combination of class
social
ignoring responsibility from each member of the setting but
Birling family has resulted in the suicide of a young could have
girl, Eva Smith. In an effort to get the message that gone a
little further
actions have consequences, through to the Birlings, to show
he continuously refers to Eva’s death in graphic that this is
details as he says, “Now a girl is dead, with her the case.
inside burned out, lying on a slab.” The continuous
reference to the horrific results cause the reader to Student
realise the importance of responsibility as they recognises
author’s
understand what can happen if responsibility is purpose of
ignored. language to
support theme.

6. Another way in which the theme of responsibility is The candidate
developed through the upper class setting is the idea that has repeated
the characters in this setting are blind to the results. Most the idea of
responsibility
of the characters progress through the story without any
but hasn’t
signs of remorse for their actions. Inspector Goode spells
really gone
it out for the family when he says: “we do live alone. We into enough
are all part of one body. We are responsible for each other. depth here.
And the time will come soon when, if men will not learn The candidate
this lesson it will be taught to them in fire and blood and has stated
anguish.” In this statement the Inspector is referring to war the social
in the last sentence. No attempts to shock the family into setting, but it
realisation that one day their lack of responsibility will not would have
been better to
only affect them, but other people too. The blindness of
explore it by
the people in this social setting makes the reader open
unpacking it
their eyes to the responsibility they have in the world. further. Clear
sentence
starters
The candidate has reinforced characterisation as a means to signpost the
show setting and its relationship with theme. The candidate Argument.
has used a long quotation, but it’s fitting and it works.

7. The author’s main purpose in using setting to
develop the responsibility theme is to show The essay
how bad the upper class environment is with gives us a
sense of
the lack of responsibility. The negative light in the author’s
which the Birling family are shown cause the craft. The
reader to think “am I like the Birling family?” candidate
J.B. Priestley wants to convey his view, that has shown
responsibility is hugely important to society some
personal
and he also wants the audience to change under-
their views. Seeing the effect that responsibility standing
had in the story definitely made me, as a and has
reader, rethink my actions. It caused me to addressed
think more about being responsible before I act the “how”
and the “why.”
and also what I value in life.

8. The use of the upper class setting to convey responsibility in “An
Inspector Calls” was extremely effective. It caused the reader to
think about their actions through the results in the play and what
the message in the play means to their lives. J.B. Priestley conveyed
his message effectively and accurately.
NZQA’s Overall Comment: This is a “workmanlike” Merit. It is repetitive, but there
is enough there. Ultimately, there is evidence of good analysis. The candidate has
given good examples with a commanding analytical voice. The candidate has
demonstrated an understanding of the purpose of characterisation and has placed
the reader in the argument.