An Inspector Calls: How does Priestley use the character of the Inspector to

suggest ways that society could be improved?

J.B Priestley presents a hierarchical society within ‘An Inspector Calls’. The

power and influence that stems from wealth in the early twentieth century is

clear from the outset with Mr Birling’s belief that his daughter’s

marriage to Gerald Croft and subsequent climb up the class scale would have a

direct impact on his bid to be knighted.

Arthur Birling is also key within the play when it comes to presenting the

capitalist tendencies of society at the time the play was set. He presents a

standpoint of ‘every man for himself’ and his refusal to even consider Eva

Smith’s proposal for fairer wages only consolidates this. He also states that

next they will be asking for ‘the earth’ which shows his complete lack of

empathy for the plight of the working class. The initial events of the play

focusing on both Arthur and Sheila’s roles in Eva’s demise showcase the need

for a ‘safety net’ in society and highlight how impossible life was for the

working class at the time should they find themselves unemployed.

In direct contrast to this, Priestley uses the character of the Inspector to

present his own socialist viewpoints. The notions of the socialist manifesto are

laid bare in the Inspector’s final speech when he proclaims that we are ‘all

responsible for each other’. The idea of collective responsibility is perpetuated

throughout the play as we understand the individual roles the Birling (and

Croft) family played in Eva’s tragic end. Though throughout the play, it is

presented as collective responsibility for the death of Eva, the point Priestley is
intending to make is that if we truly act as ‘one body’, the likelihood of such

events occurring is decreased. Priestley believes in a fair society where wealth

is shared and those in need are provided for. The extent of the problems facing

the working class at the time is further emphasised through the ’millions of

John smith and Eva Smiths’ referenced by the Inspector. It is important to

Priestley that the audience understands the issue is to a large scale and not

unique to Eva smith and the Birlings.

The impact the actions of one individual can have is shown in the structuring

of the play. The events are revealed one at a time to both the audience and the

characters which depicts the domino effect of the interlinked circumstances on

Eva. However, the real intention of the structure of the play is to highlight how

many occasions there were when a different choice, a different decision could

Eva. However, the real intention of the structure of the play is to highlight how

many occasions there were when a different choice, a different decision could

have stopped the course to Eva’s suicide in its tracks.

Priestley furthers his use of the Inspector to present the danger of this

capitalist society when Goole claims the lesson will be learnt in ‘fire and blood

and anguish’. The use of this triplet emphasises the strength of Priestley’s

viewpoint that a selfish society is one that ultimately leads to its own demise
and ends up, as shown by the choice of religious imagery, Godless.

Finally, we see Priestley’s desperate attempts to educate the audiences of the

need for collective responsibility with the continued use of dramatic irony. The

audience knowing about events such as the Titanic or workers’ strikes

propagates the idea that the Birlings know nothing and reinforces the

viewpoint that we must learn from past mistakes, something that an audience

that has lived through two world wars would surely appreciate. The ignorance

of the Birlings and parallel criticisms of capitalism are further highlighted by

the omnipotence of the Inspector Goole who, with his socialist, forward-

thinking standpoint, is always one step ahead.