An Inspector Calls has been identified as a play of social criticism. How does Priestley use the theatrical device of the Inspector to convey his criticisms of Mr Birling in Act One of the play?

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“An Inspector Calls” has been identified as a play of social criticism. How does Priestley use the theatrical device of the Inspector to convey his criticisms of Mr Birling in Act One of the play?

“An Inspector Calls” by J.B. Priestley is a play of social criticism. Inspector Goole visits the Birling household to inquire into the apparent suicide of a woman named Eva Smith. He questions each of them on their social crimes. The Inspector warns the Birlings that if they do not change their ways, all of society will be punished in “fire and blood and anguish”. Priestley was well known for expressing social criticism in his work and he especially liked writing plays as they seemed to have more of an immediate impact on an audience. The play was written in 1944, produced in 1945 but is set in 1912 which helps Priestley convey his social criticisms. 1912 was part of the Edwardian era where a small percentage was extremely wealthy but the majority was in poverty. The national wealth was unevenly distributed. Skilled workers, especially women, were paid very little, around £1 a week. There was no welfare state or National Health Service and workers had no rights whatsoever. At the time the play was written, the Second World War was coming to a close. Priestley hoped that his play would convince voters to opt for a Socialist solution to government to bring about a change in society and politics. In 1912, society was split into classes depending on wealth. The upper class was represented by the Birlings and Eva was working class. There is much evidence in the play that the upper class felt superior towards the working class. As the play begins, it appears to be a naturalistic drama, appropriate to the time the play was set but as the play develops and the character of the Inspector arrives, the naturalistic setting becomes less comfortable with the consequence that the audience focus more intently on what the Inspector has to say. The play is also a detective thriller, popular with audiences of the 1940s and so attracting audiences to the play.

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There are several aspects of society that Priestley criticises, one of them being the greed that can come with capitalism. Mr Birling is an especially greedy capitalist whose motto is, “Lower costs, higher prices”. As the play begins, the Birling family is celebrating their wealth and an engagement. With the engagement Birling is celebrating the fact that “Crofts and Birlings” are working together for increased profit. In addition a focus of his conversation is “the interests of Capital” and increasing prosperity” but this will only come to the wealthy. Mr Birling’s point of view is that society is every man ...

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