How does J. B Priestly Turn What He Has Seen, thought and felt into literature and what’s your opinion of the view of life which he presents to us in ‘An Inspector Calls’?

"The Germans don't want war. Nobody wants war, except some half-civilised folks in the Balkans." He states superiority to some kind of inferior race. A lot of the time he thinks he knows everything when really he doesn't. Like when he starts rambling on about the Titanic and how it's unsinkable. The audience of Priestly's time knows the Titanic sank, and that Birling is one of these 'know it alls'. When the Inspector arrives Birling appears not to care about Eva Smith and instead wishes the inspector would go away: He's always trying to disassociate himself from Eva's death.

"...but she died. Suicide of course. Yes, yes. Horrible business. But I don't understand why you should come here, Inspector-" This shows Birling trying to disassociate himself.

Later, when the inspector has revealed that Mr Birling sacked Eva, Birling is talking about how he had to come down sharp on the working class or else they would have been asking for the Earth, the inspector replies,

"They might. But after all it's better to ask for the Earth than to take it." This is aimed at Birling because he is exploiting the poor, and taking what he wants from them with out remorse. Priestly comments on this because he wants the upper class to stop acting in such a selfish way.

Mrs Birling is just as bad as her husband if not worse. When Eva is near the end of her troubles she turns to Mrs Birling who owns a charity group aiding people. When Eva arrives, she uses the name Mrs Birling. Mrs Birling is angry at this and therefore closes Eva's case. Leaving Eva with no help even from a charity group. Priestly hates how the upper class are so selfish and single minded. Up until that point Eva had been sacked twice, fell in love then dumped in an instant, got pregnant from a one night stand and then was turned down by the only help she could get. Mrs Birling also believes every thing Mr Birling says about the working class.

Gerald is another member of the upper class who is always agreeing with Mr Birling,

"Birling: They worked us hard in those days and kept us short of cash. Though even then-we broke out and had a bit of fun sometimes

Gerald: I'll bet you did." Gerald is agreeing with him probably because Mr Birling seems to him as much older and wiser although Gerald's family are more wealthy than Birling's. Gerald greatly exploits the poor like Birling does in work, with low wages and getting higher prices for himself.

Priestly felt that the upper classes had strong materialistic beliefs, there is a prime example of Gerald and Sheila with the wedding ring.

"Gerald (smiling) Well, perhaps this will help to stop it. (He produces a ring case)

Sheila (excited) Oh-Gerald-you've got it-is it the one you wanted me to have?

Gerald (giving the case to her) Yes-the very one.

Sheila (taking out the ring) Oh it's wonderful! ......(admiring the ring) I think its perfect. Now I really feel engaged. " This shows objects mean a lot more to the upper class. This is another point Priestly wanted to get across.

Sheila is clearly a member of the upper class but a different generation to Mr and Mrs Birling. When Sheila is in a bad mood at Milwards just because she supposed Eva was laughing at her she threatened never to return and to cancel the account, getting Eva sacked. After the inspector has arrived he changes her view and she admits to everything and is ashamed. She tries to encourage every one else to admit to their actions. Priestly perhaps, felt that the younger upper classes were more accepting of change and would alter the future class system.

"All right. I knew her. Let's leave it at that.

Sheila We can't leave it like that. " This shows Sheila pressing Gerald to admit to his actions.

Eric is similar to Sheila but very different to everyone else. Although he is still upper class he is young and doesn't really understand life. His father; Mr Birling tries to explain to him life.

"There's too much at stake these days. Everything to lose and nothing to gain by war.

Yes, I know-but still-

Let me finish, Eric." Eric is the 'one-off; that got Eva pregnant before she went to Mrs Birling's charity group.

Eva Smith clearly portrays the working class. Eva, or later renamed as Daisy, is the victim of the actions from Mr and Mrs Birling, Gerald, Sheila and Eric. Eva/Daisy is the character the audience sympathise with because of what has been done to her.

Priestly strongly believes that one man's actions have a knock on effect i.e what happens to Eva in 'inspector calls' leading her to suicide. He believes that no man is an island, and everyone has a social responsibility. Everything anyone does always effects someone else, whether bad or good, purposely or by accident. I think this true, everything you or I do affects some-one else, so perhaps when you do something you should think of the consequences, not only the obvious ones but the lateral ones too: That way someone's actions would more often result in good.

Priestly also believes people should admit to their guilt and not deny it. This I think is also true, telling the truth and admitting guilt usually results in less punishment than if you have lied and tried to deny it.

What Priestly thinks about the class system I also agree with. All men should be treated equally and rewarded by merit of working hard, rather than being of a higher social class by birth. Just because somebody is richer than an other person it does not mean that they know more or that their opinions are more important.

I think that in 'An Inspector Calls' J.B Priestly manages to get his thoughts and opinions to his audience through his characters and hopes to change the world he lives in.

Robert symonds 10E 1