J. B Priestly's play has been described as an allegory. To what extent do you think this is true? What could be said to be the deeper meaning or implicit message of An Inspector Calls?
An allegory is a story in which the meaning of the message is described using symbolism. An Inspector Calls can be described as an Allegory because of J. B Priestly's attempt to put his socialist views across within the text. He does this through a variety of sources particularly the time period in which the play is set and the attitudes of the characters.
The play is set in 1912, two years before World War One and in the same year as the sinking of the Titanic . This date is symbolic as the play is written in hindsight, this gives Priestly the chance to use dramatic irony. The characters which are the major cause of symbolism within the play. All of the characters must be examined on two levels. At face value, that is to say the level at which one is present just from a cursory reading of the play, and at the symbolic level that can be discovered upon closer examination of the text.
Mr Birling is described in the opening stage direction as being a "heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners and rather provincial in his speech." He is the head of the family and as such believes that he deserves respect. From his speech it would appear that he earned his wealth rather than inheriting it, it also appears that his wife is his social superior. This is aptly demonstrated through his lack of knowledge of basic etiquette, particularly when he complements his servants when visitors are around, and is he swiftly rebuked by his wife " Birling: Good dinner too, sybil tell the cook from me." "Mrs. Birling: Arthur your not supposed to say such things" Symbolically Birling represents capitalism and all that is abhorrent about it. Priestly goes to great lengths in the play to make Birling look stupid, He uses dramatic irony to achieve this effect. Birling says that the Titanic "is absolutely unsinkable" and that there is "no chance of war". Seen as the text was written in 1945 the events that Birling was decrying had all ready taken place. Therefore the audience see this as stupidity, thus achieving Priestly's aim to degenerate capitalism.
Mrs Birling is described in the initial stage direction as being "about 50, a rather cold woman and her husbands social superior". Throughout the text her demeanour demonstrates this particularly in the above incident with Mr Birling. She seems to be in complete control Sheila, when Gerald asks her questions Mrs Birling will answer for her. She also likes to believe that she is in complete control of her "perfect" family. This illusion is shattered however late on in the text when the truth about Eric's drinking is revealed. She is also a hypocrite as when the inspector informs her of the fate of Daisy Renton/ Eva Smith after she made a claim to her charitable organisation, she claims that the father should be responsible for the support of the woman. "and make sure you take some steps... in public his responsibility". However this all makes an abrupt about turn when it becomes evident that Eric is the father of the unborn child. She also admits being prejudiced against Eva Smith's claim because of the fact that she applied using the name Mrs. Birling. She said that she was only "doing her duty" by refusing to give money to the girl .Mrs Birling is a difficult symbol to fathom as she could stand for so many things and yet still stand for nothing. from what I can fathom Mrs Birling represents the upper-middle class "old money". She is shown to be a hypocrite by Priestly, particularly in the incident with Eric at the end of act 2. She also appears to be extremely controlling of Sheila, for instance when Sheila is choosing a dress at Milwards, she tries to council her against it in the plainest of terms "and mother said that it was quite unsuitable".
An allegory is a story in which the meaning of the message is described using symbolism. An Inspector Calls can be described as an Allegory because of J. B Priestly's attempt to put his socialist views across within the text. He does this through a variety of sources particularly the time period in which the play is set and the attitudes of the characters.
The play is set in 1912, two years before World War One and in the same year as the sinking of the Titanic . This date is symbolic as the play is written in hindsight, this gives Priestly the chance to use dramatic irony. The characters which are the major cause of symbolism within the play. All of the characters must be examined on two levels. At face value, that is to say the level at which one is present just from a cursory reading of the play, and at the symbolic level that can be discovered upon closer examination of the text.
Mr Birling is described in the opening stage direction as being a "heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners and rather provincial in his speech." He is the head of the family and as such believes that he deserves respect. From his speech it would appear that he earned his wealth rather than inheriting it, it also appears that his wife is his social superior. This is aptly demonstrated through his lack of knowledge of basic etiquette, particularly when he complements his servants when visitors are around, and is he swiftly rebuked by his wife " Birling: Good dinner too, sybil tell the cook from me." "Mrs. Birling: Arthur your not supposed to say such things" Symbolically Birling represents capitalism and all that is abhorrent about it. Priestly goes to great lengths in the play to make Birling look stupid, He uses dramatic irony to achieve this effect. Birling says that the Titanic "is absolutely unsinkable" and that there is "no chance of war". Seen as the text was written in 1945 the events that Birling was decrying had all ready taken place. Therefore the audience see this as stupidity, thus achieving Priestly's aim to degenerate capitalism.
Mrs Birling is described in the initial stage direction as being "about 50, a rather cold woman and her husbands social superior". Throughout the text her demeanour demonstrates this particularly in the above incident with Mr Birling. She seems to be in complete control Sheila, when Gerald asks her questions Mrs Birling will answer for her. She also likes to believe that she is in complete control of her "perfect" family. This illusion is shattered however late on in the text when the truth about Eric's drinking is revealed. She is also a hypocrite as when the inspector informs her of the fate of Daisy Renton/ Eva Smith after she made a claim to her charitable organisation, she claims that the father should be responsible for the support of the woman. "and make sure you take some steps... in public his responsibility". However this all makes an abrupt about turn when it becomes evident that Eric is the father of the unborn child. She also admits being prejudiced against Eva Smith's claim because of the fact that she applied using the name Mrs. Birling. She said that she was only "doing her duty" by refusing to give money to the girl .Mrs Birling is a difficult symbol to fathom as she could stand for so many things and yet still stand for nothing. from what I can fathom Mrs Birling represents the upper-middle class "old money". She is shown to be a hypocrite by Priestly, particularly in the incident with Eric at the end of act 2. She also appears to be extremely controlling of Sheila, for instance when Sheila is choosing a dress at Milwards, she tries to council her against it in the plainest of terms "and mother said that it was quite unsuitable".
