J.B. Priestly was a playwright concerned with the ideas of capitalism, socialism, individual and collective responsibility.

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J.B. Priestly was a playwright concerned with the ideas of capitalism, socialism, individual and collective responsibility.

In an Inspector Calls, Priestley used the death of Eva Smith to represent abuse, and mistreatment of upper/lower classes in the sociality they are living in.

The play was first performed in 1946, in which the community would be conscious about ideas of community because of the Second World War. Research the political beliefs of other authors, like Orwell, Bernard Shaw, and Wells and make a passing reference to how they are similar.

Other literacy figures of the period, such as Wells were also writing about the themes of Capitalism.

Immediately, the set establishes the theme of class Act One, Scene one open with the four Birling characters (Mr Birling, Mrs Birling, Shelia, and Eric) and Gerald seated at the table, they are all having a celebration on arrangement on something. There is another character called Edna who is the maid cleaning up after them, and basically bring a servant. You could tell that characters are in a high class because of the way the scenes introduce them. The characters were smartly dressed, ‘All five in Evening Dress of period.’  The scenery is simply a typical dinner party that any people in a high sort of class would have. This scenery and the family together would be a good reprehensive for the theme society in their time because of the way that they live. How posh they are, their manners at the table, this represents the different class between the rich and the poor.

The general mood of the family in the first scene is basically excited, happy they celebrating something special because of everyone are there and they are having a heavy drinks It was because Mr Birling’s daughter Sheila was getting married to Gerald other man in a high society class. Also Mr Birling’s daughter Sheila was marring a man that was a son to Mr Birling’s main business rival.

You’re just the kind of don-in-law I always wanted. Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for some time now.’

This showing that Mr Birling is kind of talking about his business instead of the important marriage, another quote that shows the socials positions between Mr Birling business and Gerald Croft’s business in a offer Mr Birling mentions the quote above, the same speech.

Though Croft limited are both older and bigger than Birling and company – and now you’ve brought us together.’ This maybe what Mr Birling really is after showing a little bit about his real self, trying to make himself more powerful than ever before.

The plays begin set in the evening in spring, in the year 1912, as historians know just before the First World War. Mr Birling uses dramatic irony to show his bigoted political beliefs as arrogant and dramatic to be wrong. Two big examples of this is when Mr Birling is talking about the war coming up explaining to Eric that there is no chance of war.

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‘And I say there isn’t a chance of war’ and ‘the world’s developing so fast that it make war impossible’

It dramatic irony because the audience should have known that there was a war and it had serious consequences, but the characters especially Mr Birling doesn’t know that. An additional form of dynamic irony is from Mr Birling again him still explaining to Eric about the world mention in between about the Titanic (the ship)

The Titanic-she sails next week-forty-six thousand eight hundred tons- New York in five days- and every luxury- and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’

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