The inspector is a man of morals who represents the poor and lower classes society. He teaches the Birling family that everyone has responsibilities which they have to adhere to. The Birling family is well off and lives in their own social spheres. They consider themselves superior, almost better humans to the poorer around them. They can be content in their own selfish, frivolous celebrations while countless Eva Smiths suffer and perish around them. They believe it is right that the poor should be subjected to their sufferings because of their low status. But the inspector teaches them otherwise. On parting, he leaves this final, lingering message, “ We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.” The inspector believes that in a good, working society, one cannot only think about themselves. A society is not complete if the rich is left in their indulgences and turn a blind eye to the poverty around them. It is everyone’s responsibility to support the poor and treat them with respect and as equals. We are all human beings, living in the one world. We all have the same common hopes and are all entitled to the basic human dignities of love, hope and compassion from our fellow members in society. It is unjustified to think that because some people have more materialistic goods, the Birlings can treat the Eva Smiths like props in a play, but where would people like Birling be without Eva Smith? In every society, one person’s life depends on all the people around him. You cannot live alone in the world, we all have a responsibility to the people worse off than us.
We are always taught to accept what our parents teach us, believing that because of their age and experience, they are never wrong. But Sheila and Eric Birling clearly show us otherwise. Having been brought up in a high social class, they have been protected from the reality of the harsh outside world. They know not of the suffering of the poor but follow the traditional conservative ideas of their parents, namely that they are superior and the humanity and compassion reserved for the rich does not extend to the poor. But through the inspector, Sheila and Eric see a world very different from their own. They, unlike their parents don’t hide from reality, but accept what is laid before them. Against the wishes of their parents, they realise that people like Eva Smith are all humans, with their lives and hopes intertwined in their own. It is this open-mindedness and this courage to break out from the cocoon of tradition, that brings Sheila and Eric closer to us. This clearly teaches us to judge everything before simply accepting them and that people who think they know the world are not always right. As times change, it is only natural that the way we perceive the world should change. We cannot be content to live in the past but accept new ideas, values and ways as we they confront us and step into the future. It is most important that we as individuals should judge circumstances and events before acceptance or approval. We must not be afraid to break away from tradition or majority belief because a few individuals can leave a lasting impact on society. It is wrong to live in ignorance rather than seeking the truth.
J.B. Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls” really teaches us so much about the society we live in. It clearly makes us realise the consequences our actions bring on others, the responsibilities we have to those less fortunate and we should live with open-mindedness, rather than accepting all that we are told. What an insight into justice and high morals this play bring us.
Mrs Hamilton Inspector Calls Essay
