A Police inspector then interrupts the Birling family. Priestley uses the inspector as a tool to show us how hypocritical and arrogant the upper middle class men and women actually were. The inspector also brings to our attention the vast gulf between the upper middle class and the lower class citizens. During the inspectors investigation we realise how unwilling Mr and Mrs Birling are to admit to doing anything wrong. When the Inspector mentions the suicide of Daisy Renton, Mr Birling cannot see how any of his "respectable" family could possibly have been involved. He soon discovers that he himself could have been involved in the suicide of a girl and immediately he tries to shift the blame off himself and onto someone else. He claims that as he sacked the girl over two years before her death, he is not responsible in any way for her death. Mr Birling tells the inspector that he should be investigating the people who met the girl during those two years. Mr Birling’s attitude towards the whole business is summed up when he says that if everyone was responsible for the actions of everyone they met, then they would be in a right mess. This is exactly the opposite of the inspector’s message that we are not alone, we are members of one body." I think that the inspector represents Priestly’s view on society that we are all out to help each other and Mr Birling represents the upper middle class people in society. Already we begging so see how arrogant and selfish Mr Birling is. The inspector includes everyone in the family in his investigation, and it is through these investigations that Priestley tries to show us what conditions were like in the early twentieth century. During the investigation, Mr Birling refers to Eva Smith, the girl who supposedly committed suicide, as "cheap labour" and he said that it was his duty to keep costs down. This really does show us how Mr Birling regards lower class citizens. The fact the family refers to lower class girls as "women of the street" highlights the complete disregard that they have for the lower class citizens..
Daisy Renton was absolutely dependent upon voluntary help provided by the rich families. Mrs Birling was one of these voluntary helpers and yet she refused to help this poor young girl at a time when she most needed it. She needed help because after being thrown out of two jobs, she was pregnant and had no money to support herself or her baby. This shows us how hypocritical Mrs Birling was. She claimed to be a Good Samaritan and then refused to give help to those who needed it. Eric is the only member of the family who helps the girl and he even steals from his own father to do so. Daisy Renton was in a desperate situation and the only person in the Birling family who was prepared to help her was Eric. This says a lot for the upper middle class "respectable" families.
When the inspector leaves the Birling household, they gradually come to the conclusion that he was an impostor. Mr and Mrs Birling immediately criticise their children for being taken by the inspector. This shows us hypocritical the Birling’s are. Mr and Mrs Birling are relieved and somewhat glad that they are innocent from any wrong doing. Sheila seems to have learnt from her mistakes and she and her brother are appalled at their parents’ readiness to exonerate themselves from any wrong doing.
Priestly has shown us how the upper middle class people act in society and the way in which they regard lower class citizens. He hopes that we will realise how the younger generation are the ones who can change the society in which we live. Eric and Sheila in the play learn from their mistakes. This provides a stark contrast between them and their parents who do not learn at all. Priestly hopes that the younger generation of today will realise how they are the ones who can change the society in which they live. The inspector sums up Priestly’s intentions when he says, "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." He intended that we should realise the importance of helping each other, not acting under Mr Birling’s principle that everyone should look after themselves. Priestly conveyed his message extremely well. He has shown how large the division between the classes was in the early twentieth century and how hypocritical members of the upper middle class were. He has also shown us how he believes the situation can be changed. The play is made more effective by the fact that he Priestly has included an interesting story as well as conveying his message
