What was J.BPriestley's Intention in Writing 'An Inspector Calls', and How Has His Intention Been Realised?

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Thomas Burton 10l

What was J.B Priestley’s Intention in Writing ‘An Inspector Calls’, and How Has His Intention Been Realised?

J.B. Priestley’s intention in writing ‘An Inspector Calls’ was to make sure that Britain did not repeat the social mistakes of it’s past.

J.B. Priestley had lived through both the World Wars, and had seen the class barriers eroded with the passing of each one. Throughout his life, he had been an active socialist, making his message clear through his writings and speeches.

He was a patriotic man, and his many plays reflect the love of his homeland, as much as they do his social and political ideas. Both of these parts of his personality were shown in the weekly talks he made on BBC Radio during the Second World War.

The First World War resulted in the start social change and the start of the breakdown of the barriers between the classes. In 1926, the General Strike marked a new era of workers rights, showing what the sheer numbers of workers all over Britain could do.  In 1930, the great depression had done more to level off the social boundaries as old, rich families’ savings were suddenly worth nothing.

The Government at the end of the Great War had promised “A country fit for heroes” to encompass the needs of returning soldiers looking for work and housing.  This had never happened, and millions of people were unemployed, and maimed or wounded soldiers had no disability coverage.

Part of the scheme to make Britain “fit for heroes” was to give everyone the vote, not only the middle and upper classes.  This only poorly compensated for the unemployment, recession, strikes and hunger marches that were to follow the war.

J.B. Priestley wanted something more than this at the end of the Second war. The Labour party had risen in power since the working classes could now also vote. They now offered a “Welfare state” which would provide free healthcare, unemployment benefits and money for those who needed it most.

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This is what J.B. Priestley wanted when he wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’, to show the British public that they should not repeat the mistakes of the past –  he wanted audiences to realise they are equal to each other and must look out for each other, no matter what their background.

J.B. Priestley said, “ We have to fight this great battle, not only with guns in the daylight, but alone in the night, communing with our souls, strengthening our faith that in common men everywhere there is a spring of innocent aspiration and good will that ...

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