In 'An Inspector Calls', J. B. Priestley reveals the flaws of society and the darker side of capitalism as well as the bias of class and social status. As a firm believer in the concepts of socialism, he uses this play to expose society's poor attitudes to the working class of the period. This play focuses on the Birlings, a rich, upper class family during the reign of King Edward VII. Their treatment of Eva Smith reflects on how many of the working class may have been treated by their social superiors. Many upper class families of the time were only concerned with individual gain and profit and it is this superfluous materialism which Priestley tries to uncover. Her encounters with each of the members of the family prove that class and society were exceptionally important issues of the time and class mixing was not socially tolerated. The Inspector is Priestley's tool to expose society's weaknesses in the play. He appears to know everything about the family's involvement with Eva before they reveal their secrets.
Birling was asked why he simply did not raise their pay by the minuscule amount they had requested; he dismissed the idea as preposterous and thought it was ridiculous that the Inspector would even suggest the idea. He does not fall into society's trap of treating his social superiors with exceptional civility as he realises they may be his social superiors but, they are his moral inferiors. He is concerned with the idea of community and society and how we should all take care of each other. After leaving Milwards, Eva had been left destitute and had been told by a friend that prostitution was a straightforward way of making money quickly. It was a very good opportunity for her as here she could earn a little more money then she could by working in any factory or production line at that time. Birling's view, the 'nonsense' notion of community. He does not seem as angry with the children, Sheila and Eric, especially Sheila as he says he can 'work on the younger ones' as they are more impressionable. Birling was making a long speech on how 'a man has to make his own way' and Britain was never going to go to war with Germany and the Titanic was never going to sink. He tried to help Eva when he found she was pregnant by giving her money, but she refused as she knew that the money had been stolen. Birling's factory earning an insufficient twenty-two and six a week. Sheila was so envious and irascible that she complained to Eva's supervisor and demanded that he should have Eva dismissed or she would never enter the shop again. 'Sheila, who regularly visited Milwards, was choosing a dress one day and was told by Eva that the one that she had selected would not suit her. As Birling is telling the younger generations his frightfully narrow-minded ideas of the world it is no surprise that the Inspector enters after Birling's speech is finished to 'teach us all a lesson'.
