In Act 1 Birling discusses how the world is developing. On the progress of the Titanic he pronounces “The Titanic -she sails next week- forty- six thousand eight hundred tons. New York in five days – and every luxury- and unsinkable absolutely unsinkable”. This speech from Mr Birling is said extremely confidently. He is definite in his opinion, however the audience know otherwise, as Priestley has set his play before the event of the Titanic the audience already know the consequence of Mr Birling’s prediction. This is an effect of dramatic irony. Mr Birling’s inaccurate predictions set the tone that the audience are not likely to have faith in Mr Birling’s views.
Another example is when Mr Birling voices his opinion on the war “I say there isn’t a chance of war. The world is developing so fast that it will make war impossible”. Again the audience know that not only has the world been inflicted with the first but also a second world war. The Inspector’s statement in his final speech that "they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish" indicating that there will be a war, is elevated by the use of dramatic irony. This makes the audience believe the socialist views of the Inspector instead of the 'foolish' views of Mr Birling. The audience do not place any confidence on Mr Birlings self opinionated views. The play mentions the fact that Mr Birling believes there will be no war but the audience know otherwise. Priestley chose to show his play in this year as feeling of war was strong and the thought of what had happened would be in the back of the audiences’ minds. Therefore, after the play the audience may have thought twice about what they did and the consequences of their actions could have even lead to death.
People will feel bereaved having the memories fresh in their minds from their experiences of going through the war and the fact that it did take place and Mr Birling was wrong, this creates animosity towards Mr Birling who is unrealistic as he is narrow-minded.
Priestley shows the difference between the upper and lower classes very strongly throughout the play. This can be seen in the snobbery of the Birling family representing the upper-class and Eva Smith as a representative of the Lower Class. The audience will feel extremely sympathetic towards Eva Smith/Daisy Renton as she was treated like vermin and does not draw any respect from any of the Birling family.
Also in Act1 Birling talks about “peace among workers” but in 1917 the Russian revolution came about where workers were revolting against capitalists. This is important to the play as Eva Smith had been demanding for higher wages too. Preistley had lived through the Russian revolution so he knew all that happened. This again is an example of dramatic irony. The speech Mr Birling makes about peace among workers gives an impression as though he would make sure workers are looked after but of course he is very hypocritical as he himself did not allow his own worker Eva Smith a pay rise and did not want to take accountability for her death.
Mrs Birling played a huge part in the suicide of Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton, as she came to Mrs Birlings Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation which was set up to help women in distress. Mrs Birling had a strong sense of how people of different classes should behave. Daisy Renton was in desperate help she was homeless, hungry, pregnant and poor. When Mrs Birlings ask of her name she said her name was Mrs Birling, Mrs Birling dislike for her increased even more so much she believed it was “simply a piece of gross impertinence – quite deliberate” believed she had told a “pack of lies” and wasn’t one of the “deserving cases”. Daisy Renton had told Mrs Birling about the father of the child and how he was a “youngster- silly and wild and drinking too much”.
Mrs Birling blamed her husband for not supporting her and says that “I blame the young man who was the father of the child she was going to have. If, as she said, he didn’t belong to her class, and was some drunken young idler, then that’s all the more reason why he shouldn’t escape. He should be made an example of. If the girl’s death is due to anybody then it’s due to him”. Mrs Birling believes the young man is the chief culprit she describes Daisy Renton as “giving herself ridiculous airs. She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position”. This shows Mrs Birling has the same disrespectful attitude of Mr Birling. And for that reason she refused to help Daisy Renton.
Once the Inspector has finished questioning Mrs Birling the audience know that there is only one person whom the Inspector has not questioned and that is Eric. We know that he is the last person to be questioned and we find out what Eric is about to find out before he does, when Mrs Birling states “If you take some steps to find this young man and then make sure he is compelled to confess in public his responsibility- instead of staying her asking quite unnecessary questions then you really would be doing your duty”, the Inspector then waits and when Mrs Birling asks what he is waiting for he simply says “to do my duty”. We know from these words that the Inspector is waiting to question Eric this creates tension and the audience know what the Inspector will want to question Eric about and whether Eric was the chief culprit.
