To What Extent Can The Audience Feel Sympathy With The Birlings?
An Inspector Calls was written by J.B. Priestly and was set in 1912, but it was not actually performed until thirty-four years later. The affect this had on the play was great, because in that time there were two world wars, the depression and the rise of Socialism. It shows capitalists to be uncaring and self interested with making money. When the play was performed, it was done so at a time of high morale, where people lived in a community where everyone wanted to look after each other making sure everyone had a good life. By the time the play was performed, the audience were able to sympathise with his socialist views. In 1912 England was a Capitalist country, and Priestly wanted to show how he thought that this was not the way, in which England should be run. The system had a lack of equality, and the rich were rich and the poor were poor. Priestly thought that by writing this play, he could help make people realise this needed to change.
Firstly Mr Birling. He is a character we find it hard to sympathise with. He’s head of the Birlings household and he believes that if you want to get somewhere in life you have to work hard to earn your living. Now that he’s done that he’s become very selfish and arrogant. Mr Birling said “the Titanic is unsinkable and war would never happen with Germany”. This is dramatic irony as it shows he is not always right as the titanic does sink. He also shows how uncaring and un considerate he can be. When Mr Birling finds out Eva Smith is dead, the inspector says that her sacking was one reason that contributed to her death, Mr Birling denies any involvement and really if you like could not give a care less about her. We know this because he says “yes a horrid business, but I don’t see why you should come here” He is basically trying to wiggle himself out of trouble. He also says “…. It had nothing to do with that wretched girl’s suicide”. By Mr Birling using the word “wretched” about Eva Smith, It is clear that he’s unconcerned about the fact that a woman has died, and would just like to forget the whole thing. As it was performed in 1945 the majority of the audience would have had socialist views and so they would have not been able to show much sympathy towards him.
