Summary
Highlights
The Titanic, proclaimed 'unsinkable' by Mr. Birling just before its sinking in 1912, serves as an example of dramatic irony. This event discredits Birling's capitalist views and highlights his ignorance, reinforcing Priestley's critique of the upper classes through symbolism, suggesting their eventual 'sinking.'
Mr. Birling's assertion that there will be no more war, particularly referring to the First World War as 'the war to end all wars,' is another instance of dramatic irony. Given that the play was performed after both World Wars, the audience knew his prediction was false, further portraying him as a 'buffoon' and discrediting the capitalist mindset seen as leading to such conflicts.
The Labour Party's landslide victory in 1945, replacing Winston Churchill, reflected a public desire for socialist policies. Priestley's play, originally intended for performance before this election, aimed to persuade the audience towards a socialist government. The welfare state, including the NHS and unemployment benefits, emerged from this shift, contrasting with the failures of charity represented by Sybil Birling who embodies the argument for a state welfare system to combat class prejudice. These points contribute to Grade 6 and 7 explanations.
The characters in 'An Inspector Calls' embody the seven deadly sins: Eric and Gerald (lust), Mr. Birling (greed), Sheila (envy), and Mrs. Birling (pride). This aligns the play with the Christian morality play tradition, where characters represent vices to teach moral lessons, reinforcing the Christian message of collective responsibility and helping achieve Grade 7.
Karl Marx's critique of capitalism, emphasizing exploitation of the working class (symbolized by Eva) and prophesying war as an endpoint of capitalist expansion, is central to the play. Mr. Birling's self-description as a 'hard-headed man of business' directly references Sir Stanley Baldwin's critique of WWII profiteers, signaling a Marxist perspective and advocating for a socialist solution.
Priestley uses symbolic and ironic names: 'Arthur' Birling ironically contrasts with King Arthur's fairness, while 'Sybil' (from Sibylline oracles) ironically signifies wisdom, highlighting Mrs. Birling's ignorance. 'Eva' (Eve) elevates the working class by connecting her to the 'mother of all humanity,' and 'Daisy Renton' symbolizes her vulnerability and objectification by men like Gerald, with 'Renton' suggesting she is 'for rent' or disposable, highlighting societal exploitation.
Inspector Goole's name ('ghoul') hints at a supernatural element. This foreshadows a circular ending where the future death occurs only because the Birlings refuse to learn their lesson. This supernatural twist, combined with the inspector's role in teaching moral lessons to a sinful capitalist, directly alludes to Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol,' reinforcing the Christian message and the theme of transformation and social responsibility.
The general strike of 1926, and the broader civil unrest post-WWI, saw working classes uniting against capitalist exploitation. Priestley's warning, 'if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish,' directly references this historical period of strikes and suffering caused by capitalist greed.
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 and the subsequent Great Depression led to mass unemployment and exacerbated working-class suffering, highlighting the need for state intervention and welfare. Priestley reminds the audience of these events to advocate for a socialist government, arguing that it can prevent such historical cycles of hardship, thereby making the case for voting Labour in the 1945 election a key message of the play.
The Inspector's words, 'We are members of one body,' directly echo Christian mass teachings. Priestley uses this to argue that true Christian values align with socialism, not capitalism, implying that a Christian cannot be a capitalist due to the inherent social responsibility in Christian doctrine. This point alone can achieve a Grade 5.