An inspector calls

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Class

The play focuses on issues of social class. Class is a large factor, indirectly, in the events of the play and Eva Smith’s death. This is very mch due to the time An Inspector calls was set in. Mrs. Birling, Priestley notes, is her husband’s social superior, just as Gerald will be Sheila’s social superior if they do get married. Priestley also subtly notes that Gerald’s mother, Lady Croft, disapproves of Gerald’s marrying Sheila for precisely this reason. Finally, everyone’s treatment of Eva might be put down to the fact that she is a girl, as Mrs. Birling puts it, “of that class.” Priestley clearly was interested in the class system and how it determines the decisions that people make.

Youth and age

The play implicitly draws out a significant contrast between the older and younger generations of Birlings. While Arthur and Sybil refuse to accept responsibility for their actions toward Eva Smith (Arthur, in particular, is only concerned for his reputation and his potential knighthood), Eric and especially Sheila are shaken by the Inspector’s message and their role in Eva Smith’s suicide. The younger generation is taking more responsibility, perhaps because they are more emotional and idealistic, but perhaps because Priestley is suggesting a hope for the future of britain for how the future will be.

Responsibility and Avoiding It

Though responsibility itself is a central theme of the play, the last act of the play provides a fascinating portrait of the way that people can let themselves off the hook. If one message of the play is that we must all care more thoroughly about the general welfare, it is clear that the message is not shared by all. By contrasting Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald with Sheila and Eric. Sheila is shocked when she fins out that she played a part and Eric acts responsible when trying to pay for his child and by saying that him and Mrs Birling did a bad thing and

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