In the play, ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents ideas about [character/theme] by
creating a didactic message that the Inspector delivers to the Birling family. Through
the play, the Inspector creates a moral and social epiphany for Eric and Sheila.
However, Mr and Mrs Birling do not experience this same impact and therefore have
not discovered and learnt from their mistakes which adds to the social stratification.
Mr Birling
“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
Uses the titanic as a form of human progress whereas Priestley uses the titanic as a symbol
of capitalist ideas. The titanic represents progress, luxury and strength and the titanic sinking
represents Priestley’s view on the downfall of the systems government. Indicates the foolish
ideas of Mr Birling and how he is not all knowing and if he is wrong about modern history his
capitalist views are also unreliable. This turns the audience against Mr Birling. The repetition
of ‘unsinkable’ and the use of the verb ‘absolutely’ establishes his arrogance and
emphasises his certainty and confidence. The Titanic is a metaphor for Mr Birling and his
family due to them being ‘unsinkable’ which links to the idea that his family and capitalist
views are all indestructible which are then proved wrong by the inspector. The iceberg that
caused the titanic to sink represents the Inspector, who causes the Birlings to sink.
“Hard headed, practical man of business”
Priestley intentionally uses this quote as an allegory to Sir Baldwin. This is because it was in
the Labour’s Manifesto as the play was written in 1945, many readers would have been
voting therefore Priestley is perhaps asking London to vote for a fairer society because if not
they will be taught in “fire” “blood” and “anguish”. Priestley is using language to explore
the effects of capitalism and its lasting effects on society.
“As if we were mixed up together like bees in a hive”
Mr Birling feels superior, he cannot be mixed with the lower class. Calling the lower class
“bees” he is suggesting they are animals, dehumanising them & implying that their jobs in
this world is to gather honey (money) and report back to the hive (factories). Shows Mr
Birling is arrogant and selfish. He uses this simile to convey his dismissal of ideologies
surrounding community and social responsibility. The hive also represents socialistic thinking
yet Mr Birling is dismissive as he is a capitalist.
Priestley portrays Mr Birling as the epitome of a fundamentally flawed individual
ingrained with capitalist views and ideology.
Personifies the id persona as he worships and becomes a slave to his desires of money as
he is a capitalist and results in the chain of events that leads to Eva Smith’s death.
“Lower costs and higher prices”
Greed is one of the deadly sins. Mr Birling is very greedy and avaricious and does this at the
expense of more vulnerable people in society.
Mrs Birling
Tries to play God by turning Eva away from her charity. Could be trying to subvert the
stereotypes of women in patriarchal society by exerting control. Alternatively, Mrs Birling is
presented as a victim of Edwardian Society that offers few opportunities for women and
therefore has to act in a ‘cold’ manner
“Girls of that class”
creating a didactic message that the Inspector delivers to the Birling family. Through
the play, the Inspector creates a moral and social epiphany for Eric and Sheila.
However, Mr and Mrs Birling do not experience this same impact and therefore have
not discovered and learnt from their mistakes which adds to the social stratification.
Mr Birling
“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
Uses the titanic as a form of human progress whereas Priestley uses the titanic as a symbol
of capitalist ideas. The titanic represents progress, luxury and strength and the titanic sinking
represents Priestley’s view on the downfall of the systems government. Indicates the foolish
ideas of Mr Birling and how he is not all knowing and if he is wrong about modern history his
capitalist views are also unreliable. This turns the audience against Mr Birling. The repetition
of ‘unsinkable’ and the use of the verb ‘absolutely’ establishes his arrogance and
emphasises his certainty and confidence. The Titanic is a metaphor for Mr Birling and his
family due to them being ‘unsinkable’ which links to the idea that his family and capitalist
views are all indestructible which are then proved wrong by the inspector. The iceberg that
caused the titanic to sink represents the Inspector, who causes the Birlings to sink.
“Hard headed, practical man of business”
Priestley intentionally uses this quote as an allegory to Sir Baldwin. This is because it was in
the Labour’s Manifesto as the play was written in 1945, many readers would have been
voting therefore Priestley is perhaps asking London to vote for a fairer society because if not
they will be taught in “fire” “blood” and “anguish”. Priestley is using language to explore
the effects of capitalism and its lasting effects on society.
“As if we were mixed up together like bees in a hive”
Mr Birling feels superior, he cannot be mixed with the lower class. Calling the lower class
“bees” he is suggesting they are animals, dehumanising them & implying that their jobs in
this world is to gather honey (money) and report back to the hive (factories). Shows Mr
Birling is arrogant and selfish. He uses this simile to convey his dismissal of ideologies
surrounding community and social responsibility. The hive also represents socialistic thinking
yet Mr Birling is dismissive as he is a capitalist.
Priestley portrays Mr Birling as the epitome of a fundamentally flawed individual
ingrained with capitalist views and ideology.
Personifies the id persona as he worships and becomes a slave to his desires of money as
he is a capitalist and results in the chain of events that leads to Eva Smith’s death.
“Lower costs and higher prices”
Greed is one of the deadly sins. Mr Birling is very greedy and avaricious and does this at the
expense of more vulnerable people in society.
Mrs Birling
Tries to play God by turning Eva away from her charity. Could be trying to subvert the
stereotypes of women in patriarchal society by exerting control. Alternatively, Mrs Birling is
presented as a victim of Edwardian Society that offers few opportunities for women and
therefore has to act in a ‘cold’ manner
“Girls of that class”
