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An Inspector Calls: Theme Of Responsibility

I have done my first essay of a theme of inspector calls. Please could you give me some feedback if possible and if possible, a predicted grade or score out of 34 will be much appreciated. Enjoy!

In Priestley’s allegorical play, the theme of responsibility is registered throughout the Birling’s as Priestley constructs an individual sin through each member. He aims to indicate the hellish connection between capitalists and Hell - advancing an utmost warning of a dominated state of capitalism.

In Priestley’s moral play, the theme of responsibility is firstly constructed through Mr Birling - enveloping his greed for his “business”. Mr Birling is casted as this evolved “practical man of business”. The irony exemplifies throughout his “portentous” humour really encapsulates how a capitalistic dominated state presents itself as idiotic. This further emphasises Priestley’s aim to capitate this warning of a domestic society brought through the dominance of capitalists which leads them to cast this inevitable spell upon society; encouragement of supporting this social responsibility throughout. The adjective of his “ practical” statues mimics this almost training of a “business man” and how Birling perhaps illustrated as this practiced obstruction typically designed to almost utter this warning which Priestley embedded of what a capitalist society would portray. It could further be produced that Birling perhaps under this supernatural incantation which leaves him in a state of relying on this “business” of his but yet could become this signifying warning of Priestley’s yet again trying to communicate towards the audience what a capitalistic statues attaches within itself. This evokes Priestley’s crafting of the Birling’s and how he intends to highlight their individual sin to convey how capitalists are this undergoing substitute of Hell - casting a prominent role within society. Mr Birling’s desire of greed is provoked throughout his protagonist which he further almost seduces this social “community” but also implies his lack of responsibility through his sin of greed. This greed almost makes him self-centred which would make it obvious for his lack of responsibility for Eva’s driven suicide. Birling emphasises further on of how we are “like beas” in our “hive”. This discrimination towards socialists rapidly confesses a capitalistic behaviour and how their hubris actions impact society as a whole. During the contemporary time of the released play - Labour was voted in which made society look at a more approachable way towards one another. It could be implied that Birling’s presentation of a greed character can be morally implicated that such matter of hubristic remakes being brought to great consequence: corruptive state. The animalistic terminology of “bees” exemplify this socialistic interpretation, however Mr Birling is indicated to evoke this socialist ideology and use it as this weapon of his to claim his uttermost greed he desires. This further mirrors the hellish nature of a capitalist in society; contorting of how hell is metaphorically linked to a capitalist’s statues. Furthermore, it links back to the theme of responsibility and how he interprets the socialistic‘a response of responsibility and Alamo exploits it; warning the audience further of what a capitalistic state will become.

Furthermore,Mr Birling’s obstruction of this hubristic character who inflicts the sin of greed is sponsored through Birlings’s lack of power and factuality due to his statement of the “titanic” is “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” The ironic phrase of the titanic being “unsinkable” depicts the idiotic nature of a capitalist which further suggests a warning of dominated capitalists. The verb of “unsinkable” highlights Birling’s expressive character and how this could lead to many difficulties in the future. The verb could symbolically represent how capitalists are implied to be “unsinkable” but perhaps Priestley conclude such irony to communicate the possibility that everything is sinkable; the hellish connection between capitalists can become sinkable as well. Further highlighting Birling’s lack of responsibility as he does not take the fact of responsible for commenting the incorrect events. His lack of responsibility is conveyed through the way he does not admit towards his incorrectness as a capitalist, indicating this warning of a corrupt society.

Priestley’s didactic play, the theme of responsibility is constructed again through the envious character of Sheila’s character, evoking this attached devilish connotation of capitalists. It can be said that the Birlings is this symbolic stimulation who almost foreshadows this dominated society full of capitalists; compels others to comply. Shiela is implied to debate her jealousy over Sheila by committing the fact that “If she'd been some miserable plain little creature, I don't suppose I'd have done it”. The triadic structure of “miserable plain little creature” emphasises the deceitful nature a capitalist provokes on another in society which envelopes their hubristic beings - certainly through Sheila’s character. Priestley evokes her sin to be envy towards society to show how capitalists have this aspect of devilish side to them. The use of animalistic terminology emphasises the envious nature of her character further depicting a warning of what may occur if capitalists dominates society. The adjective of “plain” connotes to how working class members were treated and almost stripped from their humanity due to their inherited class. This exemplifies the theme of responsibility as Shiela is highlighted to accept her part - admitting her envious behaviour - but implicitly refuses to accept full responsibility as she comments on she “supposed I wouldn’t have done it”. However, Priestley perhaps outlines this minuscule amount of responsibility to show how the future generation is gradually supporting a socialistic society - taking responsibility for their own actions. This again warns the audience as it almost foreshadows what a future we have ahead in a social society; that “we are responsible for each other”. Furthermore, the hellish reference of “creature” portrays her deceitful capitalistic nature which further highlights this link to Hell and the Supernatural. The “creature” described could be obstructed to highlight how capitalists saw others in society, but in repair Priestley attempts to almost leak aspects of Hell itself within society, warning the audience further of what a dominated society would appear if capitalists took over: Hell. Priestley mimics this place of hell to again highlight the connection between capitalists and Devil, but perhaps to construct this agitation towards the contemporary audience; compelling them to discredit a capitalistic society.

Additionally, Priestley constructs the theme of responsibility through Mrs Birling through her sin of pride to evoke her linked nature to a supernatural element: Hell. Mrs Birling is implicated to lack this responsibility as she debates with the Inspector of “what’s happened to the girl since, I consider I did my duty. So if I prefer not to discuss it any further, you have no power to make me change my mind”. The personal pronouns of “I” and “my” outline her prideful character and how she almost compels the Inspector to back down as she highlights that he has “no power to change my mind”. This further indicates capitalistic connotations of how Mrs Birling is lacking her remorse upon this girl which leaves her to become this self-absorbed character within the play; revolving around her statues of a capitalist for an accuse of refusal to take responsibility. This perhaps is forced upon Mrs Birling by her husband because in the Edwardian society, men were dominated objections who were treated by their wives and also ‘played’ with their wives for their entertainment. This wouldn’t have surprised the audience through this compulsion of persuasion because of the expectation of a men’s role and a women’s role in society; Priestley highlights his moral message of attempting to warn what a capitalistic society would convey, forcing the audience to change their ideology to socialism. The imperative outcome of “cannot” exemplifies her capitalistic statues and how she uses her “power” to almost disregard the Inspector’s requires to proceed. The constant rejection of listening towards the Inspector exemplifies Mrs Birling’s lack of responsibility. The omnipotent implication of this “power” implies this supernatural involvement where it could be interpreted that she has called upon the Supernatural for power to overcome a masculine format: Inspector and her husband in ways. In Edwardian times, Supernatural was a big factor which stirred society to fear it but also would have seen common for women to achieve dominance through others. Furthermore, Mrs Birling commits that she “did my duty” which emphasises the lack of responsibility as she enforced this euphemism of what she really did: disregarding Eva. The euphemism of “duty” highlights this obscured aspect as Mrs Birling doesn’t quite exactly highlight what she has done towards Eva. Perhaps this “duty” could involve how the Supernatural has possessed her character, giving her this power of pride to take control with her capitalistic state. This is further prompted to warn the audience of a what a capitalistic domination would look like; highlighting their sins to show how capitalism is corruptive.

Conclusively, Priestley uses the theme of responsibility by constructing it throughout the Birling’s by attaching their individual sins. Priestley aims to capture the audience; evoking this warning of what a capitalistic society would bring into the world: evilness and hubris remarks. Perhaps Priestley conveys the individual Birling members as different sins through the theme of responsibility to convey how each capitalist society implies their lacking of responsibility through their excuse of their sin.

Reply 1

forneims1963

Quite a good essay, the only thing is that the second paragraph is heavily loaded, as for me. If you break it down into several paragraphs and clearly highlight your message in each paragraph, it will be easier to understand your idea.