• In the enigmatic play ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley shows how inequality in society leads to tragedy especially to the character Eva Smith. J.B Priestley was a notable socialist who believed in a society where everyone is equal and looks after each other.The inequality and injustice faced by Eva from the Birlings causes a chain of events which each member of the family played a part which ultimately leads to tragedy in this case the suicide of Eva Smith in which she ‘swallowed a lot of a strong disinfectant’ which ‘burnt her inside out.’Priestley uses grotesque,visual language highlights the devastating effects of inequality in society and enforces his own socialist views. This evokes an emotional response from the audience and instills fear in them as they see the unfiltered result of inequality in society.It could be argued that Eva Smith’s suffering and suicide is used as a metaphor to highlight the need for society to change or there will be consequences.
Priestley uses the inspector’s final speech to enforce his own socialist views
and to show how society must change or there will be tragedy and “they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish.” Priestley could be referring to war and suggests that if society does not change, inequality could result in war and the loss of many lives.Alternatively, ‘Fire and blood and anguish’ are heavily associated with hell.The biblical overtone and hellish imagery and connotations may have been used to suggest what will happen to the members of society who aren’t willing to change. The rule of three is used when the inspector says, “fire and blood and anguish” and this emphasises how society will be destroyed if capitalist views and social inequality continue.
• Priestley powerfully explores inequality in society between the upper and lower class. This is exemplified through the character of Mrs Birling. This is evident through the comment ‘girls of that class’. The diminutive noun ‘girls’ in this declarative sentence creates a tone of disgust implying that Mrs Birling was disgusted by the lower class and the use of a declarative sentence shows how her mindset is fixed. This mindset was reflected in many Edwardian upper-class women who saw the lower class as inferior and detached themselves from them. We see how Mrs Birling’s distain to the lower class ultimately leads to her turning away Eva and depriving her of help and leaving her in an extremely vulnerable state which leads her to commit suicide. This was a common plight for lower class, unmarried pregnant women. Many risked backstreet abortions rather than facing the stigma of having a child out of marriage. Priestley personifies the lower class through his use of the character Eva Smith and uses a common name to subtly emphasise how many faced the same issue as Eva. Thus, emphasising how inequality in society can lead to tragedy.
• Priestley also explores impact of gender and how the inequality within society.The play was first performed in 1945-a time of great social change.The role of women within society had improved due to them engaging in a more prominent role in the workplace during World War 2.This lead to an alteration of stereotypical perceptions of women. The impact of gender roles is explored through the character of Eva Smith, who was sexually exploited by both Gerald and Eric. Gerald describes the character Eva Smith / Daisy Renton using the adjectives “young, fresh and charming” this off hand manner and only physical description of Eva suggests that, in his eyes, she was just someone of little substance that he could amuse himself with until he decided he no longer needed her.As a desperate woman facing poverty, Eva Smith was a vulnerable target to exploitation. In the Edwardian Era,upperclass men often took advantage of desperate women for entertainment. On another occasion Eva is sexually assaulted by Eric, Eric abuses his power as an upper-class man to force into Eva’s room as he ‘threatened to make a row’. The verb threatened highlights his forceful nature as he takes advantage of Eva as a woman. In the Edwardian Era women were expected to be subservient to men. Eric’s gender allowed him to sexually assault Eva impregnating her with his child whom he has no means to support them with. Consequently,inequality within society is seen to be capable of leading to tragedy.