An inspector calls, How does Priestly explore the theme of responsibility?

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How does Priestly explore the theme responsibility in An Inspector Calls?

In the play ‘An inspector calls’ Priestly explores the theme of responsibility through the nature of the characters. Priestly uses responsibility to reveal the ignorance and materialistic behaviour of 1912 society. He uses this as a warning to his 1945m audience of the consequences of their actions and how they must change their ways in order to become a functional society.

Priestly uses the character of Mr birling as an example to his audience the ignorance of capitalism and his refusal to take collective or social responsibility. In act one Mr birling says he has no one else to take care of but ‘his own’ revealing his arrogance as the pronoun ‘his’ implies he is entitled and possessiveness of his own family. This further show his lack of emotion towards anyone else as he will only take care of his own. Perhaps he views those below him as nuances unworthy of his care or protection. Further displaying his cold personality as, he would rather protect and be responsible for those who are well provided for rather than his own workers slaving away for his own profit. Mr birling further reveals his immorality by saying” I can’t take responsibility for this”. Implying that he thinks that sacking Eva from his factor would contribute to her suicide. Mr birling feeds himself with the delusion of him being a responsible and good ‘businessman’ ready for his ‘knighthood’. The word knighthood suggests a person who protects those around him and takes responsibility for their actions which Mr birling thinks he is. By the end of the play Mr birling becomes desperate, instead of taking responsibility he tries to ‘pay hundreds or thousands’ suggesting that he would rather save his own image then admit his own actions and face the consequences. Mr birling believes that he can pay his way out of responsibility. This also shows his lack of sympathy towards the lower class as he takes the death of Eva so lightly that money could wash away his sins and justify Eva’s death. Priestly has personified capitalism to warn his audience of the selfishness and ignorance of capitalism. Like Mr birling those of the 1912 society were narrow minded and blinded by money, if capitalism infects the younger generation, society will become corrupt with inequality increasing between the rich and poor.

Priestly also uses the character of Mrs birling to demonstrate the arrogance and lack of moral responsibility of the higher class. She describes Eva as ”girls of that class” suggesting that she views people by their class instead of their personalities which fuels her lack of responsibility towards Eva’s death. This implies that Mrs birling sees the lower class as a group instead of individuals revealing her lack of humanity. She views the lower class as a stain to society and even the thought of them was revolting for her. Mrs Birlings true nature is revealed during her investigation with the inspector as she says ‘’go look for the father of the child. it’s his responsibility’’ showing how instead of taking responsibility for her actions she tries to push the blame onto the father of the child, implying that she was not ashamed of what she had done nor had a bit of respect for the lower class. This suggests that Mrs birling has no sense of responsibility or morality within her as she herself is a mother turning away another desperate mother. Her seemingly confidant façade is completely shattered once she realises that her own son is the father. Perhaps Mrs birling had not taken responsibility for Eva as she wanted to feel powerful. As the 1912 society was a patriarchal society where men had power. Implying Mrs birling wanted power over Eva to feel a sense of authority over the lower class as she had the power to destroy their lives. Priestly uses Mrs birling to inform his audience that refusing to take responsibility with have grave consequences.

The development of Sheila and her willingness to take responsibility represents the hope that the younger generation have the ability to change and abolish capitalism. At the start of the play Sheila has a childish demeanour calling her mother “mommy” implying she has been treated like royalty all her life without lifting a finger. She does not think about those beneath her as she ‘enjoys’ her life without the worry of money. Then through her investigation with the inspector Sheila realises her mistake and takes responsibility for it saying ‘it was my own fault’. This shows that Sheila has become emotionally mature and feels a sense of guilt as she realises her role in Eva’s death. Rather than staying silent and accepting responsibility she decides to help the inspector acting as his proxy, she goes against her parents capitalist ideology. Sheila not only wants to take responsibility herself but wants her family and Gerald to take responsibility and feel burdened with the guilt of causing Eva’s death. She says “Mother don’t build a wall he’ll just brake it down”. The words Mother suggests that Sheila has developed her own ideology and taken in the message the inspector brings. Sheila does not want her mother to embarrass herself as the inspector knows all. This shows how Sheila wants her family to feel a moral sense of responsibility for what they have done and learn from it. Sheila acting as the Inspectors proxy could also suggest that this is her way of saying sorry to Eva. As the death of Eva is weighing on her shoulders and her mind as she cannot even apologise for her actions or her family’s. Sheila accepts responsibility to also give a sense of relief to Eva as her death was not in vain as Sheila will deliver justice for her death. Priestly uses the character of Sheila to send his socialist message to his audience that there is still hope in the younger generation as they have an open mind and as the future generation they can stop capitalism, creating a society where all is included and happy.

Reply 1

EdwinDeRozarieux

(Disclaimer: I am not an examiner! I did do this exam last year, though, so I'll mark you how my teachers would have done.)
What went well:
- Good use of quotes
- Some good advanced vocab
- You clearly know lots about the text
- Great Shelia paragraph – I can tell she’s your favourite character lol
Even better if:
- Confusion of homophones (Break and brake, Confident and confidant, etc)
- Improper capitalisation in some places
- Some spelling & grammar mistakes
Specific things:
- A knighthood is an award given in the UK to those who have contributed to society, doesn’t mean literally being made a knight
- Shelia calling her mum “mommy” more implies that she is childish, not that she is spoiled.
- “Nonce” is probably too informal for an exam
- “Mr Birling feeds himself with the delusion” and “Priestley has personified capitalism” are fantastic! Wish I’d thought of that during my exam!
Next steps:
- Brush up on your homophones & 1912 context
- Read through your work after you write it
Grade: High 5/low 6. Not half bad!

Reply 2

Ameera;)

Thankyou

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