Flaws In Capitalism In The Inspector Calls

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In the play The Inspector Calls, Priestley successfully shows the flaws in capitalism by collective responsibility throughout the play.The word “ Capitalism “ Has connotations of a system controlled by private owners for money rather than state, The word “ Socialism” has connotations of a community which the production, distribution and money should be owned as a community or a whole.

The Book was written near the end of world war 2 and the play was acted out in 1946, during his life, Britain was run by Capitalist Rules and as a socialist, he thinks that society then was unfair, during the rule of the capitalists, working classes had no rights but women in rich families avoid this and live a life of luxury, for working women, they need to …show more content…

First Gerald meets Eva or Daisy in a Pub and she was close to prostitution so Gerald ate with her and moved her into a set of housings his friend had(but he moved to Canada for 9 months), then Gerald had an affair with Daisy and then they broke up, Gerald giving Daisy money to live her on for the rest of her life, in Gerald’s story, he helps Daisy by giving her something to eat, giving her temporary housing that she doesn’t need to pay for and then later broke off after having an affair, The reason for the break-up was because of their class difference, This would be shocking for the reader as Gerald is a capitalist and helping a lower class socialist would be like a sin but he does say to the inspector” I didnt install her there so I could not make love for her, I installed her there because I felt sorry for her” before the quote it says(Carefully saying to the inspector), this implies that he does not want to say this to Shelia cause she might disapprove this. Eric does help Daisy by giving her money to live on until she can take any more, but because of his lust for girls, he raped her and made her pregnant and after told her that he didnt love her, If Gerald would have kept her longer and not have an affair, He would …show more content…

At the start, she was fired form Mr Birling’s factory for asking for a payrise for all the workers, then she got fired from Milwards because of Sheila, then she changed her name and was close to prostitution but then met Gerald, after having an affair, Gerald broke up the relationship and she went, then Eric saw her and raped her, after she got pregnant and broke up, Then Daisy went to Mrs Birling and asked for help but Mrs Birling refused, this led to her suicide, during most of her life, she lived in lodgings and did not have a job, if she was living right now, the council would give her a temporary housing and jobseekers allowance to fund her until she has a job, if she was pregnant and had no help, the council would give her money for food and clothes, and for help, she would go to a community center and they would give her assistance right away and not reject, there are differences how people care for each other in 1912 and right now.

The Inspector is the lone voice in this play, reflecting Priestley’s socialist views and reminding each character of their moral and social responsibility. He challenges each characters deeply held belief and reveals how their selfish capitalist views have destroyed someone’s life
To conclude, I think Priestley has successfully shown the flaws of capitalism by using family members form a capitalist

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