J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

The play was written at the end of the Second World War, and performed

a year later; it tells the tale of how a middle class family from the

midlands are tied up inexplicably with the fate of a young woman who

tragically commits suicide. It is set in 1912 (two years before the

First World War) in the fictional town of Brumley.

The fact that the play was set just before world war one is very

significant to the message within the play. The gap between the upper

classes and the working classes was very large, and thus there was a

great social prejudice between these classes, something which plays a

massive part in the play. It has to be understood that Priestly, the

writer of the play, had been alive during both world wars, and wanted

to express how even though Britain had been through the two most

significant events of recent history, her society hadn't changed much

since before the two great wars. Living conditions for the working

class was still very bad, with most people earning barely enough money

to get feed themselves, let alone their families. Poverty was also

rife in these conditions, as there was no national health service, and

therefore many of the working classes contracted (what we would

consider trivial) medical conditions that many died from. The next

step up from working class was middle class, which consisted of

wealthy families (mostly those heading a business), often of high

social standing (e.g. Mr. Birling being an ex-mayor and a magistrate).

Evidently, these families could afford amenities such as a health

service, and plenty of money with which to raise a family. Slightly

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...or example, when he mentions

"community and all that nonsense", Birling should wave his hand as

though he is making a half-hearted attempt at swatting a fly,

therefore dismissing the idea in an instant. Also, Birling should

sound proud when he says "I've learnt from the good hard school of

experience", as if he has achieved something by using this "school".

In conclusion, I believe that Birling is an essential character to the

general message of the play, as he is the epitome of Britain at the

time at which the play was set - the way in which Britain changed

through times of war was tantamount to how Birling changed when the

inspector started his questioning. Along with the inspector, Birling

is the most important character in the play, conveying a message about

how the playwright perceived Britain to be at the time.