Priestley's Main Aim in An Inspector Calls

Priestley's Main Aim in An Inspector Calls

Priestly’s main aim in An Inspector Calls is to draw attention to the

roles and consequences of capitalism in society and he achieves this

successfully. As he managed to shock audiences of the earlier decades

and through the play capitalist attitudes are portrayed as immoral and

hypocritical to a modern audience we can see that the play has been

successful to a certain extent. J.B. Priestly was born in 1894 and

lived through the war. This is important as he witnessed changes in

peoples’ attitudes before and after the year. In order to answer the

question, the text must be explored, as must the historical context.

It is found that the members of the older generation remain set in

their ways and are stubborn. Although the younger generation has been

brought up by the older generation, they are generally open to change,

but some cannot change because they have been strongly affected by the

existing society and are now set in their ways, for example Gerald

Croft. Some may see why people are changing but may be afraid to

change as their families and friends may turn away and then they would

be alone. Businesses and reputations would also be at stake. By

conveying this through a family, it becomes easier for the audience to

absorb small details that together convey Priestly’s view to the

audience.

An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 (at the end of the Second World

War) and was first produced in the same year, although it is set in

1912 before the First World War. This is a key factor in determining

the impact of the play. In one of Mr. Birling’s speeches at the

beginning of the play, he me...

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... may not have the same effect on members of the older

generation who are the people who are currently deciding our future.

The play has not been successful, however, as there was another world

war and there have been many wars since. At the moment, the world is

on the brink of war. If the leaders of the opposing sides were to

watch the play, they are unlikely to change their minds, as being

members of the older generation, they are set in their ways.

By drawing attention to the potential consequences of actions and

through exaggerated characters, Priestly achieves his aim. However,

although the play is successful in shocking audiences, it has not been

very successful in altering the course of the world. Attitudes have

turned towards the Socialist viewpoint but there are strong elements

of Capitalism in society today.