Social Attitudes and Political Views in An Inspector Calls

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Priestley's character's usually represent social attitudes and political views (Nightingale). How does Priestley convey his beliefs through the Inspector and Birling family? Priestley conveys his beliefs through the Inspector and the Birling family in various ways. Priestly believed in ?social conscience? that we are all responsible for each other. Priestly never believed in the class system as he thought it was very unjust and divided everyone, especially poorer people, in a poorer way. Priestly?s view is shown through the Inspector in a rather convincing way which makes the audience think like an inspector. The inspector is the voice of reason, justice and socialism. In the play Birling believes in the ?Survival of the fittest? This is a motto that the inspector and Priestley do not believe. Birling believes that only the rich have the right to live and the poor and the disabled do not. Priestly has conveyed his believes in a dramatic style ? Birling is the antithesis to the Inspector which creates a successful contrast. We get a hint of Birling?s social snobbery when he says, ?When Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together- for lower costs and higher prices? This shows us how Birling regards money ? it is one of the, if not the most important thing in his life. Priestley sees Birling?s wealth as a problem ? if he didn?t have the money factory Birling would probably show more empathy towards people. Priestley believed people who have money think they are very important and do not emphasise with poorer people. He believed that it is very unjust because you cannot chose the family you are born in. Priestly?s political views are shown when Birling refers to be Lord Mayor, he believes th... ... middle of paper ... ...ildish- trying not to fact the facts? She understands that the police inspector is there to be his social conscience and so it does not matter if he was really an inspector. Sheila becomes a ?mini inspector? as she approaches his way of thinking. She is the only one who realises Eric was the person who the Inspector was talking about. She even tries to explain to Sybil Birling who at first takes no notice, ?Mother- I begged you and begged you to stop? In the novel, Priestley uses Birling to the antithesis of the Inspector whereas Sheila supports him. At the end, the audience should be on the side of Eva and the Inspector and against Birling because of his coldness. The audience should also like Sheila more because she is really caring- she even begins to question her own fiancé about the death of ?the victim? rather than focus on her own betrayed feelings.

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