an inspector calls

Priestley presents the character of Mr. Birling as a symbol of the capitalist society of 1912 and how desperately socialist ideals were needed during that period.
Priestley begins by presenting Mr. Birling as a successful, albeit, ‘hard headed business man’. It is evident from the stage directions that describe ‘The dining-room of a fairly large suburban house, belonging to a prosperous manufacturer’ that Birling is rich and materialistically victorious. He is a role model for a capitalist society due to the fact that he has achieved his financial and capitalist goals.
Once Birling’s worldly triumph is settled, Priestley sabotages his character through presenting Mr. Birling as oblivious. With the play being set before WW2, dramatic irony is utilized when Birling utters ‘There isn’t chance of war’. Here the audience is aware of the fact that he is in error, and therefore perceive that Birling’s certainty is foolish- he is an unintellectual man. Moreover, this is validated when he says that the soon to sail Titanic is ‘absolutely unsinkable’. The audience may feel there is a confutati...