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Theme Of Capitalism In An Inspector Calls

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In his play, An Inspector Calls, JB Priestley explores numerous ideas of responsibility. Priestley utilizes the setting of the play (1912) when socio-economic disparity between the upper and working class was high, and juxtaposes it with the social context of when the play was performed (1945), when aspects of socialism were growing rapidly in Britain. This creates dramatic irony and reflects the view of audiences first attending the play. He achieves this by using the mysterious nature of Inspector Goole, who pressures the upper-class Birling family to admit responsibility for the death of Eva Smith (a working class woman), to embody socialist Britain; exploiting the affluent and pompous Mr Birling to represent the unwillingness of Capitalism …show more content…

When Mr Birling was accused of firing Eva, he persistently defended his actions - citing the wages of the labour force and how “they wanted the rates raised … I refused, of course”. As Birling blankly denies a rise in production costs, it can be interpreted that he takes a business-minded, practical approach towards his workers and considers Eva Smith as a mere piece of labour. The phrase ‘of course’ at the end of his statement is important because it signifies finality - that Birling dismisses the idea of a wage rise as ridiculous. His view at the start of the play is furthered when he states: 'if we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?’ The phrase ‘wouldn't it’ highlights Birling’s sarcasm towards the concept of interlinked responsibility - therefore indicating that he firmly decides to hold no accountability for any actions, and views social responsibility as nonsense. He justifies this principle with the adjective ‘awkward’ suggesting that Birling ignores his social responsibility because he would find it embarrassing and uncomfortable to help the working class. This relates to the attitudes of the upper-class during the setting of the play in 1912 - who found

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