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Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in attempt to change what society valued. He wanted British society to value people and not profit. This is quite a fundamental change when you consider that Britain ran the slave trade for profit; sent working men to their deaths in the mines for profit; and created an empire that was built on the suffering of human beings, for profit.
Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in attempt to change what society valued. He wanted British society to value people and not profit. This is quite a fundamental change when you consider that Britain ran the slave trade for profit; sent working men to their deaths in the mines for profit; and created an empire that was built on the suffering of human beings, for profit.
Britain - and the west in general - has struggled to put people before profit since forever, and Priestley wanted to change that.
Britain - and the west in general - has struggled to put people before profit since forever, and Priestley wanted to change that.
However, the trouble with fundamental change is that it takes time - often generations have to pass before it is really accepted - and the bitter truth is that a lot of people can't keep up. The image of the racist old uncle at a family gathering is a cliche for a reason: older people tend to struggle to keep up with change, simply because their previous prejudices were so engrained. If you were brought up in the late 1800s, for example, believing that people of colour were inferior to white Europeans, then it's no surprise that by the time you're in your 80s you'll be struggling to deal with the civil rights movement.
However, the trouble with fundamental change is that it takes time - often generations have to pass before it is really accepted - and the bitter truth is that a lot of people can't keep up. The image of the racist old uncle at a family gathering is a cliche for a reason: older people tend to struggle to keep up with change, simply because their previous prejudices were so engrained. If you were brought up in the late 1800s, for example, believing that people of colour were inferior to white Europeans, then it's no surprise that by the time you're in your 80s you'll be struggling to deal with the civil rights movement.
This isn't true for everyone, of course, and lots of people do change. There are lots and lots of older people who embrace newness and see the positivity that can come when tired, old ideas are put aside for fairer, more innovative solutions. Mr and Mrs Birling are not like that; though their children very definitely are...
This isn't true for everyone, of course, and lots of people do change. There are lots and lots of older people who embrace newness and see the positivity that can come when tired, old ideas are put aside for fairer, more innovative solutions. Mr and Mrs Birling are not like that; though their children very definitely are...
The Older Generation
The Older Generation
Mr Birling is adamant that he won't change. Even as he is being challenged by the inspector he makes it clear that he "can't" take responsibility for everyone, and throughout the interrogation Birling constantly tries to get out of taking the blame. Immediately after the inspector leaves, Birling blames his son for the whole thing which demonstrates clearly that he has learnt nothing. As soon as Gerald makes it clear that the inspector wasn't real Birling begins to show his relief, calling the whole thing "moonshine," and claiming "we've been had, that's all." He wants Sheila to take the ring back and he wants to go back to normal. He has not changed.
Mr Birling is adamant that he won't change. Even as he is being challenged by the inspector he makes it clear that he "can't" take responsibility for everyone, and throughout the interrogation Birling constantly tries to get out of taking the blame. Immediately after the inspector leaves, Birling blames his son for the whole thing which demonstrates clearly that he has learnt nothing. As soon as Gerald makes it clear that the inspector wasn't real Birling begins to show his relief, calling the whole thing "moonshine," and claiming "we've been had, that's all." He wants Sheila to take the ring back and he wants to go back to normal. He has not changed.
Mrs Birling does the same - though her repeated arguments that she "wasn't fooled" show that she's not only resisted the changed, but feels so disgusted by the process that she feels the need to claim she wasn't ever even affected by the event. She also, like her husband, dismisses the event and tries to go back to normal. One of the first things she does is tell her children that they're "overtired," which is simply her going back to treating her children like the infants they were at the beginning of the play.
Mrs Birling does the same - though her repeated arguments that she "wasn't fooled" show that she's not only resisted the changed, but feels so disgusted by the process that she feels the need to claim she wasn't ever even affected by the event. She also, like her husband, dismisses the event and tries to go back to normal. One of the first things she does is tell her children that they're "overtired," which is simply her going back to treating her children like the infants they were at the beginning of the play.
The Younger Generation:
The Younger Generation:
Shiela and Eric have definitely changed - and Sheila even more so than her brother. At the beginning of the play, both Sheila and Eric are infantilised by their parents (which means they are treated like small children.) Both Eric and Sheila live up to this by bickering over the dinner table. During the Inspector's visit, however, we can see Sheila growing up. She refuses to leave the room when asked, she stands up to her parents, and, at one point, reminds them that "I'm not a child, don't forget." And after the inspector leaves she remains determined and resolute in her desire to stand up to her parents: "The point is, you don't seem to have learnt anything." Eric is similar, in that he also stands up to his parents, but often is best summarised by the line: "Sheila is right." In this play, the younger generation change, and Sheila is at their head.
Shiela and Eric have definitely changed - and Sheila even more so than her brother. At the beginning of the play, both Sheila and Eric are infantilised by their parents (which means they are treated like small children.) Both Eric and Sheila live up to this by bickering over the dinner table. During the Inspector's visit, however, we can see Sheila growing up. She refuses to leave the room when asked, she stands up to her parents, and, at one point, reminds them that "I'm not a child, don't forget." And after the inspector leaves she remains determined and resolute in her desire to stand up to her parents: "The point is, you don't seem to have learnt anything." Eric is similar, in that he also stands up to his parents, but often is best summarised by the line: "Sheila is right." In this play, the younger generation change, and Sheila is at their head.
It's also worth reflecting on the fact that any teenagers watching this play in 1945 would have been encouraged to identify with Sheila and Eric. And those teenagers grew up into the rebellious 1950s, and then came the counter culture movements of the 1960s and 1970s where thousands of teenagers protested for civil rights, peace and harmony amongst all peoples.
It's also worth reflecting on the fact that any teenagers watching this play in 1945 would have been encouraged to identify with Sheila and Eric. And those teenagers grew up into the rebellious 1950s, and then came the counter culture movements of the 1960s and 1970s where thousands of teenagers protested for civil rights, peace and harmony amongst all peoples.
Gerald: The Man in the Middle
Gerald: The Man in the Middle
Gerald is often presented as someone who sits between the generations and this is reflected in his behaviour. He is an aristocrat, which, in the play makes him a part of the older world. However, he is also much younger than Birling. His character arc here, means he changes when the inspector is around and then changes back once the inspector has gone. Almost as though he can see Priestley's truth while it is presented to him; but, left to his own devices, he will shift back to his old ways.
Gerald is often presented as someone who sits between the generations and this is reflected in his behaviour. He is an aristocrat, which, in the play makes him a part of the older world. However, he is also much younger than Birling. His character arc here, means he changes when the inspector is around and then changes back once the inspector has gone. Almost as though he can see Priestley's truth while it is presented to him; but, left to his own devices, he will shift back to his old ways.
Socialism, Capitalism and Age
Socialism, Capitalism and Age
At one point the inspector agrees that he is having an impact on Sheila by saying: "We often do on the young ones." This has been historically very true. There is an old saying that everyone becomes more right wing as we get older. The idea is that socialism, the left wing, believe in justice and fairness; and that a belief in justice and fairness is a little naive. The theory is that since life isn't actually like that, the older you get the more cynical you become and the more you decide you'd quite like to keep what you've earned, thank-you very much. As a result, you naturally become more right wing.
At one point the inspector agrees that he is having an impact on Sheila by saying: "We often do on the young ones." This has been historically very true. There is an old saying that everyone becomes more right wing as we get older. The idea is that socialism, the left wing, believe in justice and fairness; and that a belief in justice and fairness is a little naive. The theory is that since life isn't actually like that, the older you get the more cynical you become and the more you decide you'd quite like to keep what you've earned, thank-you very much. As a result, you naturally become more right wing.
This is often proven in elections when younger voters tend to vote Labour, while older voters tend to vote Tory. In this play, Priestley presents the younger generation as being more capable of changing, and it's quite possible that this is the reason why younger people tend to be more socialist. As an ideology, Capitalism is really very similar to Darwinism, which is the system that runs the natural world - the strong survive, the weak die off. Socialist ideas, however, often mark the areas where human civilisation differs from the natural world - we work together, we support one another, and we help those in need in a way that animals don't.
This is often proven in elections when younger voters tend to vote Labour, while older voters tend to vote Tory. In this play, Priestley presents the younger generation as being more capable of changing, and it's quite possible that this is the reason why younger people tend to be more socialist. As an ideology, Capitalism is really very similar to Darwinism, which is the system that runs the natural world - the strong survive, the weak die off. Socialist ideas, however, often mark the areas where human civilisation differs from the natural world - we work together, we support one another, and we help those in need in a way that animals don't.
If the shift from capitalism to socialism is really a shift from Darwinism to civilisation, then it is to be expected that the young - who are simply one step further away from our animal pasts - will be more ready to adapt.
If the shift from capitalism to socialism is really a shift from Darwinism to civilisation, then it is to be expected that the young - who are simply one step further away from our animal pasts - will be more ready to adapt.
Quotes Bank
Quotes Bank
Mr Birling: ‘Now you three young people, just listen to this.. by the time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these Capital versus Labour agitators and these silly little war scares’
This is a great example of Mr Birling's arrogance - he's older and thinks he knows best - but the audience at the time knew that the labour and war scares were VERY real and would lead to decades of death and disaster. So much for wisdom!
Mr Birling: ‘Now you three young people, just listen to this.. by the time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these Capital versus Labour agitators and these silly little war scares’
This is a great example of Mr Birling's arrogance - he's older and thinks he knows best - but the audience at the time knew that the labour and war scares were VERY real and would lead to decades of death and disaster. So much for wisdom!
Mr Bilring: 'You've a lot to learn yet' (about Eric)
Mr Bilring: 'You've a lot to learn yet' (about Eric)
Sheila - “we are all to blame”
Sheila - “we are all to blame”
Sheila - “Mother – stop – stop!”
Sheila - “Mother – stop – stop!”
Mrs Birling: You seem to have made a great impression on this child, Inspector.
Inspector: We often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable.
Mrs Birling: You seem to have made a great impression on this child, Inspector.
Inspector: We often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable.
Sheila - “The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything”
Sheila - “The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything”
Eric – “I'm ashamed of you as well - both of you”
Eric – “I'm ashamed of you as well - both of you”
Eric – “the fact remains that I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her."
Eric – “the fact remains that I did what I did. And mother did what she did. And the rest of you did what you did to her."
"You began to learn something. And now you’ve stopped… it frightens me the way you talk, and I can’t listen to any more of it."
Here, Sheila shows how the older generation may seem to learn things before going back to their old ways. Sheila, though, as part of the younger generation is showing how capable of change she is. The fact that she says they "frighten" her is quite central here though, as it really reflects the wars and turmoil that were on their way.
"You began to learn something. And now you’ve stopped… it frightens me the way you talk, and I can’t listen to any more of it."
Here, Sheila shows how the older generation may seem to learn things before going back to their old ways. Sheila, though, as part of the younger generation is showing how capable of change she is. The fact that she says they "frighten" her is quite central here though, as it really reflects the wars and turmoil that were on their way.
‘Now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke-’
Mr Birling can be a real idiot sometimes.
‘Now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke-’
Mr Birling can be a real idiot sometimes.
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