AIC

Back: Mr Birling represents capitalist ideology and selfishness, believing people should prioritize themselves over society. Priestley criticises this view.

Front: A man has to mind his own business and look after himself.

Back: Birling’s arrogance is shown through dramatic irony, as the audience knows the Titanic will sink, exposing his false confidence.

Front: Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.

Back: Birling refuses to acknowledge his role in Eva Smith’s death, showing denial and lack of moral accountability.

Front: I can’t accept any responsibility.

Back: Sheila challenges class prejudice and begins to see workers as human beings, showing her moral development.

Front: These girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.

Back: Sheila starts to accept guilt, showing her growing awareness of social responsibility and personal accountability.

Front: So I’m really responsible?

Back: Sheila fully accepts responsibility and shows genuine remorse, contrasting with her parents’ denial.

Front: I know I’m to blame – and I’m desperately sorry.

Back: Sheila reverses power roles, showing she has matured more than her parents through self-awareness.

Front: It’s you two who are being childish.

Back: Eric acknowledges the reality of Eva Smith’s death and begins to accept his role in it.

Front: The girl’s dead, isn’t she?

Back: Eric recognises collective responsibility, reinforcing Priestley’s message that society is interconnected.

Front: We all helped to kill her.

Back: Eric reveals emotional distance within the family, suggesting lack of support contributed to his actions.

Front: You’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble.

Back: Eric confesses fully, showing guilt and acceptance of responsibility for Eva Smith’s death.

Front: We did her in all right.

Back: Mrs Birling shows strong class prejudice, looking down on working-class women and lacking empathy.

Front: Girls of that class…

Back: Mrs Birling makes assumptions based on class, showing bias and reinforcing social stereotypes.

Front: As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money.

Back: Mrs Birling refuses to accept responsibility, showing hypocrisy and moral blindness.

Front: I did nothing I’m ashamed of.

Back: The Inspector emphasises collective responsibility, reinforcing Priestley’s socialist message.

Front: Each of you helped to kill her.

Back: Society is presented as interconnected; harm to one person affects everyone.

Front: We are members of one body.

Back: Priestley criticises the upper class for using power without accepting responsibility.

Front: Public men… have responsibilities as well as privileges.

Back: A warning of chaos and destruction if society continues to ignore injustice and inequality.

Front: Fire and blood and anguish.

thesis statment

Written during the immediate post WWII era, J.B Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’ was crafted to promote his socialist message and criticise the social injustices of the pre-war Edwardian society, exploring how a lack of social responsibility and the exploitation of the working class can lead to societal breakdown.