How does Priestley present the importance of social responsibility in An Inspector Calls?

PARAGRAPH 1:

Priestley uses the characters of Mr Birling and Mrs Birling to symbolise the antithesis of Priestley’s message on social responsibility. The characters are used to highlight the impacts on society when people do not accept social responsibility, therefore highlighting its importance. Furthermore, Priestley uses the Birlings to present the selfish nature of the upper classes as they refuse social responsibility in order to protect their appearance.

• ‘all mixed up together like bees in a hive’ - the metaphor shows how Mr Birling is heavily critical of the view that society is a community and that people should protect each other, therefore highlighting how he rejects any form of social responsibility

• ‘I can’t accept any responsibility.’ - the short sentence highlights Mr Birling’s certain and conservative nature. This certainty suggests how Mr Birling thinks that responsibility is simplistic and self-serving, and that two actions cannot link together.

• ‘naturally that was one of the things that prejudice me against her’ - the adverb ‘naturally’ trivialises Mrs Birling’s actions and suggests how Mrs Birling automatically thinks of herself as above Eva Smith and therefore unable to have any connection or responsibility for her death. Mrs Birling thinks that due to Eva Smith’s lower social status it was justifiable not to help her.

• ‘Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.’

• ‘But I didn’t know it was you - I never dreamt’ - Mrs birling claims that she has a firm moral code and values responsibility, but retracts her demands after she finds out Eric is the father of Eva’s son. This highlights how the upper classes ideas of duty and responsibility are corrupt and hypocritical. Mrs Birling thinks that as they are upper class, they are above taking responsibility.

• ‘there’ll be a public scandal … and who here will suffer from that more than I will?’ - this is dramatic irony and shows how selfish the Mr Birling is as he thinks about his own suffering and neglects the suffering which he causes to the lower classes. It shows how the upper class refuse to accept social responsibility as they want to protect their appearance and social superiority.

PARAGRAPH 2:

Priestley uses the character of the Inspector to act as his mouthpiece, highlighting to the characters and therefore the contemporary audience the importance of social responsibility. In the inspectors final monologue, Priestley uses imagery of war, which alludes to the wars which the contemporary audience would have just lived through, in order to show the effects of neglecting others in society.

• ‘A chain of events.’ - the metaphor connotes connection and intimacy, highlighting how everybody’s actions are linked together. Alternatively, it could connote imprisonment and confinement, suggesting how social responsibility is not something you can escape but it something that you must face and accept.

• ‘we have to share something … we have to share our guilt’ - by phrasing an opinion as statement, it highlights the inspectors forceful tone and how his character was to act as a teacher, telling the Birlings of how they must change.

• ‘we are members of one body’ - this could act as a metaphor to suggest how people in society are like vital organs which must all work together for society to thrive

• ‘all intertwined with our lives and what we think and say and do.’ - the syndetic list is used to emphasise the extent to which everyone is connected. Priestley wants to emphasise how the upper classes must take responsibility for the lower classes and the actions they do which affect others.

• ‘they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish’ - the violent imagery alludes to the war which highlights to the audience the impact of a society which does not look after each other, and the impact of the upper classes neglect. This would frighten the contemporary audience and so powerfully show the importance of social responsibility.

• ‘millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths’ - the use of repetition shows just how many people in the working class suffer due to the neglect of the upper classes. This shows the importance of social responsibility by highlighting the huge scale of suffering is caused when there is a lack of it.

PARAGRAPH 3:

Priestley contrasts the older and younger generation. He uses the younger generation to show that society can and must improve. The younger generation, especially Sheila, is shaped by the inspector in a way that Priestley hopes the audience will also be shaped.

• ‘How could I know what would happen afterwards?’ - Sheila’s character shows that people are unable to predict the significance of their actions, and therefore should act responsibly and be mindful of everything that they do.

• ‘I’ll never, never do it again to anybody’ - the use of repetition emphasises Sheila’s certainty and how she is determined to change her ways.

• ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people.’ - the use of juxtaposition highlights the differences of attitudes between the older and younger generation. The quote shows how Sheila is sympathetic towards Eva and recognises that she cannot disconnect her actions from the effects they have on others.

• ‘(pointing to Eric and Sheila) Now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke -’ - the physical imagery highlights the huge separation between the two generations and the ways in which they are hostile to each other. Furthermore, Mr Birling is then cut off by the telephone, which acts as a dramatic device, suggesting how his thoughts and values are to be changed by others.

Could alternatively mention how all the character’s are aware and feel guilty for what they have done - the inspector just acts as a confessor figure who makes then aware of their guilt. Highlights how everybody is capable of accepting social responsibility but certain people refuse in order to protect their public appearance and the reputation in which they have build their upper class lives around.