Priestley presents
Capitalism as a self-absorbed, amoral system
where an individual’s purpose is reduced to their ability to make money. Mr Birling as symbolic of Capitalism’s dominance Priestley uses Mr Birling to reflect Capitalism’s arrogance and dominanceat the start of the century.
Who represents capitalism in An Inspector Calls?
| How is Mr Birling like this? | Capitalist Mr Birling is a business man whose main concern is making money. This is what is most important to him and he comes across as being greedy. | Possessive On a number of occasions Mr Birling refers to things and people as being ‘his’. |
|---|
The Inspector, as Priestley’s mouthpiece, is a symbol of Socialism – he wants everyone to look after each other and to view community as very important. He is
sent to uncover the family’s wrongdoings
and to make them see that they should take responsibility for others.
How does Priestley present Mr Birling as a capitalist?
It is clear here that Mr
Birling is driven by money
, he is a capitalist. The fact that he sees his daughter’s engagement as a chance to push for ‘lower costs and higher prices’ shows just how greedy he is. He does not consider the impact ‘higher prices’ might have on anyone else, he just wants more money.
How is society shown in Inspector Calls?
In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley depicts
society in 1912 as capitalist-ruled, segregated and unfair, using the Birling family as a symbol for all upper-class aristocrats
. The character, Inspector Goole, acts as Priestley’s social mouthpiece to portray the idea that socialism is the future.
If you mean the latter, the inspector himself represents socialism (or rather its values)
by knocking on the Birlings’ door and asking for a personal reckoning of each person’s dealings with the suicide victim in
question (a poor, bewildered, and abandoned pregnant girl who kills herself by swallowing poison).
What do the possessions of the Birlings tell you about them?
‘ – Priestley shows that the Birlings have money – the props all indicate this –
champagne glasses, port and cigars
are all luxury items that they enjoy. Their costumes are also indications of their wealth.
Does Mr Birling change by the end of the play?
Ending: By the ending of the play,
Mr Birling has not changed
. He is delighted when he discovers the Inspector is a fake, shown by the repeated stage direction ‘triumphantly’. Priestley reveals that capitalists like Mr Birling are too selfish to change.
How does Priestley present Eric?
How does Priestley present the character of Eric Birling? In many ways, Eric
is a disappointment to his parents and the opposite
of Gerald Croft. He is described as ‘in his mid-twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive’; it is as if he has something to hide.
What did Mr Birling do to Eva?
He reveals the girl’s name – Eva Smith, and that she used to work in
Mr Birling’s factory
. Mr Birling had Eva sacked as she was the ringleader of a group of workers who had asked for higher pay. Mr Birling still can’t see how he has anything to do with Eva’s death.
In the beginning, Priestley describes the Birlings’ house as ‘a fairly large suburban house’ with ‘good solid furniture of the period’, showing they are
upper-middle class
and that they have money. They also have servants such as a maid and a cook.
Which character is Inspector Goole is a foil for?
Reflects his elitist values. Inspector Goole is a foil for
Mr Birling
– he is a fair, responsible character who cares for the welfare of others. However, Mr Birling is egotistical, selfish and actively dislikes the lower-classes. He doesn’t like to be exposed.
What does the inspector represent?
What does the inspector represent? The Inspector represents
Priestley’s voice
– he conveys Priestley’s strong socialist views. He challenges the characters, and therefore the audience, about their treatment of the working class.
Capitalism is
based on individual initiative
and favors market mechanisms over government intervention, while socialism is based on government planning and limitations on private control of resources.
Priestley shows
his audience that all actions have consequences, and it is impossible to live in isolation
. This means by being mindful of your own actions, you help take responsibility for others. By looking after others, Priestley suggests society as a whole will benefit.
Socialism is an economic and political system where the community or state owns the general means of production (i. e. farms, factories, tools, and raw materials.) This is different from capitalism, where the means of production are privately owned.
