Social Responsibility/ duty
An Inspector Calls was first performed in the UK just after the end of World
War Two, in 1946.
It was a time of great change in Britain and many writers were concerned with
the welfare of the poor.
At that time there was no assistance for people who could not afford to look
after themselves.
Priestley wanted to address this issue. He also felt that if people were more
considerate of one another, it would improve quality of life for all.
This is why social responsibility is a key theme of the play.
Priestley wanted his audience to be responsible for their own behaviour and
responsible for the welfare of others.
How is the theme of social responsibility shown in the play?In An Inspector Calls,
Priestley explores social responsibility through:
the treatment of Eva Smith
how each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their behaviour
the Inspector's lessons
During the early 20th-century
there was no government
support for the poor
How does Priestley Evidence Analysis
show this?
Sheila Sheila is shocked "All right Gerald, you Sheila takes responsibility
feels when she learns that needn't look at me like for her actions and tells
socially she had a part to that. At least I'm trying to the truth. Gerald is being
respon play in Eva’s death. tell the truth. I expect judgemental of her even
sible you’ve done things you’re though he has not yet
ashamed of too." taken responsibility for his
own actions.
Mr Mr Birling refuses to "If we were all Mr Birling dismisses the
Birling take any responsible for idea that we should be
does responsibility for Eva everything that happened responsible for each
not feel Smith’s death. to everybody we'd had other, suggesting that
socially anything to do with, it such a situation would be
respon would be very awkward, 'awkward'.
sible wouldn't it?"
Eric Eric shows that he "I don't see much Eric clearly shows that he
feels takes responsibility nonsense about it when has a sense of social
socially for his actions in the a girl goes and kills responsibility. Whilst
respon final act of the play. herself. You lot may be Gerald and Eric's parents
sible letting yourselves out are enjoying being in the
nicely, but I can't. Nor clear, Eric still takes the
can mother. We did her matter of Eva's death very
in all right." seriously. He is even
brave enough to tell his
mother that she should
feel responsible too.
Mrs Sybil Birling will not "I should think not. Eric, In telling Eric that she is
Birling take any I'm absolutely ashamed ashamed of him she
does responsibility for the of you." shows that she has
not feel death of Eva Smith learned nothing from the
socially even after she has Inspector’s investigation.
respon been questioned by The audience would know
sible the Inspector. that she is in no position
to be questioning the
behaviour of anyone else
given her own treatment
of Eva Smith and lack of
social responsibility.
When the Inspector "It's better to ask for the Here the Inspector is
The
is questioning the earth than to take it." suggesting that it is
Inspect
Birlings. socially irresponsible to
or's
be greedy and 'take'
lessons
things without permission.
This is a practice the
privileged Birlings would
be used to.
