An Inspector Calls Key Theme Class edexcel 2-Post-1914-Literature

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Class timeline

The themes of class in each act of An Inspector Calls:

What are the elements of class in An Inspector Calls?

Priestley presents attitudes towards class in a variety of ways in the play, through symbolic settings, exploited characters and prejudiced attitudes:

Settings: The description of the Birlings’ opulent home is sharply contrasted with descriptions of the workers in Arthur’s factory
Prejudice: Upper-class characters frequently make incorrect assertions about the working classes and view them as morally and socially inferior:
- The Birlings, particularly Sybil, and Gerald are entrenched in the views of their class system; they cannot genuinely empathise with Eva’s plight or that of the working classes
Exploitation: Eric and Gerald use their class and status to take advantage of Eva Smith while keeping their relationship with her a secret to avoid reputational damage

The impact of class on characters

Priestley uses the characters in An Inspector Calls to criticise the inequality and unfairness of the British class system and argues that the privilege of class blinds people to their immoral behaviour.

Character	Impact
The Birlings	Priestley depicts the comfortable, affluent life of the Birlings in contrast to Eva Smith’s poverty Mr Birling is concerned that the wealthier Croft family might see Gerald’s engagement to Sheila, the daughter of a new money industrialist, as a social step down Mrs Birling ignorantly links class with morality and cannot believe Eva, as a working-class girl, would refuse stolen money
The Inspector	The Inspector suggests that the class system creates inequalities in society and prevents social mobility: His investigation also reveals the immoral behaviour of the ‘respectable’ upper classes
Eva Smith	Working class Eva Smith is considered “cheap labour” by Mr Birling and Gerald, and is exploited and marginalised by more privileged characters Class differences are a metaphorical “wall”, a barrier put up by the wealthy to separate them from the impoverished and vulnerable in society: Sheila warns her mother not to “build up a kind of wall” between herself and Eva

Why does Priestley use the theme of class in his play?

1. Setting and period

Priestley underscores how the wealthiest in society enjoy privileges and lives of excess, but are blind to the effects of their actions on the less fortunate in society
Challenges the outdated values of the upper classes through the Inspector, who speaks for Priestley’s audience when he champions workers’ rights

2. Plot driver

The revelations about how Birling family have abused their class and social status provide a clear dramatic structure

3. Audience appeal

The play’s action is driven by revelations about the immorality of the Edwardian upper classes
Its contemporary 1945 audience were more progressive, responsible and aligned with its socialist values

4. Conflict between characters

Priestley quickly establishes the theme of class conflict in the opening act

Exam-style questions on the themes of class

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of guilt and responsibility:

Explore how Priestley depicts conflict between social classes in An Inspector Calls.
How does Priestley present Eva Smith in order to address different attitudes towards social class in An Inspector Calls?

English Literature GCSE EDEXCEL