Theme= Capitalism vs Socialism

Question 1

What do the Birlings represent?

Answer 1

They represent PROSPERING CAPITALISTS in society.

Question 2

What does the Inspector represent?

Answer 2

His role is to CONDEMN CAPITALISM and teach SOCIALIST ideas. He is Priestley’s MOUTHPEICE.

Question 3

What does the play illustrate?

Answer 3

The play illustrates CAPITALISM’S EVENTUAL FALL TO SOCIALISM. Suggesting socialism is MORE POWERFUL AND SUPERIOR IN THE SOCIAL SYSTEM.

Question 4

“Crofts and Birlings are working together- for lower costs and higher prices”
= Mr B says to Gerald in Act 1, Scene 4.

Answer 4

• Priestly is using Mr B to portray Capitalist GREED.
• “work together” shows that he only sees Sheila’s marriage as a BUSINESS NEGOTIATION and an OPPORTUNITY to expand his own prospects.
• “lower costs and higher prices” finishes the sentence, mirroring that its the ultimate GOAL for Capitalists.
• This phrase is a MICROCOSM for Capitalism, emphasising how money and profit MOTIVATE everything in society.

Question 5

“If I’d agreed to this demand for a new rate we’d have added about twelve percent to our labour costs”
= Mr Birling in Act 1, Page 15.

Answer 5

• Priestley shows that the workers were REDUCED TO STATISTICS and not viewed as individuals with feelings.
• he cares about money and profit MORE than his people.
• he needs to run his business EFFECTIVELY and wants all the money he can have - this highlights SELFISHNESS.

Question 6

“I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours how I choose to run my business”
= said by Mr Birling to the Inspector when asked why he refused his worker’s demands in Act 1, page 15.

Answer 6

• he doesn’t want anyone INTERFERING with how he runs his business.
• might link to the concept of LAISSEZ-FAIRE ECONOMICS.
• In 1912, the LIBERAL PARTY would have let Mr B run his business however he wanted.

Question 7

“she seemed to me to not be a good case”
= said by Mrs B in Act 2.

Answer 7

• Mrs B isn’t massively linked to Capitalism vs Socialism and instead serves as a symbol for CLASSISM.
• she judged the WORTHINESS of the claim based on whether she DESERVED the money.
• even charity work was impacted by Capitalism.
• Mrs B used her power to PREVENT Eva from accessing the resources she needed.
• Capitalists have TRAPPED people in poverty.

Question 8

“may have driven her to suicide. A chain of events.”
= said by the Inspector in Act 1, page 14.

Answer 8

• Birlings were previously OBLIVIOUS to how society is joined like a ‘chain’.
• ‘chain’ conjures a visual image of how, in Socialism, the means of production are SHARED EQUALLY to everyone.
• life itself is a ‘chain’ that links everyone, meaning Socialism is not just an ECONOMIC SYSTEM.
• concepts can be applied to MORALITY AND EVERYDAY LIFE.

Question 9

“If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt.”
= said by the Inspector in Act 2.

Answer 9

• responsibility is SPLIT between people and humans have a DESIRE TO BELONG IN A COMMUNITY.
• ‘share’ and the reference to ‘guilt’ might be an allusion to the divided, bleak state of the country AFTER THE WAR.
• Socialism is presented as a SOLUTION TO CONFLICT.

Question 10

“lonely, starved, she was feeling desperate”
= said by the Inspector in Act 1, page 16.

Answer 10

• the Inspector recognises the CYCLE OF POVERTY.
• he emphasises to the Birlings that Eva’s circumstances made it IMPOSSIBLE for her to improve her situation on her own.
• ISOLATING IMPACTS of poverty.
• destructive MENTAL and EMOTIONAL impact.