An Inspector Calls is essentially a vehicle for Priestley to criticise capitalism. Discuss. -- A* - page 2
Keywords: An Inspector Call Priestley capitalism
By georgie1 on 31/12/2009
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 2 of 10 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10in order to make the character seem even less intelligent. This therefore shows the audience that the characters involved make themselves seem ignorant, puerile and illogical. Priestley also makes Mr Birling seem small minded when he describes himself as a “hard-headed business man”, and “a hard-headed, practical man of business”. The repetition and limited vocabulary shows he is not particularly intelligent, and therefore represents all capitalists to be the same. When he says this line, the director may have him punching his fist into the palm of his hand and making eye contact with the other characters to appear as though he is threatening or intimidating. Adding to the idea that the capitalist characters are small minded, the Inspector asks Mrs Birling if she would like him to repeat himself “in plain words”, giving the idea to the audience that she does not understand the situation. This is also made clear when she plainly says: “I don’t understand you, Inspector”.
In the opening scene of the play, it is clear that the Birlings are a wealthy family who enjoy a luxurious lifestyle compared to an average working citizen of the period. JB Priestley implies to the audience that they are a rich family by describing the “good, solid” wood of the “comfortable, not cosy” furniture, showing that they have a business-like approach to life and like to be on top of the constantly changing society. The dining table is positioned “centre downstage”, showing that the table is the centre of attention and the main focus of their family life. This is likely to be their place of discussion and productivity, representing a business-like aspect to their everyday life. The Birlings show that they like to dress in a modern fashion and to look smarter than most by wearing “evening dress of the period”. Priestley also mentions that they have a “telephone”, a relatively recent invention that signifies to the audience that they have money and take interest in development: a trait one would assume to be capitalist. Mr Birling mentions a “parlourmaid” which not only shows that they can afford to employ a servant, but also that the capitalist family like to make others work for them. The family are drinking “champagne” and “port” in specific glasses and the men are smoking “cigars”. The women also go off to the “drawing room”. These relatively expensive luxuries all directly convey to the
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