Social Class & Equality

Lower-Class Characters: Eva and Edna

In An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley focuses on the different social classes and how they experience life differently. The play focuses on upper-class characters: the only lower-class characters are Eva Smith and Edna (the maid).

Eva Smith

We never meet Eva. We only learn about her through Inspector Goole.
- We hear all about Eva's life and how she has suffered because of members of the upper-middle and upper classes.
- These people did not care about the consequences their actions may have had for lower-class people.
All the characters treat Eva Smith as someone disposable (they can get rid of) and unimportant purely because she is lower-class. They don’t think she is worthy of their time or thought.

Edna

We only see Edna a few times, each for a brief moment.

Upper-Middle-Class Characters - Birlings

Priestley shows how the upper classes generally only cared about themselves, their reputations, and how life affected them. The play centres on upper-middle-class characters, like Sheila, Eric and Mr Birling:

Sheila

She appears to do little, but has superficial (shallow) interests.
- E.g. fashion and clothing.
She spends her father’s money to make herself look the part – her role is to look good so she makes her father and her future husband look good. She is an ornament (object of decoration).
She is presented as a spoilt child at first, who uses her social status to get what she wants.

Eric

He spends his time gambling and drinking too much.
Because of his social status, he does not have to work for a living. He lives off his father’s money.
He is presented as an immature, irresponsible little boy for most of the play.

Mr Birling

He is pleased about his daughter marrying into the upper class because it strengthens his ties with Lord and Lady Croft. It also improves his social status.
He is keen to be knighted (given a rank of honour by a British king or queen because of his special achievements) and accepted into the upper class.
He is worried about possible scandals (morally wrong events) that will stop this happening.

Upper-Class Characters - Gerald and Mrs Birling

In An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley shows that many upper-class people lived superficially (appearing to be true) happy lives. He tries to show that they did not know about the hard lives led by the lower classes or how much upper-class lives depended on lower-class workers. The play centres on upper-class characters, like Gerald and Mrs Birling:

Mrs Birling

She has a higher social status than her husband.
She gently tells him off for his improper (not in line with social standards) comments at the dinner table. She sees these as unsuitable dinner conversation.
She has a position in a charity because it makes her look good.
She doesn’t like Eva from the start because she pretends her name is Mrs Birling. Mrs Birling thinks this is incredibly offensive (possibly because of Eva’s lower-class position ruining her name) and refuses to help her.

Gerald

He highlights the selfish attitudes of the upper class at the time.
He pursues a sexual relationship with Eva and treats her as his mistress. He gets rid of her when he has had enough.
- After Sheila finds out, Gerald still feels that they should get married. This shows his selfish nature.
By the end of the play, the audience hopes that Gerald will change his attitude, like Sheila and Eric did.
But he shows the selfish egotism (self-absorbed attitude) of the upper class when he does not change.
Instead, he tries hard to do everything he can to prove that Inspector Goole was fake and that he and the Birlings were completely innocent.

1Plot Summary

1.1Act 1

1.1.1Act 1 Summary

1.1.2Act 1 Key Quotes

1.2Act 2

1.2.1Act 2 Summary

1.2.2Act 2 Key Quotes

1.3Act 3

1.3.1Act 3 Summary

1.3.2Act 3 Key Quotes

1.3.3Act 3 More Key Quotes

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Acts 1, 2 & 3

2Context & Key Themes

2.1Context & Key Themes

2.1.1Social Class & Equality

2.1.2Class Tension

2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption

2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism

2.1.5Blame & Responsibility

2.1.6Attitudes to Women

2.1.7Characterisation of Women

2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters

2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 2

2.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes

3Key Characters

3.1Mr Birling

3.1.1Mr Birling Analysis

3.1.2Mr Birling Quotes

3.2Mrs Birling

3.2.1Mrs Birling Analysis

3.2.2Mrs Birling Quotes

3.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Mrs Birling

3.3Sheila

3.3.1Sheila Analysis

3.3.2Sheila Quotes

3.3.3End of Topic Test - The Birlings & Sheila

3.4Eric

3.4.1Eric Analysis

3.4.2Eric Quotes

3.5Gerald

3.5.1Gerald Analysis

3.5.2Gerald Quotes

3.6Inspector Goole

3.6.1Inspector Goole Analysis

3.6.2Inspector Goole Quotes

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Eric, Gerald & Inspector Goole

3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.7.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Authorial Method

4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play

4.1.1Setting, Lighting & Dramatic Irony

4.1.2Structure & Chronology

4.1.3Structure & Chronology 2

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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