Understanding the Big Picture
"An Inspector Calls" was written in 1945 but set in 1912 - and this timing is absolutely crucial to understand. Priestley deliberately chose 1912 because audiences in 1945 would know that World War One and the Titanic disaster were just around the corner, making Mr Birling's confident predictions hilariously wrong.
The play centres around the Birling family celebrating an engagement when a mysterious Inspector Goole arrives with shocking news. He reveals that each family member contributed to the suicide of a young working-class woman named Eva Smith. What starts as a cosy family gathering quickly becomes an intense moral interrogation.
Priestley used this story to attack capitalism (caring only about money and yourself) and promote socialism (looking after your community). He wanted post-war audiences to embrace the positive changes happening in society rather than sliding back into the selfish attitudes of 1912.
Key Point: The dramatic irony of Mr Birling's wrong predictions immediately shows audiences that his other views might be equally misguided!