Class and Social Responsibility
Ever wondered why some people seem to have all the power whilst others struggle to survive? Priestley uses class conflict as the driving force of his play, showing how the upper classes exploit working-class people like Eva Smith.
Sheila and Eric represent hope - they prove that young people can break free from their privileged backgrounds and develop genuine compassion. Meanwhile, their parents remain trapped by their class prejudices, with Mr Birling more worried about his potential knighthood than Eva's death.
The Inspector challenges traditional class attitudes by refusing to fit into any social category himself. He delivers Priestley's socialist message through powerful phrases like "members of one body," arguing that we're all connected regardless of our background.
Key Insight: Priestley shows that the upper classes depend entirely on working-class labour - without people like Eva, the Birlings' comfortable lifestyle would collapse.
Eva Smith's treatment exposes the hypocrisy of class-based morality. Despite being dismissed as having "low morals" because of her background, she actually shows more integrity than the wealthy Birlings by refusing stolen money.
