Themes and Context
Class, age, social responsibility, and gender drive the entire play's message. Priestley wasn't just telling a story - he was making a political statement about how society treats its most vulnerable members.
The timing matters hugely here. Priestley was a socialist who wrote this play to slam capitalist society and its treatment of working-class people. Women had virtually no rights, rubbish pay, and needed husbands to survive socially.
The play's set two years before WWI, which makes Mr Birling's confident predictions absolutely laughable. His "unsinkable" Titanic comment shows how out of touch he is with reality - classic dramatic irony that makes the audience cringe.
Key Insight: Birling's wrong predictions about the Titanic and war make everything else he says seem unreliable - that's exactly what Priestley wanted!
Sheila represents hope among the older generation's stubbornness. Her line "these girls aren't cheap labour" shows she actually develops social responsibility and sympathy for working-class women throughout the play.