Understanding Responsibility in An Inspector Calls: An Essay

Mr Birling's Selfish Philosophy

Right from the start, Mr Birling represents everything Priestley despises about capitalism and individual selfishness. His famous quote "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own" sets up his entire worldview - he genuinely believes people should ignore others' problems.

This advice to Eric and Gerald isn't just casual chat; it's his life philosophy that puts personal gain above social responsibility. Priestley deliberately places this at the beginning so we can see how stubborn Mr Birling remains throughout the play.

Key Point: Mr Birling's views represent the capitalist mindset that Priestley wants to challenge - the idea that we owe nothing to strangers or society.

Mrs Birling's Charity Hypocrisy

Mrs Birling's approach to responsibility is even more twisted than her husband's. The Inspector's question "was it owing to your influence, as the most prominent member of the committee, that help was refused the girl?" exposes her massive contradiction.

She's involved in a women's charity that's supposed to help people like Eva Smith, yet she actively refuses help when it's needed most. This suggests she only participates to look good socially, not because she genuinely cares about helping others.

Her position on the charity committee makes her refusal even worse - she had the power to help but chose not to, showing how class prejudice can override moral duty.

Key Point: Mrs Birling represents fake charity - people who want to appear caring without actually taking responsibility for helping others.

Passing the Buck vs Taking Action

Mrs Birling continues dodging responsibility by demanding "Go and look for the father of the child" - completely unaware she's condemning her own son. The imperative "Go" shows her arrogant certainty that someone else is to blame.

Eric, however, actually tries to take responsibility by stating "I insisted on giving her enough money to keep her going." Yes, he stole the money, but he prioritised Eva's welfare over his father's business profits.

Priestley presents Eric almost like Robin Hood - stealing from the rich (his father) to help the poor (Eva). The verb "insisted" shows Eric taking decisive action, even if his methods were flawed.

Key Point: Eric represents hope for the younger generation - someone willing to sacrifice personal comfort for social responsibility.

The Cycle Continues

By the play's end, Mr Birling's response proves he's learned absolutely nothing. His "triumphant" relief when he thinks the Inspector was fake shows he only cared about protecting his reputation and business, not about Eva's death.

The adverb "triumphantly" suggests he sees this as a victory - he's escaped consequences rather than reflecting on his actions. Priestley deliberately mirrors the beginning and end to show how some people never change.

This circular structure reinforces Priestley's socialist message: unless people like the Birlings accept responsibility for society's problems, nothing will improve. The mysterious phone call at the end suggests the cycle of consequences will continue.

Key Point: The play's structure shows that without genuine acceptance of social responsibility, society is doomed to repeat its mistakes.