"An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley is a powerful play... Show more
English Literature
Biology
SociologySign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
344
•
23 Jan 2026
•
Key Themes in 'An Inspector Calls' Explained
Sophie Bewers
@sophiebewers_
1 / 10
Character Analysis and Social Class
The Birling family perfectly represents the upper-class privilege that Priestley criticises. Mr Birling, desperate to be knighted, cares more about avoiding scandals than treating people fairly. He's presented as the patriarchal head of a household built on wealth and status.
Sheila starts as a materialistic, spoilt child whose main role is making her family look respectable. She loves shopping with her father's money and uses her social status to get what she wants - including having Eva Smith fired from Milwards when she felt embarrassed.
Eric embodies the worst of privileged youth: immature and irresponsible, he gambles, drinks heavily, and lives entirely off his father's money. His character shows how wealth can corrupt young people when they face no real consequences for their actions.
Quick Tip: Remember that each character's social position directly influences how they treat Eva - the higher their status, the more power they abuse.
Family Dynamics and Engagement
The engagement between Sheila and Gerald reveals fascinating class tensions within the family. Whilst the Birlings celebrate, Lady Croft disapproves because she doesn't consider them upper-class enough for her son.
Mrs Birling actually holds higher social status than her husband, which she uses through her charity work position. This creates interesting power dynamics where she can look down on others whilst maintaining her respectable image.
Gerald's relationship with Sheila is complicated by class differences - he's from a higher social class than she is. This inequality becomes crucial when his treatment of Eva as his mistress is revealed, showing how gender and wealth create multiple layers of power imbalance.
Key Point: The engagement celebration scene establishes the family as wealthy and powerful, setting up their fall when the Inspector arrives.
Social Class and Power Structures
Class tension runs throughout the entire play, with every relationship defined by social hierarchy. Mr Birling controls his household through patriarchal authority, whilst Mrs Birling wields influence through her higher social status and charity connections.
Gerald's superior social position gives him power over both Sheila and Eva. He uses his wealth and status to manipulate Eva into becoming his mistress, showing how upper-class privilege enables exploitation of working-class women.
All the characters feel completely justified in mistreating Eva because of the rigid class system. They genuinely believe their higher social position gives them the right to control and dismiss those beneath them.
The dinner party scene at the beginning perfectly establishes these characters as wealthy and powerful, making their moral corruption even more shocking when revealed.
Remember: Each character's treatment of Eva directly reflects their position in the social hierarchy - power corrupts absolutely.
Abuse of Power and Corruption
Each family member uses their privilege as a weapon against Eva Smith. Mr Birling fired her simply for asking for better wages, showing how employers could destroy lives on a whim. Sheila weaponised her family's status to have Eva dismissed from Milwards over petty embarrassment.
Mrs Birling denied Eva financial help through the charity, despite Eva's desperate pregnancy. This abuse of power reveals how even charitable institutions could become tools of class oppression.
Eric used physical and emotional force to assault Eva, representing the most violent form of upper-class exploitation. Gerald manipulated Eva with money and social status, making her dependent on him as his mistress.
Inspector Goole serves as the moral voice, showing each character how they've used their power immorally. Through him, Priestley exposes the societal corruption that allows such behaviour to continue unchecked.
Study Tip: Notice how each character's "help" actually made Eva's situation worse - this isn't coincidence, it's deliberate social criticism.
Priestley's Socialist Message
Priestley wrote this play in 1945 but set it in 1912, using this time gap brilliantly. As a committed socialist, he believed wealthy people had a moral duty to care for the poor, not exploit them.
The play attacks capitalism by showing how a small number of wealthy people control society whilst lower-class people suffer. Eva Smith represents all working-class victims of this unfair system.
Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Mr Birling look foolish - the audience knows his confident predictions about avoiding war and economic prosperity are completely wrong. This undermines his authority and credibility.
The timing is crucial: strikes began around 1910, the Great Depression hit in the 1920s-30s, and by 1945 people were ready for social change. Priestley's anti-capitalist message called for society to transform completely.
Context Tip: Understanding Priestley's socialist beliefs helps explain why every wealthy character is portrayed negatively whilst Eva gains sympathy.
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Most popular content: An Inspector Calls
Most popular content in English Literature
Most popular content
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
Key Themes in 'An Inspector Calls' Explained
Sophie Bewers
@sophiebewers_
"An Inspector Calls" by J.B. Priestley is a powerful play that exposes the class divisions and moral corruption of early 20th-century British society. Through the Birling family's encounter with Inspector Goole, Priestley reveals how the wealthy abuse their power and... Show more
Character Analysis and Social Class
The Birling family perfectly represents the upper-class privilege that Priestley criticises. Mr Birling, desperate to be knighted, cares more about avoiding scandals than treating people fairly. He's presented as the patriarchal head of a household built on wealth and status.
Sheila starts as a materialistic, spoilt child whose main role is making her family look respectable. She loves shopping with her father's money and uses her social status to get what she wants - including having Eva Smith fired from Milwards when she felt embarrassed.
Eric embodies the worst of privileged youth: immature and irresponsible, he gambles, drinks heavily, and lives entirely off his father's money. His character shows how wealth can corrupt young people when they face no real consequences for their actions.
Quick Tip: Remember that each character's social position directly influences how they treat Eva - the higher their status, the more power they abuse.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Family Dynamics and Engagement
The engagement between Sheila and Gerald reveals fascinating class tensions within the family. Whilst the Birlings celebrate, Lady Croft disapproves because she doesn't consider them upper-class enough for her son.
Mrs Birling actually holds higher social status than her husband, which she uses through her charity work position. This creates interesting power dynamics where she can look down on others whilst maintaining her respectable image.
Gerald's relationship with Sheila is complicated by class differences - he's from a higher social class than she is. This inequality becomes crucial when his treatment of Eva as his mistress is revealed, showing how gender and wealth create multiple layers of power imbalance.
Key Point: The engagement celebration scene establishes the family as wealthy and powerful, setting up their fall when the Inspector arrives.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Social Class and Power Structures
Class tension runs throughout the entire play, with every relationship defined by social hierarchy. Mr Birling controls his household through patriarchal authority, whilst Mrs Birling wields influence through her higher social status and charity connections.
Gerald's superior social position gives him power over both Sheila and Eva. He uses his wealth and status to manipulate Eva into becoming his mistress, showing how upper-class privilege enables exploitation of working-class women.
All the characters feel completely justified in mistreating Eva because of the rigid class system. They genuinely believe their higher social position gives them the right to control and dismiss those beneath them.
The dinner party scene at the beginning perfectly establishes these characters as wealthy and powerful, making their moral corruption even more shocking when revealed.
Remember: Each character's treatment of Eva directly reflects their position in the social hierarchy - power corrupts absolutely.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Abuse of Power and Corruption
Each family member uses their privilege as a weapon against Eva Smith. Mr Birling fired her simply for asking for better wages, showing how employers could destroy lives on a whim. Sheila weaponised her family's status to have Eva dismissed from Milwards over petty embarrassment.
Mrs Birling denied Eva financial help through the charity, despite Eva's desperate pregnancy. This abuse of power reveals how even charitable institutions could become tools of class oppression.
Eric used physical and emotional force to assault Eva, representing the most violent form of upper-class exploitation. Gerald manipulated Eva with money and social status, making her dependent on him as his mistress.
Inspector Goole serves as the moral voice, showing each character how they've used their power immorally. Through him, Priestley exposes the societal corruption that allows such behaviour to continue unchecked.
Study Tip: Notice how each character's "help" actually made Eva's situation worse - this isn't coincidence, it's deliberate social criticism.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Priestley's Socialist Message
Priestley wrote this play in 1945 but set it in 1912, using this time gap brilliantly. As a committed socialist, he believed wealthy people had a moral duty to care for the poor, not exploit them.
The play attacks capitalism by showing how a small number of wealthy people control society whilst lower-class people suffer. Eva Smith represents all working-class victims of this unfair system.
Priestley uses dramatic irony to make Mr Birling look foolish - the audience knows his confident predictions about avoiding war and economic prosperity are completely wrong. This undermines his authority and credibility.
The timing is crucial: strikes began around 1910, the Great Depression hit in the 1920s-30s, and by 1945 people were ready for social change. Priestley's anti-capitalist message called for society to transform completely.
Context Tip: Understanding Priestley's socialist beliefs helps explain why every wealthy character is portrayed negatively whilst Eva gains sympathy.
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
8
Smart Tools NEW
Transform this note into: ✓ 50+ Practice Questions ✓ Interactive Flashcards ✓ Full Mock Exam ✓ Essay Outlines
Mock Exam
Quiz
Flashcards
Essay
Most popular content: An Inspector Calls
Most popular content in English Literature
Most popular content
Can't find what you're looking for? Explore other subjects.
Students love us — and so will you.
4.9/5
App Store
4.8/5
Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
Best app on earth! no words because it’s too good
Thomas R
iOS user
Just amazing. Let's me revise 10x better, this app is a quick 10/10. I highly recommend it to anyone. I can watch and search for notes. I can save them in the subject folder. I can revise it any time when I come back. If you haven't tried this app, you're really missing out.
Basil
Android user
This app has made me feel so much more confident in my exam prep, not only through boosting my own self confidence through the features that allow you to connect with others and feel less alone, but also through the way the app itself is centred around making you feel better. It is easy to navigate, fun to use, and helpful to anyone struggling in absolutely any way.
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
very reliable app to help and grow your ideas of Maths, English and other related topics in your works. please use this app if your struggling in areas, this app is key for that. wish I'd of done a review before. and it's also free so don't worry about that.
Rohan U
Android user
I know a lot of apps use fake accounts to boost their reviews but this app deserves it all. Originally I was getting 4 in my English exams and this time I got a grade 7. I didn’t even know about this app three days until the exam and it has helped A LOT. Please actually trust me and use it as I’m sure you too will see developments.
Xander S
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This apps acc the goat. I find revision so boring but this app makes it so easy to organize it all and then you can ask the freeeee ai to test yourself so good and you can easily upload your own stuff. highly recommend as someone taking mocks now
Paul T
iOS user