Another way in which Birling tried to make himself seem important by mentioning his connections with influential people – playing gold with the ‘Chief inspector.’ The Inspector is used within ‘An Inspector Calls’ is used to express the views and opinions of JB Priestley, as he contrasts/threatens Arthur Birling’s middle class values (the reputation of his company, his important connections). Arthur Birling reacts to these views ‘(angrily)’ and ‘(savagely)’. This then shows the selfishness of Arthur’s personality. Another sign of Arthur Birling being selfish would be that he dismisses the idea of social responsibility – a
Firstly, Marx argues that religion is portrayed as an ideology where there’s a set of ideas and values, in other words, a belief system that disadvantages the Working class as they become exploited. The sufferings they offer is thought of as a God given state as they fall under the false consciousness. Religion misleads the poor by making them believe that they will be rewarded in heaven (afterlife) as long as they obey the capitalist class. Lenin therefore describes religion as ‘spiritual gin’, known as the intoxicant dolled out to the masses by the ruling class to control them in accepting their lower status. However, Gramsci argues that the ruling class domination can be overthrown where a classless communist society will be replaced.
Whilst the playwright presents the conflicting views behind Socialism and Capitalism the whole drive of the play is to persuade the audience to support his recognition of the real need for social care and more community spirit, for more people taking more responsibility for others. To aid this persuasion he ,therefore, presents the Birling family, who show little care for others and are representative of a whole social class – the upper class. This family representation is not appealing and any audience will recognise that there are distinct
First of all, inspector Goole is used as Priestley’s mouthpiece who conveys his socialist ideologies to a typical upper classed family, the Birlings, in a pre-WW1 materialistic society. Also, the name ‘Goole’ is a pun for ‘ghoul’ which suggests he is a spirit-like prophet. As a prophetic figure, he was able to manipulate the characters of the Birling family by revealing the chain of events and the hypocrisy behind the Birling family and he did not want to punish them lawfully as he was more concerned with how immoral the upper classed had become. Inspector Goole also stated in his final didactic and sermon-like speech that “if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. This divine-like quote connotes that people will suffer the consequences if they do not accept that society should be entwined and that everyone should be responsible for each other.
Mr Birling is a very one minded man who is solely interested in business and social class. At the beginning of the play, Mr Birling gives a speech to the men about how its every man for himself saying ‘Man has to make his own way’ nearer the end of the play he jokes about his children’s reactions to the Inspector saying ‘I wish you could have seen the look on your faces when he said that’ these two comments show that Mr Birling has not learnt anything through the play, and sees the Inspectors views of society as pointless, Priestley has made Mr Birling like this to ridicule the capitalists that believe the same as Mr Birling, Mr Birling is insistent throughout the play about his lack of involvement and remains unaffected by the details of Eva Smiths death, seemingly more interested in retaining his social status. Mrs Birling seems to also be a character who learns very little
Priestley uses the play to show his ideas and beliefs on community welfare and outdated principals, he does this in many ways to manipulate his audience against their normal thoughts and behaviour so by the end of the play they see why things need to change. Priestley presents his idea that the concept of self-help is outdated and uses contrast between characters to illustrate this. In an Inspector Calls there is a clear contrast between Mr Birling, a middle class man, and Inspector Goole. The play was set in 1912, where the middle class wouldn’t have respected Goole as he was of the working class and was seen to be below them. Whereas the play was written in 1946 and in 1946 the middle class would have respected the police more as it was seen as a fairly respectable job.
Their social class is also revealed when they are talking about Eva Smith. Mrs Birling calls her “girls of that class.” And Mr Birling sees her as just “one of my employees” not important and worth worrying about, which conveys that they think they are too good for people like her and that is her own fault for the things that happened to her. Both characters try to use their social status to influence or threaten the Inspector. Mr Birling tries to impress how important he is and intimidates the Inspector by saying “I was an alderman for years,” and that he knows the Brumley police officers well. He also becomes threatening when he says that he knows the Chief Constable “I ought to warn you that he’s an old friend of mine.” The word warn evidently indicates that he is trying to threaten the Inspector.
This action leads to him being considered a tragic hero. Creon’s human flaw of arrogance causes him to ignore reasoning and advice and listen only to his own thoughts. He states, "My voice is the one voice giving orders in this city". He is afraid to go back on his word because it will hurt his pride and he is afraid that it will cause him to lose power with his subjects. This action causes him to lose everyone that he loves.
From line 7 through to line 8, Iago has a long rant about Othello, as he felt he had been done an injustice when he was not chosen as lieutenant. Instead the post went to Michael Cassio whom he mocks, sarcastically defining him “a great arithmetician”, hardly a compliment for a man in a military position. He takes the offence even further by calling him a “bookish theoric” and a man of “mere prattle and no practice”. Here Shakepeare shows the audience a new aspect of Iago’s bitter character, jealousy. Iago is under the impression that he deserved the post more than Cassio.
Someone who blames everyone else for the consequences of their actions? Someone who doesn't own-up to their actions and try to make the situation better again? Cole is that 'someone'. He goes to the island mad at his parents because all the other times that he was in trouble with the law, his parents would pay the fees and get him out, however, this time, none of that happens. It was his mistake for beating up Peter anyways, yet he's mad at his parents and his lawyer because they didn't get him out.