Priestley left school at sixteen and decided to write, mostly about social attitudes and political stances which he was inspired to do by his father’s socialist friends who believed that everybody should have an equal chance in life with fair pay and not have different social classes. He was also involved in the 1st world war and that made him think about the state of society and the way the social system worked, which he thought was wrong. Priestley deliberately set his play in 1912 because the date represented an era when everything was very different from the time he was writing, 1945. Society in 1912 was mainly devised into two social classes which had a big difference. The very rich and the very poor.
Discuss the ways in which J.B Preistley creates and sustains dramatic tension in ‘An Inspector Calls’ ‘An Inspector Calls’ was written by socialist author J.B Preistley in 1945; however, the play was actually set in 1912. This is because 1912 was a year in which there were many technological advancements being made and the middle classes were thriving. It was also crucial to the plot in many ways; Eva Smith was involved in the type of strike happening in Britain around the time. It also helps to create drama and adds humour to the play when Mr Birling says how there will never be a war; everyone has too much to lose. The audience know, because they are living after 1945 that a couple of years after Mr Birling says this, war does break out.
I] A) The historical shaping of Mussolini’s ideas Benito Mussolini was born in 1883 in the small town of Dova di Predappio. His father was a socialist and had a lot of influence on Mussolini’s early thinking. From a young age he was introduced to the principles of military authoritarianism, Italian nationalism and the overthrowing of liberal democracy and capitalism. After his military service he wrote for many socialist newspapers and became one of the most prominent socialist figures in the country. It is important to note that Mussolini also advocated ideas of anti-egalitarianism and elitism, making him a very peculiar socialist.
An Inspector Calls is a play with lots of political messages as well as social messages. J. B. Priestley believed in socialism and he used large amounts of his plays to try and convince people to his way of thinking. It was written in a time when Britain was ruled by a Labour government and socialist policies were seen to be the right way to go. It was a common way of thinking at that time so Priestley's aim for the play was to influence the unconvinced in society.
Priestly shows how a chain of events can be started by just one person’s actions. This gives the audience the message that we should consider carefully the consequences of our actions because it may result in tragic ends. Throughout the play, many themes are explored alongside social responsibility and inequality. For example, age (the difference between younger and older generation0, guilt, deceit and greed. The dates 1912 and 1945 are important because 1912 was a point in history where a difference between the lifestyles of the rich and the poor had expanded.
A socialist who believed his literature could change views – even lives! He was right. His well-known play, written in 1945 but set in 1912, “An Inspector Calls” influenced a labour victory back in the election after his play went from written script to a performance onstage in front of hundreds and thousands of Edwardian viewers who had seen the horrors of war and what this all did to society. Priestley had also been through this. He wrote to change capitalists into socialists and make people do something about it.
What is Progressivism? Progressivism is the term applied to a variety of responses to the economic and social problems rapid industrialization introduced to America. Progressivism began as a social movement and grew into a political movement. The early progressives rejected Social Darwinism. In other words, they were people who believed that the problems society faced (poverty, violence, greed, racism, class warfare) could best be addressed by providing good education, a safe environment, and an efficient workplace.
At the time the play was set, the Titanic was about to make its maiden voyage, representing the fact that modernisation was at its prime. The play was set when England was on the brink of World War One and women were campaigning for the right to vote. This means that at this particular time, people were very tense and anxious about the war and this may have caused them to forget any type of social morals. Priestly uses the Inspector to present his own views and outline the look of social conduct. The Inspector is presented as quite rude and very intimidating in the play.
inspector calls' is set in 1912 but written in 1944 by the left wing politically minded writer J B Priestly. An Inspector Calls was set in 1912 which was near the end of what the Edwardians called a 'Golden Age', where technological advancements were being made and the middle classes were thriving. It is also set at this time as it is important to the plot in several ways: - Eva Smith was involved in the strikes. These strikes really happened in Britain around 1910 where workers went on strike to protest against the low pay they were receiving in the factories. - The class system was very much still in effect.
What do you think is the importance of Inspector Goole and how does Priestley present him? (30 marks) In the play ‘An Inspector Calls” Priestley uses dramatic irony to display his political views, regarding socialism versus capitalism, through the character of Inspector Goole. The play was set in 1912, but was published and first performed in 1945. This time gap in Edwardian England saw an abundance of memorable historical events e.g. World War 1, World War 2 and the sinking of the Titanic, so the significance of the early setting gives the audience the ‘upper hand’ over the characters.