Introduction

Understanding the context of An Inspector Calls is essential for GCSE English Literature. Context refers to the historical, social and political background of a text. Priestley uses the play to criticise society and encourage his audience to think about responsibility, equality and social change.

When writing essays, context should be linked directly to characters, themes and events in the play.

What is Context?

Context includes:

  • When the play is set.
  • When the play was written.
  • Social attitudes at the time.
  • Political beliefs.
  • Historical events.

Understanding context helps explain why Priestley wrote the play and what message he wanted his audience to learn.

1912 vs 1945

One of the most important contextual points is that the play is set in 1912 but written in 1945.

Britain in 1912

The play is set in Edwardian Britain.

Society was:

  • Highly unequal.
  • Divided by social class.
  • Dominated by wealthy businessmen.
  • Influenced by traditional gender roles.

Many poor people faced hardship because there was little government support.

Britain in 1945

The play was written just after the Second World War.

Many people wanted:

  • Greater equality.
  • Better working conditions.
  • Social reform.
  • Government support for those in need.

Priestley hoped Britain would become a fairer society.

Why is This Important?

The audience in 1945 knew that many of Mr Birling’s confident predictions were wrong.

For example:

  • The Titanic sank.
  • Two world wars occurred.

This makes Birling appear foolish and weakens his opinions.

J.B. Priestley and His Views

Who Was Priestley?

J.B. Priestley was a playwright and social commentator.

He believed society should be:

  • Fair.
  • Equal.
  • Supportive.

He supported socialist ideas and believed that people had responsibilities towards each other.

Priestley’s Message

Priestley wanted audiences to understand that:

  • Society is connected.
  • People should care for one another.
  • Wealth and privilege should not be abused.

The Inspector acts as Priestley’s voice throughout the play.

Social Responsibility

What is Social Responsibility?

Social responsibility means recognising that our actions affect others.

This is the central message of the play.

How is it Presented?

The Inspector argues that:

  • Everyone is connected.
  • People should support each other.
  • Selfishness causes harm.

Each member of the Birling family contributes to Eva Smith’s suffering.

Priestley’s Purpose

Priestley wanted audiences to accept responsibility for helping others and improving society.

Capitalism

What is Capitalism?

Capitalism is an economic system based on:

  • Private businesses.
  • Competition.
  • Profit.

Mr Birling and Capitalism

Mr Birling believes:

  • Business owners should focus on profit.
  • Workers are responsible for themselves.
  • Success comes through individual effort.

He often places money above people.

Priestley’s View

Priestley criticises capitalism because it can encourage selfishness and inequality.

Socialism

What is Socialism?

Socialism focuses on:

  • Cooperation.
  • Equality.
  • Shared responsibility.

The Inspector and Socialism

The Inspector promotes ideas such as:

  • Community.
  • Fairness.
  • Caring for others.

He challenges the selfish attitudes of the Birlings.

Priestley’s View

Priestley presents socialism as a positive alternative to selfish individualism.

Class System

Social Class in 1912

Society was divided into:

Upper Class

  • Wealthy families.
  • High social status.

Middle Class

  • Business owners.
  • Professionals.

Working Class

  • Labourers.
  • Factory workers.

Eva Smith

Eva represents the working class.

She experiences:

  • Low wages.
  • Job insecurity.
  • Lack of support.

Priestley’s Criticism

Priestley criticises how wealthy people use power against vulnerable individuals.

Gender Roles

Women in 1912

Women had fewer rights and opportunities.

Many women:

  • Relied on men financially.
  • Had limited independence.
  • Were expected to marry rather than work.

Sheila Birling

Sheila changes throughout the play.

She becomes:

  • More independent.
  • More mature.
  • More willing to challenge others.

Eva Smith

Eva’s experiences highlight the challenges faced by working-class women.

The Generational Divide

Older Generation

Characters such as:

  • Mr Birling
  • Mrs Birling

Represent:

  • Traditional attitudes.
  • Resistance to change.
  • Self-interest.

Younger Generation

Characters such as:

  • Sheila
  • Eric

Represent:

  • Change.
  • Learning.
  • Hope for the future.

Priestley’s Purpose

Priestley suggests younger people are more likely to create a fairer society.

Historical References

The Titanic

Mr Birling claims the Titanic is unsinkable.

The audience knows this is incorrect.

This creates dramatic irony.

World War One

Mr Birling dismisses concerns about war.

The audience knows that World War One begins soon after 1912.

This makes Birling appear unreliable.

Why Are These References Important?

They show that:

  • Birling is not as knowledgeable as he believes.
  • His capitalist opinions cannot be trusted.
  • Priestley wants the audience to question his views.

Why Context Matters in Essays

When writing GCSE essays:

Do

  • Link context directly to the question.
  • Connect context to characters and themes.
  • Explain Priestley’s purpose.

Don’t

  • List historical facts without linking them to the play.
  • Mention context that does not support your argument.

GCSE Practice Questions

1 Mark Questions

Q1

In what year is the play set?

Q2

In what year was the play first performed?

Q3

Which character represents capitalist ideas?

Q4

Which character acts as Priestley’s voice?

2 Mark Questions

Q5

Give two features of British society in 1912.

Q6

State two socialist ideas presented in the play.

Q7

Give two examples of dramatic irony linked to Mr Birling.

Q8

State two difficulties faced by working-class people.

3 Mark Questions

Q9

Explain why Priestley set the play in 1912.

Q10

Describe Priestley’s view of social responsibility.

Q11

Explain why Sheila represents hope for the future.

Q12

Describe the difference between capitalism and socialism.

4 Mark Questions

Q13

Explain how Priestley criticises class inequality.

Q14

Explain how the context helps audiences understand Eva Smith’s situation.

Q15

Explain how Priestley presents the generational divide.

Q16

Explain why dramatic irony is important in the play.

6 Mark Questions

Q17

How does Priestley use context to communicate his political ideas?

Q18

Explain how social responsibility is influenced by the historical context of the play.

Q19

How does Priestley use the characters to explore the class system?

12 Mark Questions

Q20

Starting with this idea, explore how Priestley uses the context of An Inspector Calls to communicate his message about society.

Answers

Q1

Q2

Q3

Mr Birling.

Q4

Inspector Goole.

Q5

  • Strong class divisions.
  • Large differences between rich and poor.

Q6

  • Equality.
  • Shared responsibility.

Q7

  • He says the Titanic is unsinkable.
  • He believes there will not be a major war.

Q8

  • Low wages.
  • Little support during hardship.

Q9

Priestley set the play in 1912 so he could criticise the attitudes and inequalities of Edwardian society. This allowed him to encourage social change in 1945.

Q10

Priestley believed people should care for one another and recognise that individual actions affect society as a whole.

Q11

Sheila accepts responsibility, learns from her mistakes and supports the Inspector’s ideas. Priestley uses her to represent positive change.

Q12

Capitalism focuses on individual success and profit, while socialism focuses on equality and collective responsibility.

Q13

Priestley shows wealthy characters using their power against Eva Smith. This highlights how unfairly working-class people were treated.

Q14

Understanding the lack of welfare support in 1912 helps explain why Eva became vulnerable when she lost her job and had nowhere to turn.

Q15

The older generation refuse to change, while the younger generation learn from the Inspector’s message. Priestley uses this contrast to suggest hope for the future.

Q16

Dramatic irony makes Mr Birling appear foolish because the audience knows his predictions about the future are incorrect. This weakens his credibility.

Q17 (6 Marks)

Priestley uses the play’s context to criticise selfish attitudes and promote social responsibility. By setting the play in 1912 and writing it in 1945, he highlights inequalities and mistakes from the past. Through characters such as Mr Birling and Inspector Goole, Priestley explores the conflict between capitalism and socialism. He encourages audiences to create a fairer and more caring society.

Q18 (6 Marks)

The historical context helps explain why social responsibility is a major theme. In 1912 there was limited support for people in poverty, meaning individuals often suffered without help. Priestley uses Eva Smith’s experiences to show the consequences of this system. Through the Inspector’s message, he argues that society should take collective responsibility for helping vulnerable people.

Q19 (6 Marks)

Priestley uses the Birling family to represent wealth, privilege and power. In contrast, Eva Smith represents the working class. The Birlings repeatedly make decisions that negatively affect Eva’s life. Through these characters, Priestley criticises class inequality and encourages greater fairness within society.

Q20 (12 Marks)

Priestley uses the context of An Inspector Calls to communicate a powerful message about society. By setting the play in 1912, he highlights the inequalities, class divisions and selfish attitudes that existed before the world wars. Through characters such as Mr Birling, Priestley criticises capitalism and the belief that individuals only need to care for themselves. In contrast, Inspector Goole promotes social responsibility and equality, reflecting Priestley’s socialist beliefs. The contrast between the older and younger generations further supports Priestley’s message, as Sheila and Eric learn from their mistakes while their parents remain unchanged. Through the play’s context, Priestley encourages audiences to build a fairer, more compassionate and responsible society.