An Inspector Calls Key Theme: Capitalism vs Socialism (Edexcel IGCSE English Literature)

Revision Note

Reviewed by: Kate Lee

Capitalism vs socialism mind map

The theme of capitalism versus socialism in each Act of An Inspector Calls:

Act	Quote	Summary
1	“For lower costs and higher prices”– Mr Birling	Mr Birling’s business strategy is pure capitalist greed: he wants to charge lots and pay little
1	“She sails next week … unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” – Mr Birling	Mr Birling’s comments about the Titanic reflects the blind faith of his generation in capitalism
1	“... it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it” – Inspector Goole	The Inspector uses Mr Birling’s own words against him to highlight his selfishness
2	“I wasn’t satisfied with the girl’s claim – she seemed to me to be not a good case” – Mrs Birling	Mrs Birling equates money with one’s “claim”, as though money only belongs to the deserving
3	“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other” – Inspector Goole	The Inspector uses the metaphor of a body to show that people depend on one another

What are the elements of capitalism vs socialism in An Inspector Calls?

Priestley presents capitalism vs socialism in An Inspector Calls through his characterisation:

The Inspector: Embodies socialism; his investigation and moralistic speeches condemn how the poor and impoverished are victims of capitalist greed
Mr Birling and Gerald Croft: Represent the greedy industrialists who treat workers like Eva Smith as cheap labour and refuse to raise wages
Eva Smith: Her tragic fate shows the destructive potential of capitalism: she was fired for seeking a living wage, and denied charity on the basis of her perceived worth

The impact of capitalism vs socialism on characters

Priestley, as a socialist, believed that wealth should be distributed throughout society, and that the wealthy and privileged have a responsibility to support the poorest in society. The play attacks the most selfish elements of capitalism by emphasising its amoral qualities:

Character	Impact
The Birlings and Gerald	Priestley contrasts the comfortable, affluent life of the Birlings with the distressing account of Eva’s wretched life: Gerald, son of the wealthy Crofts, also believes that Mr Birling was correct to sack a ‘troublemaker’ Mr Birling, resistant to the Inspector’s message, protects his business to maximise profits: He treats his workers with contempt, displaying no sense of responsibility or concern for their welfare
The Inspector	The Inspector personifies socialist ideology by acting for the benefit of others rather than himself: His central message is that everyone is connected by a “chain of events”; the actions of the upper classes affect the less fortunate The Inspector seizes control of the Birlings’ celebration, symbolising Priestley’s hope that socialism could overcome capitalism
Eva	Despite being a good worker, Eva is exploited and marginalised by the capitalist system: Priestley, through the Inspector, maintains that such a system creates inequalities in society and prevents social mobility

Why does Priestley use the theme of capitalism vs socialism in his play?

1. Setting and period

Priestley underscores how the wealthiest in society enjoy privileges and lives of excess, but are blind to the effects of their actions on the less fortunate in society
The play is a microcosm of capitalist society, set in an industrial city, in the home of a wealthy manufacturer

2. Plot driver

The play’s plot demonstrates what happens when powerful, greedy people prioritise money over the wellbeing of their fellow citizens
For Priestley, Eva Smith represents “millions and millions and millions” of impoverished people, oppressed by an economic system that puts profit before people

3. Audience appeal

Priestley’s 1945 audience was a more progressive and responsible generation, aware of workers’ rights and the rights of women like Eva
Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald reflect an outdated ideology from which society was seeking to move away

Exam-style questions on the theme of capitalism vs socialism

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of this theme:

Explore how Priestley presents different attitudes towards social responsibility in An Inspector Calls?
How does Priestley use Mr Birling to represent capitalism in An Inspector Calls?

Last updated: 14 November 2024

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