AI Essay Marking

Priestley presents responsibility as a central theme in An Inspector Calls, using the Birling family to explore how different generations respond to their moral obligations. The play, written in 1945 but set in 1912, allows Priestley to critique the capitalist attitudes of the Edwardian era. Mr Birling is presented as irresponsible from the outset. His dismissal of Eva Smith's request for higher wages reveals his prioritisation of profit over people. Priestley uses dramatic irony when Birling declares the Titanic is "unsinkable," undermining his authority and suggesting that those who reject social responsibility are fundamentally misguided. In contrast, Sheila represents hope for change. Her immediate guilt upon learning of her role in Eva's death -- "I'll never, never do it again" -- shows genuine remorse. The repetition of "never" emphasises her determination to change, and Priestley uses her as a mouthpiece for socialist values. The Inspector himself functions as a moral authority. His final speech warning that "we are members of one body" echoes socialist principles and serves as a direct address to the audience. Priestley deliberately breaks the fourth wall to challenge the audience's own sense of responsibility. Ultimately, Priestley suggests that responsibility cannot be avoided. The cyclical structure of the play, with the final phone call announcing a real inspector, implies that those who refuse to accept responsibility will be forced to confront it again and again.