An Inspector calls has been called ‘a play of contrasts’. Write about how Priestley presents some of the contrasts in the play. (30 marks)

J.B. Priestley has used a range of contrasts throughout the play to give the reader a sharp and distinct comparison of different types of people within society. To some extent, these contrasts appear to be very extreme in order to emphasize differences. Priestley has done this to present to audiences of 1945 and even today’s modern audience how starkly different life was in 1912 and the seismic changes that have occurred in such a short space of time.

At the very start of the play, a first contrast is presented to us. We see a contrast between men and women. Eric mentions how he thinks that he is cleaver as he “left [the women] talking about clothes again”. This portrays that men of the time simply assumed that all women think and like to talk about is clothing. This contrasts to how life was in 1945 as women had played a large role in the winning of world war two, so this may come as an almost shocking reminder of how women were thought of in the early 20th, before they could even vote. This provides a contrast to the viewers of 1945 and modern day viewers. The word “again” is significant here as it symbolizes that it is an often occurrence that women are left talking about clothes and is a dramatic stereotype. This makes the reader almost sympathise with the women that we have already met in the play because of the low social status’ that they have, in comparison with men. Priestley has used a contrast of women and men to symbolize how unjust society was in 1912.

The second contrast that Priestley provides us with is a contrast between extreme politics. Mr Birling represents capitalism and Priestley uses the Inspector as a mouth piece for his views. Just before the Inspector coincidentally arrives, Mr Birling is making a speech to say that socialism would be being “together like bees in a hive”. It is very appropriate that the Inspector should arrive at this time because the Inspector seems to represent everything that Mr Birling does not. The word “bees” is particularly interesting here because bees often work together and live together and bees are considered to be a large family. Mr Birling disagrees with this socialistic view and believes that every man is independent and should look after himself and his interests, not anyone else’s. An audience of 1945 might have responded to Mr Birlings’ views as selfish, as world war two had just ended and there was a great sense of community. J.B. Priestley may have given the audience such contrasting political views to highlight the issues with capitalism.

Another contrast that we are presented with is the difference between the poor and the wealthy. In Act 2, Mrs Birling retorts to the Inspector “as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money”. This shows that the wealthy stereotype the poor and seem to think of them as a sub-human species. The tone in which Mrs Birling says this appears to convey a deep sense of prejudice and almost disgust for the poor. It is evident that Mrs Birling is not sympathetic towards Eva. The word “money” is interesting here. As it seems to highlight the Birlings’ attachment to it. The viewers of 1945 may have seen Mrs Birlings attitudes to the lower class as very offensive as these types of extreme social divides between upper and lower classes seemed to break down after two world wars. Priestley may have present such a contrast to emphasise how supercilious the wealthy were and how the lower class was a victim to capitalisms abuses.

Priestley also shows us a clear contrast between the young and the older generations. In Act 3, Sheila recognizes that “[they] drove that girl to commit suicide”. This highlights how Sheila feels sympathetic for Eva and guilt for what she has done. However, the older generation of Birlings and Gerald, seem less accepting to their roles in Eva’s death. They appear to be in denial of their parts in her death and as soon as the Inspector has left, they assume that what they had done was acceptable and are desperate to prevent a public scandal. The word “drove”, is particularly significant as it conveys the idea that Sheila, together with her family, delivered Eva into the jaws of death. This reflects how guilty Sheila is feeling and makes the audience feel sympathy for her as we understand that she has played a big role in Eva’s death. Priestley may have chosen to present a contrast between the younger and older generations to convey that the younger generations are more open minded and willing to look at life from someone else’s perspective. Furthermore, he may have used such a contrast to convey that through the younger generation, there is hope. Hope for a future where we are no longer selfish capitalists.

To conclude, Priestley has used extreme contrasts within the play itself to represent different members of society and show how truly different they are. Furthermore, by setting this play in 1912 and presenting it to an audience of 1945, he provides contrast to the audience of what life was life before to world wars. This allows the audience to interact with the play and its themes on a personal level.