Priestley's Representation Of Gender In An Inspector Calls

The play ‘An Inspector Calls’, was written in 1945 by writer J.B Priestley. Its story revolves around a middle-class family called the Birlings, whom are celebrating the engagement of their daughter, Sheila. However, the play undergoes a subtle shift in mood and tone as an inspector lets them know that they have taken part in the suicide of a young lady called Eva Smith. Priestley chose to develop each character in the play in such a way that they all bring a lesson into the drama. Perhaps one of the characters that stands out the most is young Sheila Birling, who Priestley uses to portray his moral of responsibility, as well as make the audience infer that there is capability in change.
The dramatic significance of Sheila is evident in her representation of the disparity in gender in 1912. As the Birling family has finished dinner, Mrs Birling and Sheila, the women of the house, are asked to leave the room and leave the men to drink. This implies that society expected women to depart from the …show more content…
Near the end of Act III, the Inspector departs and leaves not only the Birlings, but the audience speechless. After his emotive warning, we are taught the importance of taking responsibility for our actions or men will be taught this lesson ‘in fire and blood and anguish’. However, once the Birlings realize that Inspector Goole had never been heard of at the police station, they hope to not have to face their past responsibilities, and go on with their night as if nothing had happened. This is when Priestley uses Sheila to echo the inspector’s voice as they “are being childish – trying not to face the facts”, thus to remind them of their amiss attitudes. Priestley uses Sheila as a role model as she takes blame for her actions and realises that she is the one to blame, and no one