HOW IS THE THEME OF WEALTH PRESENTED THROUGHOUT THE INSPECTOR CALLS?
Priestley presents the theme of wealth from the very beginning of the play. Straight away we as an audience are introduced to the immediate setting- the Birling’s family dining room. Everything about this lavish room implies wealth, from the “good solid furniture”, to the cut glass, and to the opulent surroundings. Even the family’s needs are catered to in the form of the practically invisible Edna, and undoubtedly other butlers, scullery maids, and cooks, hidden away somewhere. Nevertheless an audience from 1946 would have been able to recognise that the plot of this play was set in a different era from theirs.
Subsequently when introduced to Arthur Birling it is blatantly obvious that he is very proud of being a self-made business man, bearing the confidence of successful industrialist , proving this in his rather “provincial”, lengthy eulogies, ranging from the possibility of war, to the new superliner, Titanic. For Mr Birling, money brings …show more content…
He is set apart from material considerations, making him an effective character to expose the failings of the rich and the unfairness of capitalism. His visit seeks to expose the failings of the Birling/Croft family, however on the other hand, it could be seen as a plea to Eric and Sheila, that they’re still young and have time to change their ways and part with the poison of a corrupt life swimming in wealth. Even if the plea doesn’t reach them, he intends to at the least open their eyes to the life they are living. Therefore, in conclusion, this play can be seen to serve as a warning about the pitfalls of wealth and the quest for financial reward, but evidently could be seen as a proposing plea from Priestley to audiences from all eras, that with wealth comes corruption, and the consequences are
Priestley presents the theme of wealth from the very beginning of the play. Straight away we as an audience are introduced to the immediate setting- the Birling’s family dining room. Everything about this lavish room implies wealth, from the “good solid furniture”, to the cut glass, and to the opulent surroundings. Even the family’s needs are catered to in the form of the practically invisible Edna, and undoubtedly other butlers, scullery maids, and cooks, hidden away somewhere. Nevertheless an audience from 1946 would have been able to recognise that the plot of this play was set in a different era from theirs.
Subsequently when introduced to Arthur Birling it is blatantly obvious that he is very proud of being a self-made business man, bearing the confidence of successful industrialist , proving this in his rather “provincial”, lengthy eulogies, ranging from the possibility of war, to the new superliner, Titanic. For Mr Birling, money brings …show more content…
He is set apart from material considerations, making him an effective character to expose the failings of the rich and the unfairness of capitalism. His visit seeks to expose the failings of the Birling/Croft family, however on the other hand, it could be seen as a plea to Eric and Sheila, that they’re still young and have time to change their ways and part with the poison of a corrupt life swimming in wealth. Even if the plea doesn’t reach them, he intends to at the least open their eyes to the life they are living. Therefore, in conclusion, this play can be seen to serve as a warning about the pitfalls of wealth and the quest for financial reward, but evidently could be seen as a proposing plea from Priestley to audiences from all eras, that with wealth comes corruption, and the consequences are