An inspector calls - themes

inspector quote: "one eva smith has gone...and what we think and say and do"

• collective responsibility
• everyone linked - same way characters linked to eva smith 
• "one body"- society more important than individual interests 
• spokesman for priestly getting across his socialist views  

adds clear warning to what would happen if we ignore our responsibility:

"and i tell you that the time will soon come...taught in fire and blood and anguish"

• all characters have either accepted responsibilty and learnt (young)
• or not and ignored and denied resposibilty (old)

class:

• each individual has there own outlook on Eva Smith of the lower class at both the start and end of the play.

sex:

• Eva was a woman- no status 
• no social securtiy and few job options open to women 
• Mr Birling dissmissive: "we were paying the usual rates..."
• Gerald: "young and fresh and charming" (someone to take advantage of)
• Mrs Birling: saw eva a presumptious upstart (know it all) finding little excuses to not give her a respectful amount money like the charitiy usually did to women. only offered her small amount that Eva turned down. 

the old:

• utterly confident that they are right 
• see the young as foolish 
• want to protect themselves
• never before have been forced to examine consequences (upper class)
• much to fear- will lose everything 
• deny responsibilty 

the young:

• open to new ideas- express sympathy to workers 
• honest and admit their faults 
• examen their consciences 
• nothing to fear as will admit what they did wrong and willing to change
• accept responsibilty as a whole 

capitalism VS socialism 

upper class VS lower class

young VS old 

individuals VS society 

men VS women 

acceptance VS denial