Generation Gap Theme in An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley Essay Example

One of the main themes presented by Priestly in an inspector calls in the generation gap, who the two generations have different ideas of responsibility, the way they treat for perceive others and changing their actions in the future. This concept at the time would make the audience question if there was a divides society with differences between the different classes which was a growing topic when the play was performed in 1945.

Priestly portrays Eric as a half shy middle-class man of the younger generation. At the start of the play in Act1 Sheila calls Eric ‘squiffy’ as he is drunk. However, Mrs Birling replies with ‘What an expression, Sheila! Really the things you girls pick up these days!’ This implies the lack of understanding or compassion for Eric and his drinking problem as Mrs. birling just dismisses it showing the lack of understanding between the two generations. The phrase ‘these days’ implies that the phrases Sheila has picked up are new or unfamiliar to Mrs. Birling further showing the generation gap as the younger generation have picked up more modern phrases while the older generation still speak in a more old and formal way. Later, in the play when Mr., Birling is being interrogated by the inspector he says. ‘He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out’ This shows that Eric sympathizes with the strikers and Eva as he says he could have not fired her. This further implies that the younger generation in general have more social responsibility and more empathy than the older generation, who do not care much if not at all and have little to no social responsibility. Towards the end of the play in Act 3 when the inspector has left Eric says, ‘And it doesn't alter the fact that we all helped to kill her.' The adjective ‘all’ suggests that Eric is not blaming it all on one individual like the older generation, instead he is saying they all did things that helped caused Eva Smith’s death. Additionally, the phrase ‘doesn’t alter’ implies that Eric is taking responsibility for his actions as he knows he cannot change them showing that the younger generation can take responsibility and the older generation cannot.

Priestly portrays Sheila as a selfish and generic upper-class woman of the younger generation at the start of the play, who is willing to change their ways later in the play. Sheila’s selfish ways were first portrayed at the start of the play when Gerald gives her an expensive engagement ring she says, ‘Now I feel really engaged’. The adverb ‘Now’ implies that Sheila did not feel engaged before showing that she needed the ring to feel engaged. Additionally, the word ‘really’ implies that she may have felt a little engaged before, she now feels really engaged because of the ring. All of this shows she was materialistic which is a selfish trait implying she was selfish. A bit later in the play when Sheila was being interrogated by the inspector she says ‘No, not really. It was my own fault.’ This implies that Sheila is taking responsibility for her actions as she says the death of Eva was her fault showing that the younger generation take responsibility for their actions unlike the older generation who blame it on everyone else. Towards the end of the play when everyone is trying to dismiss Eva’s death Sheila says, ‘There is nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn?’ The word ‘sorry’ implies that Sheila thinks that every should still feel bad for what they have done to Eva and take responsibility. Additionally, the word ‘learn’ suggests that as well as everyone taking responsibility for their actions, they should learn what not to do in the future. In this quote, Sheila has taken the role of Priestley’s mouthpiece since the inspector has gone showing how the younger generation have changed towards the end of the play.

Mr. Birling is portrayed as a typical upper-class man of the older generation who has very capitalist views and is not willing to change. At the start of the play Mr. Birling says ‘Now you three young people, just listen to this... by the time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these Capital versus Labour agitators and these silly little war scares’ The word ‘silly’ implies that Mr. Birling sees the war talks as hoaxes and that they won’t happen showing his lack of understanding and naiveness. The word ‘little’ shows how big Mr. Birling thinks the scale of the war talks are further showing his lack of understanding. The phrase ‘forgotten all these Capital vs Labour’ agitators shows that Mr. Birling thinks that no one will vote labour as he is a strong capitalist supporter. Later on, in the play Mr. Birling says ‘ I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’ The word ‘cover’ shows that Mr. Birling doesn’t want to take responsibility, instead he wants to cover up what he has done wrong showing that he is selfish. This is reinforced with the phrase ‘as soon as’ implying that he wants to keep his reputation at all costs not caring one bit about Eva. This idea is further reinforced when Mr. Birling says, ‘You’re the one I blame for this.’ This shows that Mr. Birling cannot take responsibility for his actions which is a common theme in the older generation. The word ‘one’ shows that he cannot take responsibility for his actions as he is blaming it all on one person. This is reenforced with the word ‘blame’ showing he thinks it was all one person’s doing unlike the younger generation who say that they all helped to kill Eva.

Priestly portrays Mrs Birling as a cold-hearted upper-class woman who is unable to change or take responsibility for her actions. In Act 2 Mrs Birling says, ‘Girls of that class.’ This shows Mrs. Birling’s cold heartedness and lack of care for Eva. The word ‘that’ suggests that Mrs Birling thinks she is on a whole different level to Eva believing she is more superior to her. This would have been a common belief of the upper class at the time as the country at the time was very capitalist. Later on, Mrs Birling says, ‘As if a girl of that sought would refuse money.’ The word ‘sought’ reenforces the idea of Mrs birling being very classist and snobby, thinking she is superior to everyone with less money. The phrase ‘as if’ implies that Mrs Birling thinks its almost impossible that a girl would refuse money showing her stereotypical capitalist views on the lower class. Towards the end of the play, Mrs Birling says, ‘But I think she has only herself to blame’ This shows that Mrs Birling like Mr Birling does not care about Eva and does not take responsibility for her actions. 

Priestly portrays Gerald as a well-mannered upper-class man who is a mix of both the older and younger generation. Just before Gerald is about to be interrogated by the inspector he says ‘We can keep it from him’ This shows that like the older generation, Gerald cannot take responsibility for what he has done so he has resorted to hiding the truth. However later on when he finds out what happened he says ‘I’m rather more – upset – by this business than I probably appear to be’ This shows that unlike the older generation, actually cared about Eva up to a point. This separates him from the older generation. However, towards the end of the play Gerald says ‘Everything is alright now Sheila.’ This shows that Gerald has completely forgotten what he has done and is dismissing it. This implies that he has learned nothing.

In conclusion, the generation gap is one of Priestley’s biggest topic in an inspector calls because when the play was performed in 1945 after the second world war, it was a time where the divisions of classes were being lost and more equality acts were being put in which the two generations in the play had very different views on.

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Priestley juxtaposes the older and younger generation in 'An Inspector Calls' to highlight the differences in attitudes towards the expoitation of the working class, particularly through the characters of Sheila and Mrs Birling.In the exposition of the play, Mrs Birling only speaks to spread criticism and to rebuke those who go against the upper class  etiquettes, ' Arthur, you're not supposed to say such things' which confirms that she is undoubtedly 'a rather cold woman'. The adjective 'cold' has connotations of cruelty and emotionlessness, which contrast with the characteristics of a typical mother and charity worker. In contrast, Priestley presents Sheila's optimism and enjoyment in the stage directions, 'very pleased with life and rather excited'. Here, the adjectives 'pleased' and 'excited' convey Sheila's hope and contentedness; Unlike Eva's, Sheila's life has been easy and luxurious.However, after the arrival of the inspector, we can evidently see that Sheila develops from a naive child where she seeks her mother's approval,' Look Mummy, Isn't it a beauty?' to a responsible young woman who enquires about more relevant things, 'So I'm really responsible?'.Priestley utilises both younger and older characters to display hope for the future, as Sheila is willing to transform herself to benefit others.

In act two, Priestley heightens the differences between Sheila and Mrs Birling significantly to convey that in order to build a better society and destroy the cloud of ignorance, we must look to the younger generation. By refusing to accept responsibility for the death of Eva Smith, Mrs Birling portrays herself as stubborn and inconsiderate when she says, ' I consider 


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generation gap essay an inspector calls

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — An Inspector Calls — Exploring Generational Conflict in “An Inspector Calls”

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Exploring Generational Conflict in "An Inspector Calls"

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Published: Aug 31, 2023

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Character analysis: the older generation, character analysis: the younger generation, generational divide in values and beliefs, impact of inspector goole's interrogation, evolution of character perspectives, social commentary through generational lens, family dynamics and generational impact, resolution and implications, conclusion: generational divide as a catalyst for change.

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generation gap essay an inspector calls

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An Inspector Calls

Generation vs generation alexandra rozanski 11th grade.

There are drastic differences that are seen in people who are born in different generations. One may argue that the younger generations are more impressionable and naive while the older generations are very hardheaded and assertive. By creating characters like Sheila and Eric with a large age gap between Mr. and Mrs. Birling in the play An Inspector Calls, tension is created through their differences clashing. J.B. Priestley’s use of contrasting characterization within the Birling family in the play An Inspector Calls creates tension and communicates his theme that one must take into consideration the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for them.

The Birling’s children, Erica and Sheila, are presumed to be very naive and still listening and agreeing with their parent’s words due to their ages. Yet, thought the play both Eric and Sheila prove to be mentally mature and responsible while directly reflect the inspector’s message. Eric Birling was caught up in the complicated situation relating to the death of Eva Smith through his role in impregnating her. Although he is ashamed, he steps up to the plate and confesses his actions and even admits to the fact that “I wasn’t in love with her or anything”, yet he...

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generation gap essay an inspector calls

Mr Salles Teaches English

generation gap essay an inspector calls

Grade 9: The Older v Younger Generation

An inspector calls, by aysha amzad.

generation gap essay an inspector calls

How successfully does Priestley present different attitudes between the older and younger generations in An Inspector Calls?

In "An Inspector Calls," Priestley successfully presents different attitudes between the older and younger generations. The younger generation represent a false sense of hope, because in the end, the capitalist patriarchy overcomes them. However, the older generation is trapped by hubris, because they are too obstinate to acknowledge their faults and choose to forget the inspector's lesson.

Throughout the play, Sheila is seen as the proxy of the inspector, yet ultimately giving a false sense of hope that she has truly learned her lesson. She changes from being in the comfort of complacency in capitalist society to being a representative of socialist change. When she exclaims " these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people ," we glimpse Sheila's change. The contrast of " they’re people " portrays her raw emotion of being faced with the bitter reality of her father and fiance exploiting helpless workers. They are forced to operate within a cartel, so they do not have the viable option to work in another factory. However, Sheila refers to the women as " girls " which could suggest that she too has a diminished identity as woman. Despite her high status in society, this isn’t enough to overcome the patriarchal dismissal of women.

However, once the inspector leaves Sheila seems powerless to retain the inspector’s lesson. Gerald confirms Sheila's somewhat reluctant acceptance of capitalism. When he offers " what about this ring? " Sheila replies, " I must think ," which implies that she has not changed. The fact that she even considers the potential marriage after Gerald's newfound affair and Eva’s suicide explicitly portrays how she has not learned her lesson.

For example, she later goes on to say " it was my fault she was so desperate ," therefore blaming herself for Gerald's affair. In 19th century society, women were conditioned from birth to blame themselves for men's faults, trying to pretend that they were content with their unequal marriage. The curtailed phrase " just out of pity " further emphasises her attempt at deluding herself that Gerald is truly, in fact, her “ fairy Prince ” and not someone who, in actuality, had a premeditated plan to install Eva in his friend's apartment in order to sexually exploit her for less money than a prostitute at the Palace Bar.

Alternatively, Sheila has learned her lesson, but Priestly suggests that because of the patriarchy, a woman did not have a voice to advocate for political change, and therefore, he is also implying the severe inequality of capitalist society and that having a socialist reform would restore said equality.

Similarly, Eric represents the younger generation, but he follows the attitudes of Gerald and Mr. Birling in that he, out of cowardice, chooses to delude himself by trivialising his heinous crimes towards Eva. He normalises his sexual violation by using the euphemism " I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty ." The phrase “ that state ” implies that his behaviour is universally accepted as typically male because it is so common. He sees himself as a good “chap”, who is terribly influenced by drinking. Priestley makes Eric use the third person of " chap " as a way of displaying Eric's deceiving nature, as he used this to disassociate from his guilt in how he treated Eva. Thus Eric is the epitome of sexual exploitation in the play.

Mr. Birling represents the upper class exploitation of the working classes, full of Eva Smiths and John Smiths. Just as Eric knows his behaviour is criminal, Birling knows his treatment of the strike leaders is criminal. So, when Birling says " we were paying the usual rates, and if they did not like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else ," he essentially justifies sacking Eva despite knowing full well that the Birlings and Crofts are an illegal cartel. They can’t “ go and work somewhere else ” if that somewhere is a factory. This criminality reveals there is only a very slight difference between the younger and older generations.

Furthermore, the Inspector accuses all the male characters of being the issue in society, regardless of their generation. This is significant because Priestly conveys that they are equal in attitudes despite their age. So he warns, " If men will not learn, they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish ." The distinctive address to men portrays how women had no influence or voice in the patriarchal society of 1912. The triplet " fire, blood, and anguish " is a direct reference to the war, emphasising how the capitalist regime sees people as pawns to earn a profit as they are merely expendable, just like a balance sheet of profit and loss.

Its triadic structure could also arguably imply how capitalism is anti-trinity, hence socialism would be what Christians should follow.

Therefore, Priestly captures the younger generation's false hope for socialist reform, as they seem to drown in capitalist conformity by the end, standing with capitalist constructs (Birling, Gerald), though they have little control within society. The play ultimately presents a scathing critique of capitalism and its inherent inequalities, and the failure of individuals to recognise and change their own complicity in perpetuating those inequalities.

I’ve fiddled with word order and unclear vocabulary to show Aysha how to get grade 9. If she has used ChatGPT to help her, why not? (I could be wrong). She can totally revise from it in her exam, as can you. But she has written a much better essay than ChatGPT can do on its own when I play with it!

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Example Essay: Age

How does Priestley explore the difference in attitudes between older and younger generations in An Inspector Calls?

‘An Inspector Calls’ is about responsibility. Priestley purposely contrasts the responsibility of the younger generation and the irresponsibility of the older generation to suggest the younger generation are the hope for the future.

Priestley presents the attitude of older characters through the character of Arthur Birling. Before the Inspector arrives, Arthur Birling boasts to Gerald and Eric that ‘a man has to mind his own business, look after himself and his own’. Arthur Birling appears proud of his selfish business model. The use of the words ‘his’ and ‘himself’ shows that Birling only wants to protect his own interests and does not take responsibility for his workers. Priestley also has him state ‘I refused of course’ which demonstrates that Birling is proud that he refused his workers a pay rise. The words ‘of course’ suggest that Arthur Birling believes it was an obvious decision and that he acted in the right way. Priestley makes clear that Arthur Birling accepts no blame for his actions. Additionally, he conveys that Arthur Birling is more concerned about his own reputation by having him offer the inspector ‘thousands’. Priestley demonstrates that Birling has lots of money but still refuses to give his workers a pay rise which indicates that he only uses his money for selfish reasons. Priestley could have been criticising the selfish attitudes of the wealthy.

Priestley also presents the attitude of older characters through the character of Sybil Birling.. When questioned by the Inspector, Sybil states that she was ‘perfectly justified’. The word ‘perfectly’ suggests that she feels she did absolutely nothing wrong and is surprised to even be questioned about her actions. Priestley has Sybil say the word ‘justified’ more than once, to emphasise how right she feels she was in denying help to Eva Smith. Priestley also presents Sybil as prejudiced when she describes Eva Smith as one of many ‘girls of that class’. The words ‘that class’ conveys Sybil looks down on the working class and believes they are all bad people. Perhaps Priestley put Sybil in charge of a charity in order to criticise wealthy people who used charities to make themselves look good rather than helping the poor.

Priestley presents the difference between older and younger characters through the character of Sheila. It is clear that, before the Inspector’s arrival, Sheila is immature and selfish. She is extremely ‘pleased’ with herself at the start of the play because she is engaged. When the Inspector arrives, Sheila takes responsibility for her actions and admits she had Eva Smith fired. However, when the Inspector questions Sheila, Sheila goes as far as to say ‘I started it’. Priestley makes clear that Shiela immediately accepts responsibility, unlike her father, who was the one who started it by refusing to give Eva a pay rise. Priestley contrasts Sheila with Sybil, who says ‘I was perfectly justified’ and Arthur, who says ‘I can’t accept any responsibility’. Whereas Sheila, a guilty character, acknowledges her mistakes, Arthur and Sybil refuse to admit that they did anything wrong. Through Sheila’s character, Priestley suggests the younger generation are more responsible and will bring change to society.

Priestley also presents the difference between older and younger characters through the character of Eric. When questioned by the Inspector, Priestley makes clear Eric feels guilty by having him describe his actions as ‘hellish’. The word ‘hellish’ shows Eric regrets his actions and takes responsibility. Priestley also presents Eric as responsible when he has him say ‘you’re beginning to pretend that nothing really happened’. These words show Eric is angry with his parents because unlike him they will not take responsibility. Priestley contrasts Eric, a guilty and ashamed man, with Sybil, who says to the inspector ‘go and look for the father of the child’. Priestley’s use of dramatic irony when Sybil says these words reveals how little Sybil understands about her son’s actions. Priestley uses Eric to contrast the older generation because he realises that he should still feel guilty but his parents are happy to forget their actions.

In ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley exposes the lack of responsibility among the middle and upper classes and offers a cry for change, commanding his 1945 audience to show greater compassion for the working classes and promote greater social responsibility in British society. Priestley uses the contrast between older and younger characters in the play to reveal the chasm between traditional classist attitudes and more progressive socialist ideals, hoping that the transformation of his younger characters will propel his audience on the same trajectory and build a fairer, more equal society for all.

Priestley uses the character of Arthur Birling to exhibit the selfish, capitalist attitudes of many wealthy businessmen in the 1900s. Before the Inspector arrives, Arthur Birling boasts to Gerald and Eric that ‘a man has to mind his own business, look after himself and his own’. Priestley’s repetition of the words ‘his’ and ‘himself’ emphasise how much Arthur Birling protects his own interests, and how little responsibility he takes for others outside of his own family. This becomes even clearer when Arthur Birling states ‘I refused, of course’ in response to the Inspector’s questions about Eva Smith. Birling ‘refused’ to give a very small pay rise to his workers because he is more interested in his own profits than their welfare. The words ‘of course’ suggest that Arthur Birling is arrogant, and is surprised to even be questioned about his actions, which he clearly feels were justified. Priestley uses the Inspector’s arrival to challenge the way the Birlings behaved. While some of the characters respond well to the Inspector’s questioning, Arthur Birling accepts no blame for his part in Eva Smith’s death. He is more concerned about his own reputation and tries to pay off the Inspector, offering ‘thousands’ if the Inspector will keep quiet about his involvement. The fact that Birling can afford ‘thousands’, yet ‘refused’ a small pay rise to his workers, demonstrates his lack of responsibility for others. Priestley could have been criticising capitalist values through presenting Arthur Birling in this way.

Priestley’s presentation of Sybil Birling as prejudiced and unsympathetic reveals the ineffectiveness of private charities as a means of support and welfare for the working classes in 1912. When questioned by the Inspector about why she influenced others in her charitable organisation to refuse help to Eva Smith, Sybil states that she was ‘perfectly justified’. The word ‘perfectly’, a bit like the words ‘of course’ when Arthur Birling explains himself, suggest that she feels she did absolutely nothing wrong and is surprised to even be questioned about her actions. Priestley has Sybil say the word ‘justified’ more than once, to emphasise how right she feels she was in denying help to Eva Smith. It is clear that, although Sybil should be always looking to help others, she is too judgemental to offer help to the working classes. She describes Eva Smith as one of many ‘girls of that class’. The words ‘that class’ have a very snobbish tone, suggesting that Sybil Birling sees herself as superior and looks down on the working classes. It is clear that she thinks the working classes are not deserving of help and should accept responsibility for the trouble they find themselves in. This is highly hypocritical, given that she is supposed to be working for an organisation that will help them. Priestley could have deliberately put Sybil in charge of a charity in order to criticise private organisations run by wealthy individuals, who were less interested in the people they were helping, and more interested in how it made them look. Perhaps he was proposing that the only way people would be able to get the help they needed was through government run organisations, such as the NHS, which was established in the same year that he wrote the play.

Priestley contrasts Sybil and Arthur’s unsympathetic attitudes with Sheila’s guilt. It is clear that, before the Inspector’s arrival, Sheila is immature and selfish. She is extremely ‘pleased’ with herself at the start of the play because she is engaged to a respectable gentleman, and the entire family are celebrating her engagement. When the Inspector arrives, Sheila is forced to face up to the fact that she selfishly had Eva Smith fired from her job at Milwards because she was jealous of her good looks. It is clear, therefore, that Sheila had quite willingingly misused her parents’ account at Milwards to get what she wanted. However, when the Inspector questions Sheila, Sheila goes as far as to say ‘I started it’. The audience knows, in fact, that it was Arthur Birling who started it but, unlike Sheila, Arthur Birling feels no sympathy and no guilt. Through Sheila’s character, Priestley offers hope to his audience that the younger generation will be more socially responsible, and will take actions that benefit others.

Priestley contrasts Arthur and Sybil’s double standards with Eric’s guilt. When the family learn that Eric is the father of Eva Smith’s unborn child, both parents are shocked; they could never have imagined that their son would have got himself involved with a working class girl in this way. However, as soon as they learn from Gerald that the Inspector isn’t real, they are happy to return to the way things were, feeling confident in the knowledge that Eric’s actions won’t damage their reputation. In this sense, they display double standards. Arthur Birling was highly critical of Eva Smith for stepping out of line in asking for a pay rise, yet seems happy to ignore and forget the irresponsible behaviour of his son. Sybil looks down on ‘girls of that class’ for getting themselves into difficult situations, yet is also happy to return to the celebratory mood in spite of the fact that it was her own son who contributed to Eva Smith’s situation. Eric, on the other hand, feels terrible guilt for his actions. When questioned by the Inspector, he describes the circumstances in which he met Eva Smith as ‘hellish’. It is clear that he regrets drinking too much and forcing himself upon her. He cannot believe it when his parents are prepared to go back to the way things were, accusing them of ‘beginning to pretend now that nothing really happened at all’. Priestley uses Eric’s confrontational attitude to highlight the extreme difference in the thoughts and behaviour of the older and younger characters and to suggest that the younger generation will need to be forceful in order to change the bad habits of the older generation.

Priestley challenges traditional age roles in the play. In 1912, it would have been expected that young people respected and obeyed their elders. By the end of the play, however, Sheila and Eric begin to challenge their parents’ values, giving hope that society can change for the better. The Inspector has activated their conscience and, through displaying this, Priestley hopes to activate his audience’s conscience too. Perhaps he hoped the audience would leave feeling proud that a new socialist Labour party had been voted in earlier that year, and were set to make changes that would create greater equality for all.

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An Inspector Calls: The Generation Gap

An Inspector Calls: The Generation Gap

Subject: English

Age range: 14-16

Resource type: Lesson (complete)

MrGradgrind's Shop

Last updated

27 January 2021

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This 35-slide lesson is designed to explore and revise the ‘generation gap’ in J.B. Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’.

The lesson considers the gulf between the younger and older characters in the play with reference to key quotations and character development. We think about how the elder characters blame and criticise the younger characters in the play, and how the younger characters judge their disappointing elders in turn. Priestley’s authorial intentions are also explored, thinking about how each character is used symbolically. Each character is dissected in detail, including the ambiguities of Gerald’s place in terms of generational divisions.

Questions, discussion points, and tasks are included for students. An essay question is featured at the end of the lesson.

This resource is perfect for GCSE analysis of the play.

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Brilliant! This goes step-by-step through the characters, bringing in dramatic devices, plenty of discussion points and all leading up to the big question of the generation gap.

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A Study of the Conflict Between Different Generations as Depicted in John Boynton Priestley' S Play An Inspector Calls

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An Inspector Calls

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generation gap essay an inspector calls

Age: The Generation Gap

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generation gap essay an inspector calls

Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in attempt to change what society valued. He wanted British society to value people and not profit. This is quite a fundamental change when you consider that Britain ran the slave trade for profit; sent working men to their deaths in the mines for profit; and created an empire that was built on the suffering of human beings, for profit.

Britain - and the west in general - has struggled to put people before profit since forever, and priestley wanted to change that., however, the trouble with fundamental change is that it takes time - often generations have to pass before it is really accepted - and the bitter truth is that a lot of people can't keep up. the image of the racist old uncle at a family gathering is a cliche for a reason: older people tend to struggle to keep up with change, simply because their previous prejudices were so engrained. if you were brought up in the late 1800s, for example, believing that people of colour were inferior to white europeans, then it's no surprise that by the time you're in your 80s you'll be struggling to deal with the civil rights movement., this isn't true for everyone, of course, and lots of people do change. there are lots and lots of older people who embrace newness and see the positivity that can come when tired, old ideas are put aside for fairer, more innovative solutions. mr and mrs birling are not like that; though their children very definitely are..., the older generation, mr birling is adamant that he won't change. even as he is being challenged by the inspector he makes it clear that he " can't " take responsibility for everyone, and throughout the interrogation birling constantly tries to get out of taking the blame. immediately after the inspector leaves, birling blames his son for the whole thing which demonstrates clearly that he has learnt nothing. as soon as gerald makes it clear that the inspector wasn't real birling begins to show his relief, calling the whole thing " moonshine ," and claiming "w e've been had, that's all ." he wants sheila to take the ring back and he wants to go back to normal. he has not changed., mrs birling does the same - though her repeated arguments that she " wasn't fooled " show that she's not only resisted the changed, but feels so disgusted by the process that she feels the need to claim she wasn't ever even affected by the event. she also, like her husband, dismisses the event and tries to go back to normal. one of the first things she does is tell her children that they're " overtired ," which is simply her going back to treating her children like the infants they were at the beginning of the play., the younger generation:, shiela and eric have definitely changed - and sheila even more so than her brother. at the beginning of the play, both sheila and eric are infantilised by their parents (which means they are treated like small children.) both eric and sheila live up to this by bickering over the dinner table. during the inspector's visit, however, we can see sheila growing up. she refuses to leave the room when asked, she stands up to her parents, and, at one point, reminds them that " i'm not a child, don't forget . " and after the inspector leaves she remains determined and resolute in her desire to stand up to her parents: " the point is, you don't seem to have learnt anything ." eric is similar, in that he also stands up to his parents, but often is best summarised by the line: " sheila is right. " in this play, the younger generation change, and sheila is at their head., it's also worth reflecting on the fact that any teenagers watching this play in 1945 would have been encouraged to identify with sheila and eric. and those teenagers grew up into the rebellious 1950s, and then came the counter culture movements of the 1960s and 1970s where thousands of teenagers protested for civil rights, peace and harmony amongst all peoples., gerald: the man in the middle, gerald is often presented as someone who sits between the generations and this is reflected in his behaviour. he is an aristocrat, which, in the play makes him a part of the older world. however, he is also much younger than birling. his character arc here, means he changes when the inspector is around and then changes back once the inspector has gone. almost as though he can see priestley's truth while it is presented to him; but, left to his own devices, he will shift back to his old ways., socialism, capitalism and age, at one point the inspector agrees that he is having an impact on sheila by saying: " we often do on the young ones ." this has been historically very true. there is an old saying that everyone becomes more right wing as we get older. the idea is that socialism, the left wing, believe in justice and fairness; and that a belief in justice and fairness is a little naive. the theory is that since life isn't actually like that, the older you get the more cynical you become and the more you decide you'd quite like to keep what you've earned, thank-you very much. as a result, you naturally become more right wing., this is often proven in elections when younger voters tend to vote labour, while older voters tend to vote tory. in this play, priestley presents the younger generation as being more capable of changing, and it's quite possible that this is the reason why younger people tend to be more socialist. as an ideology, capitalism is really very similar to darwinism, which is the system that runs the natural world - the strong survive, the weak die off. socialist ideas, however, often mark the areas where human civilisation differs from the natural world - we work together, we support one another, and we help those in need in a way that animals don't., if the shift from capitalism to socialism is really a shift from darwinism to civilisation, then it is to be expected that the young - who are simply one step further away from our animal pasts - will be more ready to adapt., quotes bank, mr birling : ‘now you three young people, just listen to this.. by the time you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these capital versus labour agitators and these silly little war scares’ this is a great example of mr birling's arrogance - he's older and thinks he knows best - but the audience at the time knew that the labour and war scares were very real and would lead to decades of death and disaster. so much for wisdom, mr bilring: 'you've a lot to learn yet' (about eric), sheila - “we are all to blame”, sheila - “mother – stop – stop”, mrs birling: you seem to have made a great impression on this child, inspector. inspector: we often do on the young ones. they’re more impressionable., sheila - “the point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything”, eric – “i'm ashamed of you as well - both of you”, eric – “the fact remains that i did what i did. and mother did what she did. and the rest of you did what you did to her.", " you began to learn something. and now you’ve stopped
 it frightens me the way you talk, and i can’t listen to any more of it ." here, sheila shows how the older generation may seem to learn things before going back to their old ways. sheila, though, as part of the younger generation is showing how capable of change she is . the fact that she says they "frighten " her is quite central here though, as it really reflects the wars and turmoil that were on their way., ‘now look at the pair of them - the famous younger generation who know it all. and they can’t even take a joke-’ mr birling can be a real idiot sometimes..

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An Inspector Calls

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Notes || Exam Prep || Character Profiles || Themes || Additional Reading & Videos

This topic is included in  Paper 2 . You can find notes and guides for it below.

  • Overview and Key Scenes
  • Glossary of Key Terms
  • Definitions Flashcards
  • Guide to Paper 2
  • How to plan and write a top mark essay
  • Question Bank - Characters
  • Question Bank - Relationships
  • Question Bank - Themes

Additional Reading & Videos:

  • An Inspector Calls (2017 film version)
  • An Inspector Calls (1982 film version)
  • An Introduction to An Inspector Calls

Character Profiles

  • Eric Birling
  • Gerald Croft
  • Mrs Birling
  • Sheila Birling
  • The Inspector
  • Capitalism vs Socialism
  • Exploitation
  • Generations Young vs Old
  • Social Class
  • Social Responsibility
  • Wealth and Materialism

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COMMENTS

  1. The Theme of Generational Gap in an Inspector's Calls: [Essay Example

    This essay analyzes how J.B. Priestley uses the tension of older vs younger generation in An Inspector Calls to communicate the theme that one must take into consideration the consequences of their actions and take responsibility for them. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on 'Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned'?

  2. Generation Gap Theme in An Inspector Calls by J. B ...

    One of the main themes presented by Priestly in an inspector calls in the generation gap, who the two generations have different ideas of responsibility, the way they treat for perceive others and changing their actions in the future.

  3. Themes

    Age in An Inspector Calls. Sheila and Eric Birling represent the younger generation who learn from their mistakes. Age is an important theme in An Inspector Calls. Priestley uses it to show how he ...

  4. AQA English Revision

    An Inspector Calls Essays. ... is an improvement in that it does mention responsibility more often and has some interesting observations about the generation gap. The third paragraph feels unfinished and unclear - it sounds like it's saying that Mr and Mrs Birling value accountability highly, or that the view a "lack of accountability" highly ...

  5. An Inspector Calls (Grades 9-1) York Notes

    Key theme: The generation gap Once the Inspector has gone and the Birlings are able to behave more freely, Priestley creates a dramatic situation for maximum impact. The Birlings become like two opposing armies, Sheila and Eric on one side and Mr and Mrs Birling on the other.

  6. An Inspector Calls Generation Gap

    As we study An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley we look at how a generation gap seems to form between young and older characters, particularly in Act 3 as The Inspector leaves and allows the characters to discuss amongst themselves what has happened and what they have discovered about themselves.

  7. PDF Edexcel English Literature GCSE An Inspector Calls: Themes

    Generations: Young vs. Old. The idea of age and generational identity runs throughout the play. The Birling family is split into two generations: the parents and the children. The generational divide doesn't just refer to the relationship between a parent and their child in a familial context. Priestley examines how your life experiences and ...

  8. Generation Gap In AIC

    Priestley juxtaposes the older and younger generation in 'An Inspector Calls' to highlight the differences in attitudes towards the expoitation of the working class, particularly through the characters of Sheila and Mrs Birling.In the exposition of the play, Mrs Birling only speaks to spread criticism and to rebuke those who go against the upper...

  9. Grade 9 Model Essay and Revision Guide: Generational Differences in An

    Subject: English Age range: 14-16 Resource type: Assessment and revision File previews pdf, 79.41 KB Description: This digital resource aids educators in teaching J.B. Priestley's "An Inspector Calls," focusing on the portrayal of the older and younger generations within the play. ** Resource Highlights:**

  10. An Inspector Calls: Generation Gap Essay (Top Band)

    File previews. pdf, 61.8 KB. Top band essay analysing how Priestley explores the 'generation gap' in 'An Inspector Calls'. Perfect for high-attaining students studying the play at GCSE. Includes a key for reading and highlighting the essay with your class.

  11. Age Divide/ Generation differences Theme, An Inspector Calls: GCSE

    The generational gap idea The four other themes of An Inspector Calls discussed on OxNotes are Responsibility, Conflict between characters and classes, Social Class and Sexism/ Gender Differences. Click the links to visit those themes. This page discusses the 'generational gap' idea used by J. B. Priestley.

  12. Exploring Generational Conflict in "An Inspector Calls"

    Published: Aug 31, 2023 Table of contents J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls" delves into the complexities of societal attitudes and generational differences. The interplay between the older and younger characters serves as a lens through which themes of class, responsibility, and societal change are explored.

  13. An Inspector Calls Essay

    One may argue that the younger generations are more impressionable and naive while the older generations are very hardheaded and assertive. By creating characters like Sheila and Eric with a large age gap between Mr. and Mrs. Birling in the play An Inspector Calls, tension is created through their differences clashing.

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    A lesson exploring the theme of the generation gap in 'An Inspector Calls', you will need your workbook to complete this lesson. If you haven't got it, there...

  15. Grade 9: The Older v Younger Generation

    The younger generation represent a false sense of hope, because in the end, the capitalist patriarchy overcomes them. However, the older generation is trapped by hubris, because they are too obstinate to acknowledge their faults and choose to forget the inspector's lesson.

  16. JAC English Revision

    Grade 5+: 'An Inspector Calls' is about responsibility. Priestley purposely contrasts the responsibility of the younger generation and the irresponsibility of the older generation to...

  17. An Inspector Calls: The Generation Gap

    pdf, 4.35 MB This 35-slide lesson is designed to explore and revise the 'generation gap' in J.B. Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'. The lesson considers the gulf between the younger and older characters in the play with reference to key quotations and character development.

  18. A Study of the Conflict Between Different Generations as Depicted in

    This generation gap is what often causes disputes between parents and children within families. In An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley portrays this conflict between generations through the dissonance between Mr. and Mrs. Birling and their children, Eric and Sheila. One of the main causes of disputes between generations is their divergent views.

  19. AQA English Revision

    Age: The Generation Gap Use this player and a teacher will talk you through this page... Inspector Calls: Race to complete the quotes! Missing word - A cloze activity where you drag and drop words into blank spaces within a text. Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in attempt to change what society valued.

  20. AQA GCSE English Section B: An Inspector Calls

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  21. Free Essay: An Inspector Calls Generation Gap

    Mrs. Birling looks down on the younger generation and categorizes them all into a group that she believed to be illogical, and continues on by criticizing them. Mr. Birling has much confidence in himself which explains why he is very set in his ways. "Just let me finish, Eric. You've a lot to learn yet."

  22. The generation gap

    The generation gap. A thorough set of resources for studying the key theme of youth versus older age. Includes a differentiated planning tool, quotations table and help sheet to start writing an essay on the theme.

  23. inspector calls generation gap quotes Flashcards

    inspector calls generation gap quotes 3.0 (1 review) "Please be quiet Sheila." mrs birling Click the card to flip 👆 Shows that Mrs Birling finds Sheila's views unimportant. Click the card to flip 👆 1 / 6 Flashcards Learn Test Match Q-Chat Created by Abdullah-_-14 Students also viewed Generational Gap Quotes :An Inspector Calls 13 terms