The play "An Inspector Calls" explores the ideological clash between Capitalism vs Socialism through its characters and themes during Britain's Edwardian era. The Birling family represents capitalist values while Inspector Goole advocates for socialist principles.
Mr Birling embodies pure capitalism through his focus on profit, individual responsibility, and business interests above all else. His famous quotes like "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself" demonstrate the capitalist mindset of the era. In contrast, Inspector Goole represents socialist ideals of collective responsibility and social justice. He systematically exposes how the Birlings' capitalist actions led to Eva Smith's death, arguing that "we are members of one body" and must look after each other. The Inspector's investigation serves as a criticism of capitalism in the Edwardian era, highlighting issues like worker exploitation, class inequality, and lack of social welfare.
The historical context is crucial, as the play was written in 1945 but set in 1912, bridging two World Wars that saw major shifts between capitalism and socialism. The key difference between capitalism and socialism lies in their core values - capitalism emphasizes private ownership, profit motivation, and individual success, while socialism advocates collective ownership, equal distribution of wealth, and social welfare. Through Eva Smith's tragic story, Priestley critiques the harsh realities of unrestrained capitalism while promoting socialist values of community and shared responsibility. The play ultimately suggests that pure capitalism leads to social inequality and moral corruption, while socialist principles of collective care could create a more just society. This message resonated strongly with post-war audiences who had experienced both the failures of extreme capitalism in the 1930s and the benefits of increased social welfare during wartime cooperation.
