Social responsibility

GCSE · English Literature · AQA · P2.A.IC — *An Inspector Calls* (J. B. Priestley) — social responsibility, class, gender, time; the Birling family; Inspector Goole; cyclical structure and the final phone call

Question

How does Priestley present the theme of social responsibility in An Inspector Calls? (30 marks)

Mark scheme guidance:

AO2: tracks Inspector's key lines — "we are members of one body... we are responsible for each other"; "fire and blood and anguish".
Each character's contribution to Eva's death; moral economy of small individual cruelties summing to a death.
Generational split: Sheila and Eric accept responsibility; Mr and Mrs Birling reject it.
AO3: Priestley's socialism; 1945 Labour landslide; building of welfare state.
Best answers argue Priestley uses dramatic structure (cyclical phone call) to deny the older generation's evasion.

30 marks · take your time before peeking.

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Generated by TopMyGrade AI · cross-check official sources before relying on the mark-scheme phrasing.