Explore the generation separation in An Inspector Calls.

- passage; pg 210-215

The play An Inspector Calls, by J.B Priestley is a mystery

drama and is for a 1940s audience but is set in 1912. Priestley
imposes his views through Inspector Goole, who acts as the
authorial voice in the play. Priestleys message is further
imposed by the generational gap between Eric and Sheila and
both the Birlings. Priestley presents the older generation (Mrs
and Mr Birling) as morally bling to the truth and responsibility,
yet he presents the younger generation (Eric and Sheila) as
virtuous and accepting. This passage follows the Birlings
piecing everything together but is after Mrs Birling placing all
the blame onto Eric.
Priestley explores the generational gap through the characters
of Mr and Mrs Birling and the way in which their status in life
makes them morally blind to the righteousness of the situation.
The use of the stage directions towards Eric and Sheila;
Warningly and Looks angrily at them, suggests that the
older generation is not open to the older generation as the
repeated idea of angriness towards the younger generation
gives this idea to the audience. Perhaps Priestley is suggesting
to his audience that if the idea of truth is not imposed upon the
upper class, it could lead to the demise of of the entire upper
class and that accepting the truth begins with sharing
responsibility. When Sheila wants to accept the truth after the
inspector leaves, Mrs Birling uses the simple sentence Of
course it does, to further highlight the way in which if reforms
are not made, the progress Britain as a country will come to a
halt. This emphases the older generations moral blindness as
the absence of the inspector causes all of them to revert back
to their original nave ways- disassociating themselves from
reality. This moral blindness comes at a cost and may result in
the death of many innocent working class people due to a lack
of change being made, such as the death of Eva Smith. This is
further highlighted when Mr Birling acts relieved and
excited, when he realises that the inspector was a fake, thus
allowing them to deny the truth and divert responsibility. This

links back to act one, where Mr Birling avoids responsibility for

the inspectors arrival, thus showing the audience that the
older generation is not only bling to the truth but also hasnt
changed from the beginning of the play. This lack of change is
also shown in Mr Birlings minor sentence right public
scandal, which shows that audience that Mr Birling has not
learnt to accept the truth as he is still concerned about his
appearance in society over being morally righteous. Perhaps
Priestley is suggesting that moral integrity will always be
superior to societys prejudice against ones actions, thus being
morally blind will never allow one to increase their social status,
as their conscience will prevent this. This is the ways in which
Priestley illustrates the generational gap through the older
generation- specifically through Mr and Mrs Birling.
Priestley then goes onto present the generational gap through
the younger generation and their ability to comprehend the
truth and act virtuous. When Eric finally shows some emotion in
act three about Eva, the dialogue some interest too much.
And flaring up., is used to shows the audience that that the
changes in the younger generation of the upper class is the
thing that will propel British society to move forward and this
can only begin when the right wing mentality of the upper class
changes, as well as the emotional aspects. Priestley suggests
that this lack of emotion by the older generation is what they
dont seem to understand., whereas the younger generation
of the upper class understand these emotions and are willing to
change in order to become virtuous. This may link back to the
start of the play, in act one, where Eric acts jittery towards all
the emotions he is exposed to. When Sheila is responds to Mrs
Birling with the simple sentence we all helped kill her., which
creates dramatic tension within the audience as the truth being
told in such a straight forward manner to an older person,
makes the audience wonder what kind of response she will get
from Mrs Birling. The simple sentence also demonstrates the
way in which younger generations ability to comprehend and
understand the truth. Sheilas frustrated attitude is also comes

through the stage direction flaring up, which is directed

towards Mr and Mrs Birlings inability to understand the truth.
Therefore, Sheilas comprehension of the righteous aspect of
her conscience is demonstrated to the audience in the play.
This contrasts an earlier part in act one, where Mrs Birling was
annoyed at Sheila for exposing to know the truth. Perhaps
Priestley wants his audience to know that without a righteous
conscience, people in any class in society will be unable to
make progress in this change has to start from the younger
generation of the upper class. This is the way in which Priestley
presents the generational gap through the younger generationparticularly through Eric and Sheila.
Priestley explores the ideas of the generational gap through the
older generations inability to accept and responsibility but also
illustrates the way in which the younger generation have the
ability to do this, and therefore presents them as virtuous.
Priestley compares and contrasts both generations, while also
having aspects of his authorial voice in this passage. Perhaps
Priestley is suggesting that it is too late for the older generation
to change, but is not too late for the younger generation to do
the same, or else the entire class system of Britain will be at
stake.