Content Warning: The source material and this section of the guide include references to death by suicide, addiction, and rape.

An Inspector Calls is a play explicitly about class conflict. Arthur Birling decries the horrors of socialism in Act I. By the end of Act III, he has been exposed as a pompous hypocrite who refuses to accept his role in the suffering of others. Meanwhile, Inspector Goole clearly articulates an argument for socialism and the need for everyone in society to help one another. In the broadest possible terms, the play criticizes those who seek the continuation of a stratified class system that exploits and alienates the poorest people in society, while the play portrays those who advocate for a more egalitarian society in a positive light.

Arthur Birling is the clear representative of the status quo of early 20th century Britain. He is not coy about his political beliefs. Even as the family are celebrating Sheila’s engagement, Arthur chooses this evening to deliver a long, rambling speech about the importance of self-reliance and self-enrichment. He is a capitalist, a factory owner who has grown wealthy by paying people as little as possible to produce as much as possible.