'An Inspector Calls' by J B Priestley was written in 1945, at the end of the Second World War. The play itself however, is set in 1912, the time before the First World War. Themes often used by Priestley in his plays are that of the effects of an individuals actions over time and that of individual and collective responsibilities for actions and the results of those actions. Both of these themes appear throughout and are used to great effect in 'An Inspector Calls'.
The play is set in the fictional northern industrial town of Brumley where the Birling family are enjoying an evening meal in celebration of the engagement of Mr and Mrs Birling's daughter, Sheila Birling, to Gerald Croft. Mr Birling is a businessman who has become rich making a lot of money in the business and is hoping for a knighthood. …
