A Thematic Analysis of An Inspector Calls

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 山东师范大学/王晨溪

【摘要】 《罪恶之家》是普里斯特利的著名三幕剧。本剧通过一位年轻女工的自杀案件，探长古尔步步紧逼，证明柏林一家的每一个人都要为女工的死负责。此剧体现了资本主义和社会主义的冲突，揭露了资本家迫害工人的罪恶，同时也体现了剧本深刻的社会寓意，即每个人都应承担整体的社会责任，共建和谐社会。

【关键词】 罪恶之家 冲突 社会责任

【Abstract】 An Inspector Calls is a three-act drama of J. B.

Priestley. Under the interrogation of inspector Goole, this palyreveals that everyone in the Birling family should be responsiblefor the young woman’s suiside. An Inspector Calls is theembodiment of confrontations between the capitalism and theworking class, exposing the evil nature of the capitalism. Theplay also shows the hope of Priestley that everyone needs to takejoint social responsibility and make efforts to build a hamonioussociety.

【Key words】 An Inspector Calls; confrontations; social responsibility1. Humanity Interpretation of the Capitalism

1.1 Vanity and Arrogance

At the beginning of the play, standing there in front of thereaders is a description of the Birlings’ house, which says:

“The dining room of a fairly large suburban house, belongingto a prosperous manufacturer. It has good solid furniture of theperiod. The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable,but not cosy and homelike.” (Priestley, 1945: 1) The luxurydecoration of the house is a status showing of the upper class. Asfor women, their dresses also present more meanig.

They take use of their ststus to enjoy the privilege. On theone hand, they show rudeness and scorn to those ordinary people;on the other hand, they could hardly stand any disrespect.

1.2 Utilitarianism

Utilitarianism is the nature of capitalists, who set great storeon their intersts unscrupulously. Mr. Birling fairly contributesto his daughter's marriage with Gerald. In his eyes, he could getconsiderable interests from their marriage and he says that “yourengagement means a tremendous lot to me.” (Priestley, 1945: 4)What’s more, he is even unwilling to leak any informationto Gerald. As is shown in this sentence, “We needn’t botherhim with all that stuff.” (Priestley, 1945: 61)1.3 Moral hypocrisy

Mrs. Birling is a prominent member of the BrumleyWoman’s Charity Organization, to which women in distresscould appeal for help in various forms. (Priestley, 1945: 42)However, when Eva Smith comes to seek help, she is refusedunder the influence of Mrs. Birling and what to be blame is thechild’s father. As a mother, Mrs. Birling could not be touched bythe poor mother with a child. (Hu 2010)

In order to win Sheila’s heart, Gerald behaves gentally infront of the Birling family. However, underneath his politeness,there conceal deceit and cunning in him. Gerald keeps Eva Smithhis mistress in the name of helping her and do not come to seeSheila on the pretext of busy work. When his scandal is exposed,he pretends to be honest and penitent.

2. Social responsbility and Harmonious SocietyEveryone in the Birling family adds fuel to the fire. Nosingle person in the Birling family is solely responsible for EvaSmith’s death. It is their composition of forces as a hermeticcapitalism that pushes the vulnerable women to death.

Eva Smith is one the victims of capitalism, and she isthe representative of the working class being oppressed anddiscriminated by the capitalism. As what the Inspector maintainsin the play: “One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millionsand millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still leftwith us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their sufferingsand chance of happiness … We are members of one body. We areresponsible for each other.” (Priestley, 1945: 56) It is obviousthat J. B. Priestley puts forward his proposition through thevoice of the Inspector Goole, which raise a call for the sharedresponsbility and a harmonious society.

Conclusion

As what the Inspector Goole says in the play, “If men willnot learn to be responsible for each other, then they will be taughtthis lesson in fire and blood and anguish.” (Priestley, 1945: 70)We can also feel the expectation of Priestley that everyone needsto take joint social responsibility and construct a hamonioussociety.

References:

[1]Hu ting.J.B.2010.Priestley's Advocacy on Consructing aHarmonious Society in An Inspector Calls.Overseas English.

[2]Priestley J.B.1945.An Inspector Calls.In the Heinnemann PalysSeries.Heinnemann Editional Publishers.

[3]刘平.“丑事仍然还是丑事”——话剧《探长来访》 观后[J].中国戏剧,1990.

[4]吕舒婷.二十,三十,五十——年龄增,道德减——对《罪恶之家》 中三个年龄段人物的道德解读[J].安徽文学,2010.