Question

50 POINTS!! INSPECTOR CALLS AUTHOR

1)What did Priestley realise about the social conditions in Bradford during his childhood? What had he noticed about the so-called ‘respectable folk’ of the city?

2)Summarise Priestley’s experiences as a soldier during WW1. How did this affect him?

3)What kind of views did Priestley express in his radio series ‘Postscripts’?

4)Priestley called for a ‘new and vital democracy’. What did he mean by this phrase?

5)Based on your reading, would you describe Priestley as a socialist or a capitalist? A liberal, as progressive or a conservative?

Answer 1

1) During Priestley's childhood in Bradford, he noticed the stark divide between the poor and the wealthy. He noticed that the ‘respectable folk’ of the city had a lifestyle of luxury and privilege, while the working classes faced oppression and exploitation. It was this experience that inspired him to write about social issues, particularly in his play An Inspector Calls.

2) During WW1, Priestley served in the infantry in France and Belgium. He was emotionally affected by this experience, and this can be seen in the themes of his work, which often focus on the effects of war and the fragility of human life.

3) In his radio series ‘Postscripts’, Priestley expressed strong views on the government’s handling of the war, social issues, and economics. He was a staunch critic of capitalism, denouncing the greed of the wealthy, and proposed a new form of socialism as an alternative.

4) In his call for a ‘new and vital democracy’, Priestley meant the need for a new form of socialism that would be based on public ownership of the means of production, and would provide equal opportunities for all.

5) Priestley was a staunch critic of capitalism and advocated for public ownership of the means of production. His views on social issues were progressive, and his call for a new type of socialism makes him a socialist rather than a capitalist.