An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

(c) One of the main themes of An Inspector Calls is that of lies. Show how Priestley exposes deceit, both in his characters and in society as a whole. Discuss with close reference to the novel.


Lies is one of the main themes of “An Inspector Calls.’ We discover that in this play, much deception is practiced in a tangled woven web of lies.
Sybil Birling, a social snob, is revealed as a liar when she states that she has never met Eva Smith. In fact, she has met Eva, when the latter appealed to the Brumley Women’s Committee for help. As she is a liar, Goole is accordingly harshest with her, when he exposes her.
Eva, the deluded victim, lied to Sybil for survival, calling herself “Mrs. Birling.” In fact, she is unmarried and is the mother of Eric’s unborn child. Why should she presume to call herself “Mrs. Birling”? Perhaps it is because Birling is Eric’s surname and she represented herself initially as an abused married woman. Perhaps she hoped that Sybil would pity her, or she wished to blackmail Sybil for concealing the shameful secret. However, her unfortunate indiscretion led Sybil to spurn an subsequently lie to Goole.
Arthur, as a parsimonious Capitalist, insists that he is not responsible for Eva’s death. He lives in a world of self-delusion, in which he figures as the hero.
When this is viewed in the perspective of society as a whole, Arthur is living a lie. As an employer, he ought to provide Eva with benefits yet denies his responsibility when she commits suicide. He is clearly responsible for her death as he had fired her. His mask of shallow hypocrisy is exposed in the revelation of Eva’s impregnation by Eric. He is furious with Eric for seducing Eva not because he pities the latter. Instead, he says, “There’ll be a public scandal.” He wishes to keep the scandal under wraps in order to protect his reputation and this is living a life of deceit.
Sybil as the member of the Brumley Women’s Committee, is supposed to offer assistance to battered women. However, she rejects Eva’s appeal for aid, dismissing her. The Committee, in fact, is but a mere lie – it is a veneer for status and respectability rather than a helper of unfortunate females. Priestley portrays his contempt for the upper classes that use facades for prestige but do little. Goole, too, is ultimately revealed as a liar as he is not an Inspector. He serves to trip the masks of the others and expose deceit. In this way, deceit reveals deceit.
Hence, deceit in a society as a whole is extremely prevalent. Eva used it to survive; the Birlings practiced it for a secure reputation. However, deceit is a destructive force that eventually pulls us down when it is revealed as in the cases of Eva and the Birlings; and this way, Priestley conveys his opinions on the shallowness of deceit, particularly when exposed.
Marls: 11/12