In the political morality play, ‘An Inspector Calls’, Birling is portrayed as an anti-socialist and capitalist ideologue who refuses to change as he benefits from the exploitation of his workers like Eva Smith. Through the suicide of Eva Smith, Priestley emphasises why moral responsibility is important when being an employer as it can lead to a dangerous result of social catastrophe. Birling has been constructed in this way to criticise the greed and lack of sympathy towards the impoverished, the vast dichotomy between the upper and lower class is implemented into the play by Priestley to argue that a call for social and political change is needed before society is ruined. Ultimately, he attempts to convince his 1945 audience to become socialists by highlighting the struggles of the unfortunate and the cruelty of upper class men such as Birling. Furthermore, in Act 1, Birling is presented as a callous and selfish character who has no morals as he boasts about the engagement between Sheila and Gerald and how it good it will be for his business as his and Gerald’s company would merge, boosting his financial and social status instantly. While celebrating this engagement and considering how marvellous it will be for him financially he ‘toasts to lower costs and higher prices’. This encapsulates the capitalistic view which is that profit should be prioritised over people at the expense of the impoverished. ‘Toasts’ suggests that Arthur is celebrating exploiting those who are unfortunate, reflecting how unjustly Birling treats Eva Smith and the rest of her colleagues as he pays them a low amount of money. Priestley challenges the capitalist views that dominated Britain by portraying Birling in this way to warn his audience of the dangers of unchecked capitalism. Additionally, in Act 1, Birling is also presented as socially irresponsible as in a speech he gives to Eric and Gerald he states that ‘ a man has to make his own way ‘. The words ‘man’ and ‘his’ have been used by Arthur in a selfish way as it leans into the capitalistic view that those who are less fortunate shouldn’t be helped but rather exploited, this has an impact on the 1945 audience as they now understand how Birling is against recognising the plight of the poor. Birling also decides to mock socialism by being against people being ‘bees in a hive and all that community nonsense’. The use of ‘bees’ is significant as their primary purpose is to support other insects, so Birling mocking this suggests that he’d rather treat his workers, such as Eva Smith unfairly, than succumb to accepting social responsibility. Birling has been displayed in this manner by Priestley to reveal the stubbornness and selfishness of the upper class as they’d rather relish in the benefits of capitalism than committing to the role they need to play in society. This contrasts the character of Inspector Goole as he states that society are ‘members of one body’. This is a biblical allusion as it refers to everyone needing to be connected to Jesus for function and growth, this is used by Priestley to suggest that to function and grow as a society socialism is needed. Alternatively, Priestley is suggesting that capitalism is not a Christian virtue and ethic, so being a socialist is mandatory to grow as a Christian. Next, in Act 2, Birling is presented as an unchanging character as even after the Inspector stresses what he did to Eva was wrong he states that he ‘can’t accept any responsibility’ which relates to how he is socially irresponsible towards the lower class and his workers. The use of the word ‘can’t suggests that it’s practically impossible for him to change as his capitalist mindset that he follows refuses to allow him to change for the greater good. In Act 3, Birling believes that the Inspector is fake conveying that his capitalist mindset is never ending as he shouts ‘By jingo! A fake!’. The exclamation mark is used by Birling twice emphasising his excitement, but also, highlighting that he hasn’t learned his lesson as the older generation refuse to change. The character of Sheila contrasts this as at the end, she takes on the role of the Inspector and repeats the phrase ‘fire, blood and anguish’, showing the divide between the younger and older generation. This is significant as Priestley is suggesting that if society doesn’t change then it will end in war which , which is dramatic irony as just after two years, World War One begun. Finally, Priestley uses Birling to expose the cruelty and stubbornness of the upper class and the dangers of refusing to accept social responsibility. Through the Birling’s treatment of Eva Smith and the Inspectors guidance, Priestly reveals why socialism is so important as without it, society will fail to progress and grow. By writing this in 1945, Priestley wanted a socialist society to emerge by the upper classes realising their moral crimes against the lower class. Ultimately, An Inspector Calls is a moral warning to others, accept social responsibility or society will deeply suffer.