

Overview
About this Lesson
Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in 1945, but set the play in 1912. Learning about the historical context during and between these two time periods, and about Priestley himself, is important if students are to fully comprehend the message of the play, and if they are to start to make connections between identity, society, and the impact of our individual and collective decisions and actions on others. By examining the world of the play and the characters’ choices and decision-making processes, students will be able to better understand and reflect on their own identities, relationships and choices. Moreover, they will start to consider how the values of a society, and its spoken and unspoken rules can impact human behaviour. Such consideration is vital if they are to become active and responsible citizens, who address and challenge the social norms that foster inequality in the present day.
In the previous lesson, students explored wealth inequality in modern society, discussing graphs produced by the Social Mobility Commission, and drawing on their own views and experiences. This exploration laid the foundation for them to better understand the context and experiences of others, and the social inequality that Priestley explores and asks his audience to confront in An Inspector Calls. This lesson begins by introducing the historical context of the twentieth century. Students will learn about important events that occurred during Priestley’s lifetime up until 1945, completing a human timeline to understand their chronology. They will also be introduced to the concepts of socialism and capitalism, which are central to the play and to understanding Priestley’s ideological motivation as a socialist. Whilst exploring socialism and capitalism, students will have the opportunity to consider the justness and fairness of both systems, ultimately reflecting on what they think would make society a more just and fair place.
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