An Inspector CallsDiscuss the presentation of the character of Arthur Birling in the first act of 'An Inspector Calls'. The playwright of "An Inspector Calls", JB Priestley, uses Arthur Birling, a stereotypical right-wing conservatism man, as propaganda against right-wing social and political views. Conservatism is a political orientation advocating the preservation of the best in society and opposing radical change. Propaganda uses stereotypes to bias the public against a particular political viewpoint that is contrary to the propagandist's viewpoint. He uses Birling to prejudice the public, probably the younger generation and the working class, against people like Birling himself, i.e. the industrial ruling class and aristocracy of 1912. Priestley discredits right-wing views through his left-wing perspective. He systematically discredits Birling from the beginning of the play through Birling's ignorant predictions, even though the audience knows the reality. After all, they are looking back to the past, while Birling only predicts the future. In other words, Priestley uses dramatic irony to manipulate and persuade the audience to despise Birling and everything he represents. Dramatic irony in this sense is when the audience knows something that the characters don't. In contrast, the younger generation in the play is most sympathetic to Eva Smith, the character who commits suicide and with whom all the members of the Birling family have come. in contact. Priestley does this to tell the audience that times have changed and that post-war society should not return to its pre-war ways, to the society of Edwardian England. This society was ...... middle of paper ...... ience agreed with Priestley's socialist views. It's ironic that Priestley wants everyone to accept their own opinions, when that's exactly what he patronizes Birling for trying to do! In conclusion, Priestley presents Birling as a ruthless, pompous and morally corrupt patriarch from the industrial ruling class. Through his presentation of Birling, he undermines the views held by Birling, namely capitalism and conservatism. The aim of his play 'An Inspector Calls' was to tell post-war audiences of 1945 that the Edwardian patriarchal era was not an era to be envied and that it was unwise to think of returning to that era. It presents the younger generation as those who are sympathetic and ready to change their ways and admit their wrongs. Priestley's presentation of Birling highlights his own thoughts on political issues of the time..