Context

Answer 1

1912
Capitalism shaped 1912 society.
Prosperity, wealth for rich people, could control labour force
poor conditions for workers
Pre-world war society in 1912 was strictly controlled with a rigid hierarchy of social class. Despite being rich, Mr Birling does not have the social status he craves and is desperate to achieve this knighthood; Priestley condemns this social climbing.

Answer 2

1945
After WW2, there was no form of welfare from the government to help the poor.
Mr Birling represents greedy businessmen who only care for themselves.
Priestley uses him to show the audience that the Eva Smiths of the world will continue to suffer if people like Birling remain in positions of power.
Class structure came down in WW2 due to rationing- people ate + dressed the same.
Mrs B. represents a type of middle-class snobbery that existed before WW2.
Priestley hoped that these sorts of attitudes would die out and uses Mrs Birling to show how they can lead to cold and thoughtless behaviour.
Priestley uses Sheila to show his hopeful opinions on youth- hope in the young people of post-war Britain.
He saw them as the ones who would help solve the problems the country had with class, gender and social responsibility.
Sheila accepts responsibility, unlike parents, who haven’t changed.
Priestley uses Eric to show young people of a post-war Britain would be the answer to a hopeful future.
Also warns of the dangers of immoral behaviour- excessive drinking + casual relationships have grave consequences.
Priestley uses Gerald to attack the upper-classes of post-war Britain.