Open Prompt #4

A stereotype is a popular belief about a particular group or kind of person. In Priestley Cooper’s An Inpector Calls the stereoptyped characters are the Birlings, a wealthy middle class family in 1912 England. The stereoptypical characteristics and actions of the family bring meaning to the author’s message that humans are responsible for each other.

The wealthy Birlings show the expected characteristics of the middle class in 1912 Brumley, England. The Father, Mr. Birling, is the owner of a factory and a true believer of individualism. As a typical factory owner at this time, Mr. Birling cares only about making the most money  possible especially if that mean exploiting the working class. His son, who is the heir to the family company, is womanizer and a heavy partier, and his daughter is incredible spoiled. All three of them put themselves first and see no fault in their ways. This is pointed out to them by the inspector who links their selfish behavior to the death of a young woman.

Though the Birlings didn’t really murder the young woman, by using stereotypes Cooper pins the blame on them. Mr. Birling’s refusal to hede to his workers demands for better wages left the young woman out in the cold which was made worse by his daughter, and his son’s actions left her pregnant and without means to support herself. The young woman in the play is representation of the working class, the hopeless victims of the wealthy. The Birlings’ actions prompted by stereotypes of the wealthy because they are the representation of what that mind set has done and can do.

Cooper’s view of the wealthy was one of contempt, he found them selfish and truly believed that human beings were responsible for each other. By using stereotypes to model the Birling family he communicates his opinion that humans are responsible for each other.