J.B Priestly deliberately sets the play An Inspector Calls in 1912, which is exactly two years before the First World War even though it was written and published after the Second World War. Priestly who was passionate about collective responsibility utilized the time difference to stress on the British society of that period where class and gender barriers were the most significant challenges. Thus, the dramatist makes responsibility as the central theme of the play. Priestly, craftily presents the theme of responsibility in the play by utilizing various ways as explained below.

The author portrays Mr. Arthur Birling character as an arrogant, selfish capitalist and hard-headed who thinks only about his reputation. The author deliberately exaggerates Mr. Birlings character with the aim of confirming or supporting his own political motive. From the look of things, Priestly portrays some socialist ideas, but according to Arthur, socialist perceptions about the community are nonsense. Mr. Author makes it clear in the play that a man has to make his own way (Seal, 2015). That means every individual has to struggle with his or her own challenges. It is a sentiment that directly shows that Mr. Arthur is not interested at all in social responsibility. On a similar note, the author makes it clear to the audience that since the world is developing rapidly, it makes it possible for war. Although the first and second war had ended, the author seems to be emphasizing the need for social responsibility mostly from those of higher class such as Mr. Arthur.