SIR - BBC One’s airing of the JB Priestley play An Inspector Calls was a timely reminder of one of his great works. But more than that, the message of the drama is shown to be just as relevant today, as when it was first written all those years ago.
The story, set in 1912, centres on a police inspector visiting the house of a wealthy mill owner and questioning each of the family.
All turn out to have contributed to a young girl taking her own life. We’re unsure who the ‘inspector’ actually was but his thoughts are all too clear: “We are responsible for each other.”
Today, in our country, some of the poorest and most vulnerable still struggle while benefits and support are cut. Inequality continues to rise.
And, the same arguments used in the story, from taking advantage of ‘workers knuckling under’ to the poor largely being responsible for their own misfortune, are still trotted out to justify lack of will to do enough to help. The initial responses to the refugee crisis illustrate this very well.
Priestley, one of Bradford’s greatest sons, would have recognised it all only too well.
David Hornsby, West View Avenue, Wrose
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article