I’m struggling to understand the significance of context in An Inspector Calls. How do I write about context in my essay?

To gain your AO3 marks in a GCSE English exam, you must show your understanding of the context in which the text was written. To understand the established context of a piece of literature you need to answer the following questions: Who wrote the text? Why was it written? Who did they write it for? If the exam were to ask, “How does Priestly use the Inspector to present his ideas about collective responsibility?” then you need to frame your answer around the play’s cultural and historical relevance. In your introduction, you should establish that the play was first staged in 1945 but is set in 1912. Therefore, the Priestley is writing with hindsight, which allows for dramatic irony for the audience. During the World Wars, Britain was in crisis and so societal expectations shifted because everybody pulled together to do their part. Women did jobs previously only expected of men, and class divisions no longer dictated who was able to fill certain roles; collective responsibility became essential. In post-war Britain, Priestley hoped that society would maintain this egalitarian structure – An Inspector Calls reflects this. You can describe Priestley’s play as didactic; it holds a moral lesson for the audience. In this case, Priestley’s socialist ideas about collective responsibility are embodied by the character Inspector Goole. Goole acts as a mouthpiece for Priestley. The Inspector criticises the Birling family’s lack of regard for others, particularly those of lower status; in this case Daisy Renton/Eva Smith. Once you have established context and Priestley’s intent, the rest of the essay should analyse the literary devices that Priestley uses to present his ideas. Here is an example paragraph: Inspector Goole’s final speech in An Inspector Calls reiterates Priestley’s message to his audience. It reinforces Priestley’s critique of class division and the theme of collective responsibility. He says, "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us.” The hyperbole used through the phrase ‘millions and millions’ emphasises the scale of those affected by the individual’s actions. The use of the collective pronoun ‘us’, highlights the idea of collective responsibility, because it addresses both the speaker, the other characters and the audience. Through Goole, Priestley explains how every individual should be aware of their privilege and be held accountable for their actions. Your answer should follow the PEA structure (Point, Evidence, Analysis); establish the play’s intent, prove your argument through the use of embedded quotes, do a literary analysis of the quotes and then reiterate the original point. Link your argument back to contextual understanding throughout.