Why did Priestley set An Inspector Calls in April, 1912?

Priestley chooses “an evening in Spring, 1912” because it is just before The First World War. It is also essential to him because it places the play during the context of women’s campaign for the vote (suffrage), and the Suffragettes.

1912 is also crucial in that he can begin the play with a tragedy, the sinking of the Titanic in April of 1912. We know that it is just about to happen, when Birling talks about it being “unsinkable”. Priestley isn’t just trying to discredit Birling for his stupidity: the dramatic irony of us knowing the Titanic will sink also invites us to think of the play as a tragedy.

We can also infer that “Spring” is symbolic of rebirth, optimism, and hope. Perhaps he suggests at the beginning of the play that hope is still possible. This is very relevant to his message – the audience can learn from the play and vote for a socialist future, in which men don’t just “look after their own family” but remember their social responsibility: “we are all responsible for each other”.