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The play 'An Inspector Calls' is set in 1912 which affects the readers view on Mr. Birling's predictions of the future as it was first preformed in 1945. Mr.Birling is a character who constantly talks which is tedious and a younger character Eric usually says intelligent points which the audience agrees with but Mr.Birling shuts him up because he feels embarrassed. On page 6 Mr. Birling says that he is glad about Gerald and Sheila's engagement and that the marriage will provide lots of business opportunity then Eric asks 'What about war?'. Then Mr.Birling says that the Kaiser doesn't want war and that it will never happen. The audience knows that Germany declared war with France and Russia in 1914 which then lead the English to declare war on us on Germany 2 years after he stated this prediction. After that Eric tries to explain his point further but Mr.Birling then interrupts him and predicts the whole of modern history incorrectly up to 1945. First he says that aeroplanes can go anywhere in 1 to 2 years but instead they where used in the First World War. He then says that the Titanic is absolutely unsinkable when it sank on April that year. Later he predicts that in 1940 that Eric, Shelia and Gerald will experience there children getting engaged when in fact on that date Eric and Gerald and there children will probably be recruited for the Second World War if Eric and Gerald even survive the First World War. Then he goes on to talk about how the world will forget about the capitalism vs socialism debate when in fact the cold war between the Capitalist USA and Communist USSR starts at 1945. Finally he says that Russia will be behind on the world stage when in fact they where arguably the most powerful country in the 1940's. Eventually Mrs. Birling shuts him up and the audience have a negative look on Mr.Birling because of how he treats Eric and the way he predicts the future is near comedic of how incorrect it is.
