Importance of Stage in ‘An Inspector Calls’

How might stagecraft serve to emphasize the divisions in society? In the

Daldry version of ‘An Inspector Calls’, stagecraft plays a vital

How might stagecraft serve to emphasize the divisions in society?

In the Daldry version of ‘An Inspector Calls’, stagecraft plays a

vital role in and audience’s understanding of the play.

At the start of the performance the curtains rise, and the first thing

your eyes are drawn to is a huge elevated house, this immediately

causes the audience to ask questions, as to why the house is elevated.

The first and perhaps the most obvious reason for this, from an

audience’s point of view is that the Birling’s may think they’re

higher and more important than anyone else. However, a more detailed

explanation as to why the house may be elevated is that perhaps the

Birling’s think they’re on another planet, and separate from other

people. This idea is backed up by Mr. Birling saying “a man has to

mind his own business, and look after himself, as his own,” this shows

that Mr. Birling thinks people should work individually; like the

house own its own, above everything.

Below the house are a few young children dressed in ragged clothing,

looking like poor people of a low class, living on the streets. This

shows the audience that although the lower-class lived parallel to the

upper-class, they lived completely different lives. This suggests that

the society may be capitalist. It suggests this because capitalism is

known to cause extremes; the poor being extremely poor, and the rich

being extremely rich. As the play progresses this becomes more

apparent through the Eva Smith being exploited because of her social

class, and through the actions of richer people.

The next stage of the play is when the whole of the front of the house

is opened. I think this was done because it is symbolic of the

Birling’s household, and lives being revealed. By opening the house it

also exposes all the things the Birling’s have done wrong. E.g. how

Eva Smith was exploited by people in higher positions that her. I also

think that the opening of the house may symbolise how Sheila came to

the realisation that she had done things wrong, and how she

contributed towards Eva’s death. This shows the audience how her mind

was opened, much like then house.

The next stage of the play is when the house collapses. I think this

is to symbolise the fall of the Birling family (if what the inspector

is saying is true) there would be a public enquiry. A public enquiry

is mentioned jokingly at the start of the play by Mr Birling (when he