An Inspector Calls - Priestley's Presentation of the Inspector

An Inspector Calls - How does Priestley's presentation of the Inspector

create dramatic tension in the play?

'An Inspector Calls'

Question Title:

How does Priestley's presentation of the Inspector create dramatic

tension in the play?

During the play 'An Inspector Calls' the Inspector is used as a

dramatic device. He raises and decreases the tension due to his

attitude, actions, speeches and his symbolic role to the family, and

audience at the time when the play was first performed. Throughout my

essay I will be examining how Priestley's presentation of the

Inspector generates tension throughout the play.

Before the Inspector is introduced into the play, the atmosphere in

the Birling's house is quite relaxed. They are celebrating Sheila and

Gerald's engagement, so there is a party atmosphere and dull lighting.

The stage directions describe the situation as: "At the moment they

have all had a good dinner, are celebrating a special occasion, and

are pleased with themselves." The Inspector's arrival disrupts the

family's celebration; this automatically raises the tension, because

the family would be annoyed by the abrupt interruption of their

celebration.

When the Inspector first rings the doorbell, Birling is just finishing

one of his arrogant speeches. He has just said: "a man has to mind his

own business and look after himself and his own." This is significant

in relationship to the play because Birling's original views are

exactly what Priestley, through the Inspector, is trying to teach the

audience not to think like. Birling is the kind of person who

Priestley is trying to get through to.

The atmosphere is also made uneasy because no one knows definitely why

the Inspector has called bu...

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...r classes and the

way that the Inspector brought these ideas crashing down. In the 1954

film version of the play the man who plays the Inspector is a pale

faced man with dark dramatic eyes. This makes the Inspector look

ghostly enforcing some peoples theories of him being a ghost.

Because the Inspector's true identity is not revealed the tension in

the play is increased. This is because the audience don't know

anything about the Inspector, so do not trust the inspector and

there-fore would be put on edge by him.

Priestley has presented the Inspector in a very mysterious way, we do

not know where he comes from or anything about him, but it is soon

made clear why he is in the play; to teach an important lesson. The

audience is left thinking about the play and all the issues raised in

it. This play definitely left me thinking about my role among society.