An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

J.B.Priestley 'An Inspector Calls' is a play set in 1912 in the

Birling's family dining room. It was written in 1945 and set in

Brumley. It features a typical affluent upper class family who own a

well run business. The play starts with a small family celebration in

which the daughter, Sheila Birling, is getting engaged to Gerald (a

business man of the same class). The head of the family, a very

prominent opinionated man, makes several toasts to the couple and

lectures them about his knowledge of the world. Everything is going

cosily until an unexpected visitor turns up on the Birling family's

doorstep. It's a very sleek, mysterious inspector. The Inspector

brings news of a young girl's suicide. The Birling Family and Gerald

first deny all connections with the suicide until the inspector

rigorously questions each one of them and their shameful secrets are

revealed.

One of the reasons why J.B.Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls' has

remained popular is because there is some hope for the younger

generation. During most of the play the atmosphere is depressing, drab

and sad. The play is based on the inspector accusing each member of

helping with the suicide of the young girl. The family all concentrate

on how it's not their fault. They try to blame it on each other and

remain in a haze of selfishness. Towards the end of the play the

younger generation, mostly Sheila, rise above this haze and look at

the consequences.

Sheila says 'But you're forgetting one thing; everything we said had

really happened and if it didn't end with the girl's suicide, then

lucky for us. But it might have done.'

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... middle of paper ...

... to prove Margaret Thatcher's saying

wrong, and perhaps the views of Mr Burling, 'that there is no such

thing as society.' 'An Inspector Calls' is a play which reaches out

through the inspector to its audience. The inspector, a very careful

but weighty man, shows us that there isn't a need in this world for

jealously, shameful secrets or class structures. Through interrogating

the rest of the characters he unveils each of their problems and shows

us how it is wrong.

'An Inspector Calls' has the ability and engross its audience and to

educate them at the same time. It shows us that the lessons we learn

from watching and reading this play makes us want to try and rebuild

society today. Not many plays have this ability, and I think, it has

remained popular because of its abilities to engross it audience and

readers.