An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

1341 Words3 Pages

An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley The opening scene presents the Birlings upper-middle class family at ease and perfectly contented with their law-abiding lives. It is 1912 and the family are seated at the dining table celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft. However, secrets are to be unfolded concerning the Birlings that will reveal the important message of social responsibility, of which they are lacking. The naïve family is brought to question after the suicide of a young woman and they are forced to face facts they would rather ignore by a mysterious Inspector Goole. Before the Inspector arrives, the family are completely oblivious to the events to come, and ignorant of their own actions. Mr. Birling; the head of the house, seems bumptious as the celebration of his daughter's engagement suggests that he sees it to be economically in his interests. "Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together" (Mr. Birling is an industrialist). "Your father and I have been friendly rivals in business for some time now". Gerald Croft; the son of a business rival of Mr. Birling, appears; at the beginning of the play, to be a respectable, well-bred, upper-class man who is getting married to Sheila Birling. Following the basic storyline, he has a secret that was involved in the death of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton that is uncovered. However, his secret also affects Sheila. Sheila Birling, the elder of the two children and most sincere. Unlike the other members of the family, her character develops when realisation hits her, and she becomes guilty. Eric; Sheila's younger brother, also s... ... middle of paper ... ..., very little body language, and he should hold eye contact with intense stares. He must show that he can't be intimidated as Mr Birling attempts to, almost as they meet. "I was an olderman for years and lord mayor two years ago- and I'm still on the bench!" informing the inspector that he is a public figure and a magistrate, more used to handing out punishment rather than being questioned himself by the police. Mr and Mrs Birling are both angry with the inspector; they are social climbers and believe that they are beyond criticism. Personally, I believe that Mrs Birling is the most to blame for Eva Smiths death. As you can survive changing and loosing jobs, and broken relationships, but Mrs Birling refused her charitable support, which would make the difference to Eva between a new start at life, or death.

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