The Playwright's Characterization and Staging in An Inspector Calls

Analyse the play 'An Inspector Calls' by commenting specifically on the

playwright's characterization and staging.

Analyse the play 'An Inspector Calls' by commenting specifically on

the playwright's characterization and staging. Consider any techniques

employed, such as dramatic device and/or symbolism and conclude how

successful they are in reflecting the issues raised in the play.

J. B. Priestly employs many techniques to convey his moral and social

beliefs. I will explore how Priestly uses characterization and staging

as well as other dramatic devices to raise issues in the play and

examine them further, discussing how they are put across to the

audience. I will look at social attitudes, community, family, morals,

responsibility and change; commenting on how Priestly puts forward

these topics within the play.

At the beginning of the play, Priestly shows us the Birlings' views

and social attitudes. When the Birling's learn that a young girl has

died, they are shocked but Mr. Birling says he doesn't "see where I

come into this". The whole family takes upon this attitude at first

but as the play progresses, Eric and Sheila's attitudes begin to

change. Priestly shows us a different social attitude, and is

represented this time not by ignorant capitalists, but by more caring

younger people. Priestly uses them to represent and symbolise change

and moving on from those original social attitudes which Priestly uses

the other Birling's and Gerald to convey.

Priestly removes the audience's sense of trust with Mr. Birling and

his social beliefs using the time that the play was set in. 'An

Inspector Calls' is set in 1912, but was actually written in 1945,

therefore the audience knows what has happened since. Mr. Birling

pompously says "nobody wants war" and how the Titanic is "absolutely

unsinkable". Mr. Birling's ignorance makes the audience totally lose

faith in his arguments and opinions, which Priestly uses to raise his

own arguments, through Inspector Goole.

Priestly uses Goole as a dramatic device to break away the Birlings'

social attitudes piece by piece. Priestly describes how Goole "has a

disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before

actually speaking", as if he is examining and then shattering their

beliefs. Goole is used as a dramatic device to raise the issue of

social attitudes and then examine and destroy the opposing view,

whilst promoting the socialist views of J. B. Priestly.

Throughout the play, Priestly uses Goole to hit back at the Birlings'

social beliefs, creating for the audience clear 'good' and 'bad' sides

for them to consider. Mr. Birling says, after learning of his

involvement in Eva Smith's death, that "If you don't come down hard on

some of these people, they'd soon be asking for the Earth".