The Role Of The Inspector In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

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“An Inspector Calls”, written by J.B Priestly in 1945, is a detective drama about an opulent, high-class family who undergoes a series of unfortunate events when they discover that Eva Smith, a working class girl has committed suicide by consuming strong chemicals. They are acquainted with the enigmatic eerie Inspector Goole who exposes the deeply hidden secrets within the family. The play is set in 1912 during a time where Britan was ruled by Labour and a majority of the people agreed with social policies. It was a time where there were class systems, gender boundaries, and nothing seemed to change. Mr Arthur Birling is a prosperous and wealthy man who's interested are making profits and being a good businessman in the industry. An example …show more content…

The description of the Inspector not being described as a “big man”- which refers to Birling- but the fact that he is still able to hold an impression of importance causes Birling to envy him as he is in a higher class than the Inspector therefore should hold more purpose and would not approve to be belittled by him. Birling makes an anti socialist speech to Eric and Gerald whilst enjoying a glass of port and a cigar during Act I portraying his views on the future. ’And I say there isn’t a chance of war...the Titanic – she sails next week -...unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable. The speech is filled with inexact remarks which the audience know that are wrong; this dramatic irony allows the reader to question Birling’s judgment towards titanic and war. The Titanic is a metaphor for the Birling family and their good name. The use of elipses and implying it being “absolutely unsinkable” hints that Preistly wants the audience to know that Birling ‘knows’ everything that goes on Birling is overconfident when he tells Gerald that he is certain about claiming his knighthood and joking about the fact that they should not get in trouble with the

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