The Theme of Responsibility in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
Every member of our society should be equivalent and adjusted to each
other. Other people’s actions, suggestions and reactions make a
considerable difference to our lives. This has great significance and
concludes that we need to care about each other. The playwright of “An
Inspector Calls”, J.B. Priestley, wrote this play for several
essential and specific reasons. One of the key ideas was based on the
theme of responsibility. In this essay, I have focused on the same
ideas. Furthermore, I will carefully analyse and compare two very
contrasting character in the play. I have chosen to do my research and
comparison on Mrs Birling and Sheila Birling. And to help me analyse
them I will use quotes from the play.
“An Inspector Calls” is a play, which was written by John Boynton
Priestley in 1945 (set in 1912), and was staged in the theatre on the
1st of October 1946. Priestley uses the play as an example of what can
happen if we ignore the feelings of others. Priestley believed a great
deal in socialism and used the play to influence people to be
socialists.
“An Inspector Calls” is a play about a family called the ‘Birlings’.
One day, they were celebrating the engagement of their only daughter,
Sheila, while they were enjoying themselves; an inspector approaches
their house and turns the joyful and thrilling night into misery.
Every character gives a first impression, and Sheila is one of them.
“Sheila is a pretty girl in her twenties, very pleased with life and
rather excited.” My ...
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... if you are in this situation again. The
important thing is to try and correct it because it might just blow
out of portion. This is shown well in the play when Sheila realises
that she should have said something about Eric’s drinking problem as
it is the main reason that he got involved in this situation.
The main purpose of the play is that it wants people to improve on, to
have more consideration for everybody and life does not revolve around
money but compassion for others. Another message is underlined
throughout the play is that all classes have different wealth but when
it comes to feelings and sensitivities, we are all equal. The final
message of the play is a plea for changes, a change in human nature
first, then society. People have to learn that private behaviour has
public outcomes. The play was correct.
and say and do. We don't live alone. We are members of a body. We are
In conclusion I think that the stage directions and dramatic irony are significant to the play, and without them there would be no need for a lot of the events that happen in the play.
"And be quiet for a moment and listen to me. I don't need to know any
...of the characters’ lives as their motivation affects what they do. The play’s overall theme of manipulation for personal gain as well as general control transmits to me clearly that we are not in control, of the events that happen to us. In spite of that revelation we are in control of the way in which we react to the circumstances in our lives. Hence, no human fully grasps the capabilities to control the way we act. We simply allow certain circumstances to overpower us and dictate our actions. Ultimately, I learned that we are our actions and consequently we should acknowledge the accountability that is implied when we act a certain way. Instead of blaming others for the mistakes we make, we should understand that we have the control as much as the power to make our own decisions rather than giving that ability someone else.
the end of the Second World War. The play is set in 1912, just before
they have done even know they do not lead her to her suicide. But a
a major step in life. Because the play is not entirely trying to make the two
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley "An Inspector calls," by J. B. Priestley was written in 1946 and set in 1912. Priestley was a politician and a socialist who believed in equality and equilibrium for all, sex, race and class. Priestley had a long but arduous life, 1894-1984. He lived through both world wars, the unsinkable Titanic sank in 1912, the general strike in 1926, labour government resigning in 1931, and the two destructive atom bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. Priestley deliberately set the play in 1912 because the audience watching the play had to have lived through all of this and would have empathised with him.
in jeopardy than how he may have driven a young girl down a spiral to
A morality play is a medieval play designed to teach the audience right from wrong. JB Priestley uses An Inspector call to convey a moral message, which is that you should not judge people on their class i.e. lower working class/higher class. He also expands the views of socialism within the message; this is all made very clear by the use of dramatic devices. Although it is a morality play it is not in the traditional format. Priestley makes it very clear in what he wants the audience to think is moral and immoral. The play also conveys a strong political message. The play encourages the idea of socialism, a society in which responsibility and community are essential, also a place where the community all work together and are responsible for their actions. This is in contrast with capitalism. JB priestly wrote the play in 1945, but it was set in 1912 just before the war, it was later performed in 1946. The play was written after World War I and World War II, Priestley used this to his advantage, it makes the audience feel awful after what has just happened, the majority of the audience would have either lived through one or both of the wars. This helped Priestley promote socialism against capitalism.
the suicide of Eva Smiths death. The aim of the story is to, try to
Everyone wants to get better at something, but some want it more than others. In “How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place of Higher Learning and You at the Podium”, the narrator wants to get better at basketball, so he wakes up everyday at 4:30 to go with his dad to his work. Everyday, the narrator would wait 3 hours in his dad’s car until the gym opened, only to sit on the bench and watch the other men play basketball. Finally, one of the best players, Dante, tells the narrator he can play but he’ll get “smoked”. However, the narrator proved him wrong. The narrator learns that if you persevere, work hard, and have confidence, your dreams may come true. In How to Transform an Everyday, Ordinary Hoop Court into a Place
... may mean that if a person does not learn from their mistakes the first
The main reason for doing this could be to relieve the tensions in the play,
is a warning to them if they bother to listen. The basis of the play