J.B.Priestley Essays

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls

    2264 Words  | 5 Pages

    AN INSPECTOR CALLS COMPARE THE LIVES OF EVA SIMTH AND SHEILA BIRLING “Property is that old fashioned way of thinking of a country as a thing and a collection of things on that thing.” This quote is taken directly from J.B.Priestleys late night post scripts on BBC radio in 1940, which were banned for being to critical of the governments actions, and can be used to sum up the capitalist view perfectly. I think this quote is made from the point of view of a capitalist who believes that the

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls

    2358 Words  | 5 Pages

    An Inspector Calls Discuss the character of Sheila in “An Inspector Calls” Sheila Birling is the daughter of Mr Arthur Birling and Mrs Sybil Birling. She has a younger brother called Eric Birling. Sheila is in her early twenties and is in a high social class. However they are said to be “nouveux rishe” because her father wasn’t born into a wealthy family, he made his own way through life to be were he is. This, in a way, justifies the attitude and manners his children and himself. What

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls - Eva Smith

    1017 Words  | 3 Pages

    Eva Smith - character study. There are many reasons for the death of Eva Smith. Each one of the Birling family and Gerald pushed Eva Smith a little closer to suicide but no one person was solely responsible for her death. It was not only the Birling's that contributed to Eva Smith's death but her position in the world she was in, she was very poor and low in society Mr Birling was the first person who we were led to believe started off the train of events that led to the death of Eva Smith

  • By referring closely to J B Priestley’s account of Bradford, explain

    512 Words  | 2 Pages

    By referring closely to J B Priestley’s account of Bradford, explain what he considers gave the city its particular character at the time he was writing. J.B. Priestley, in his writing about Bradford, believes its character comes from, what might seem like, conflicting ideas. These ideas contribute to what Priestley calls Bradford’s odd quality. The character of Bradford, in 1933, when Priestley was writing, was made up of two extremes, provincialism and that of a cosmopolitan city. Provincialism

  • An Inspector Calls By J.B Priestley

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    An Inspector Calls By J.B Priestley An Inspector calls beings with the Birling family celebrating Shelia's engagement to Gerald Croft, Mr Birlings friends son. In the beginning of the play the light is 'pink and intimate' until the unexpected arrival of the Inspector we find the light change symbolises start of an investigation put under the spotlight, being brought out of their own world into reality. The inspectors arrival is unexpected to the family 'some trouble about a warrant' Mr Birlings

  • Inspector Goole in J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls

    1421 Words  | 3 Pages

    What is the function of Inspector Goole in J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls? An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 by John Boynton Priestley. The play was set in 1912 two years before the first world war so from this their would have been irony as the audience would know. The play is set in a dining room in the Birling’s residence in Brumley, North Midlands which was a fictional industrial city. At the time the play was set the world was a very class conscience place with higher

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls

    1133 Words  | 3 Pages

    An inspector calls is a play written by J.B Priestley in 1945. However, the play is set in 1912. The main themes of the play are lies, love, guilt, pride, status and responsibility. An inspector calls is a play written by J.B Priestley in 1945. However, the play is set in 1912. The main themes of the play are lies, love, guilt, pride, status and responsibility. This play was set in 1912 because it gave the audience a more dramatic impression of the rapport between the rich and the poor

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls

    519 Words  | 2 Pages

    An inspector calls' - what is the main message and is it still relevant today? We get the impression that she is a when Priestly adds, ‘very pleased with life’. She is ignorant to the world of the working class, and is constantly surrounded by her riches without even considering the lives of other people. During the engagement party, Gerald gives Sheila an engagement ring. This is to represent their relationship and love. Her words on receiving the gift are ‘Oh –Gerald-you’ve got it’. The

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls

    1266 Words  | 3 Pages

    English Coursework - An Inspector Calls. After the inspector leaves, The Birling’s discuss the night’s events. They go into a stage of blaming each-other for Eva Smith’s death, pushing the guilt onto one-another. Mr. Birling still does not have his priorities straight as the first thing that initially springs to his mind is that fact that the families reputation will go down the drain if any of the information they gave out will be found out by the public. He claimed that ‘There’ll be a

  • J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls - Eva Smith's Diary

    6134 Words  | 13 Pages

    AN INSPECTOR CALLS Wonderful day today. Went down to Birling and Company to be one of the workers and I got the job. I am so excited. I'm starting in two days and I'm seriously looking forward to it. At least I hope it would be more exciting than the last one I tried. Mum was very excited and so am I as you can tell. I'm already thinking about that break I will have next summer. Go to Blackpool, lie on the beach. By that time I'm sure I would have saved up enough money to do all this because

  • An Inspector Calls by J.B.Priestley

    1499 Words  | 3 Pages

    An Inspector Calls by J.B.Priestley "Priestley's play is unusual in that a character, the Inspector, could be said to direct the action of the play." This is a comment made by a theatre critic about the play "An Inspector Calls", and the character, Inspector Goole. By studying the play, I find that I can justify myself in agreeing with the critic's statement; that the Inspector does direct and control the action of the play. I am aware of how Priestley has incorporated various strategies

  • The Character of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls by J.B.Priestley

    821 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Character of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls by J.B.Priestley The inspector is from the Brumley police force. He says that his name is Inspector Goole. I think J.B.Priestley gave him the name Goole to try and make you think of him as a ghoul. He is representing an inspector from the Brumley police force and is also represented as a father confessor He is investigating the death of Eva Smith who had committed suicide in the infirmary. He has some evidence to prove that each member

  • The Role of the Inspector in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

    886 Words  | 2 Pages

    Edna as she introduces the stranger to the family. Inspector Goole has often been considered a peculiar and mysterious character, from his entrance in the middle of act 1 to his enigmatic exit in act 3. It is through the deliberate fault of J.B.Priestley that the role of the inspector is left open to debate and speculation. His methodical and unorthodox questioning leaves the characters bewildered and easy to manipulate. 'He made us confess', admits Sheila as if the family had almost been forced

  • J.B. Priestley's Use of Dramatic Devices in "An Inspector Calls"

    1781 Words  | 4 Pages

    The playwright J.B.Priestley in “An Inspector Calls” uses many dramatic devices, including dramatic irony and tension in order to convey a powerful political message throughout the play. Priestley promotes the idea of socialism, suggesting a society in which community and responsibility are predominant. This is in contrast with the idea of capitalism, in which “every man is an island” and has to work for himself, with no second thought for other people. Priestley’s presentation of the Inspector as

  • The Building of Pressure Throughout J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

    1846 Words  | 4 Pages

    to one member at a time, and when questioned about this he replies 'one line of enquiry at a time' again giving the impression he knows that they were all involved but still he wants do get their confessions his own way and individually. J.B.Priestley ends every scene with a cliffhanger that is to say that he leaves the audience unsure of what might happen next and therefore wanting to watch and find out. The ending is nothing short of genius as it is both unexpected and abrupt leaving the

  • Mrs Birling

    936 Words  | 2 Pages

    Contemporary drama is the type of drama that represents social and political changes of the world in the 19th century - and that is exactly what ‘An Inspector Calls is’ - a microcosm of society; It was written by English dramatist J.B.Priestley to portray the insecurities of the society in the 1900’s and reiterate the message of collective social responsibility. He executed this by advocating his own view through the characters in ‘An Inspector Calls’ as each represented the pressures and pleasures

  • The Importance of the Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls

    2699 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Importance of the Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls In this essay I am going to analyse the role of the inspector. I shall look at his importance as a ‘conscience’ figure, his effect on characters and as a dramatic tool. Firstly, I will look at the evidence we have about the ‘ghostly’ side of the character, the evidence I have about the inspector being a ‘ghost’ is that he knows an awful lot on the future and what is about to happen to Eva Smith, about her past life, what she did

  • How Priestely Uses the Characters in An Inspector Calls to Show Us the Social and Political Situation in England in 1912

    1622 Words  | 4 Pages

    Characters in An Inspector Calls to Show Us the Social and Political Situation in England in 1912 'An Inspector Calls' is set in 1912 England. The British Empire was very wealthy, successful and powerful however things were beginning to change. J.B.Priestley wrote the play in 1940, reflecting the changes that took place to both the social and political aspects of life in 1912. The Birling household is the set for the entire play, and Priestley uses Eva Smith and Inspector Goole as tools to portray

  • Role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls

    1901 Words  | 4 Pages

    people have made. The older generation have learned nothing “we’ve been had” says Mr Birling, proving that the older generation think that is quite funny and that it must have been someone having a joke. Conclusion The inspector represents J.B.Priestley and the socialist idea. Priestley hopes we have learned about socialism and that what can happen in a chain of events theory. Priestley hopes that we have learned that everyone should be equal and share their possessions. he also wanted us to learn

  • Taking Responsibility for Eva's Death in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

    1388 Words  | 3 Pages

    Taking Responsibility for Eva's Death in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls Works Cited Missing J.B.Priestley wrote "An Inspector Calls" after the Second World War; it was written after the World War as people in the higher-class thought everything was going to be okay. It was written to show how the working class were treated by the higher -class; after the World War everyone had to be responsible and look out for each other. Priestley wrote about a higher-class family called the Birlings