J.B.Priestley's Use of Dramatic Ironys to Create Dramatic Tension in the Play An Inspector Calls
In this essay I am going to write about how J.B.Priestely used
dramatic irony and entrances and exits to create dramatic tension. I
will tell you what dramatic irony is and how it is used in the story
'An Inspector Calls'. In addition how Priestley uses entrances and
exits to create tension as well. The play is set in 1912 but actually
written in 1945, which created more dramatic irony because the
audience knew what had already happened in real life.
Priestley uses stage directions to create tension in the play and
suspense, this quote supports my point 'we hear a sharp ring of the
door bell. Birling stops to listen'. This creates tension because it
show's people thoughts and facial expressions are shown. The fact that
it is staged in one room creates more tension and it also makes
everything tight and tense. It is also really good that everyone comes
and goes out at really tense points.
Before the inspector arrives the family are celebrating the engagement
of Shelia Birling to Gerald Croft. There is a happy and jolly mood in
the house. Mr.Birling's Speeches have a lot of irony in them. Dramatic
Irony is when the audience know what is going on but the actors on
stage don't know. For example when Mr.Birling talks about the Titanic
being unsinkable 'New York in 5 days-and every luxury-and Unsinkable'
because Priestley wrote this in 1945 but set it in 1912 the audience
already know that the titanic sunk'.
When the door bell rang Mr. Birling stops to listen and then just
carries on what he was talking about. The doorbell rings at a really
calm moment not a lot has happened so far in the play. Birling has
given some dramatic speeches talking about war and how it will never
happen. The doorbell goes and the inspector doesn't come straight in
it takes a bit for him to come in; Priestley is creating more tension
here by slowing things down.
audience in his play. I will be analysing act one of the play to try
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley In the introduction of Act One, we are given a few brief details about
Dramatic irony is used through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s return. His death had brought her such great sorrow but upon his return she died. Her death then created sorrier bringing in the irony of the beginning of the story where it was said that Mrs. Mallard’s heart was bad and she was tried not to be stressed.
Examine Priestley's use of dramatic techniques to create tension in the play. Priestly was a socialist writer, and 'An Inspector Calls' is one of the plays in which he tried to display his socialist ideals in. The play was written in the 1940's, a little after the end of the Second World War, and it was first performed in 1946, in Russia, then later in England. Priestly had served in World War 1, and the terrible scenes he saw lead to him having socialist views. He was inspired by other writers whose views he shared, especially George Orwell and H.G.
audience is left in suspense at the end of Act One, this is done so
Priestley's Use of Characters to Send a Political and Social Message to the Audience in An Inspector Calls
There are so many examples of situational irony that is clear throughout these stories Mr. Mallard being dead, Mama finally realizes that Maggie deserves the quilts because she understands her heritage better than Dee, Mathilde finding out she worked her whole life for nothing, and when Mr. Graves tells Tessie that Eva draws with her husband's family, Tessie is angry. Dramatic irony is everywhere as well. Louise dies from the shock of seeing her husband who is supposed to be dead and when Dee never wanted anything to do with her heritage until somebody was impressed by it.
J B Priestley's Creation of Tension in Inspector Calls. In this essay I will be explaining how J B Priestley creates tension. for the audience of an inspector calls as each character gradually reveal their involvement with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. The characters are forced to confess by the way that the inspector appears to know.
Dramatic Tension in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley The play, An Inspector Calls, by J.B Priestley is full of dramatic tension that changes throughout the play depending on the characters involved. This tension that has been created by the arrival of the Inspector has affected the relationships within the family and Gerald Croft, a person soon to be married to Sheila Birling. Not only have the relationships changed but the attitudes of certain characters have also altered, almost completely, as their perspectives of the society and position seems to matter no more. This is in relevance to Sheila and Eric Birling especially. The tension mounts as each revelation is revealed through the intense questioning by the Inspector that brings about attitude changes within the members of the family, nervousness, and anxiety to what happens next that leads to Eva Smith's devastating consequences.
play we get to see how all of these people added to Eva Smith's misery
The Dramatic Importance of the Inspector in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls In this play, Inspector Calls J.B. Priestley expresses his personal viewpoint on society in general throughout the play by using the character Inspector Goole. His viewpoint is evident in the main themes through out the play which are social responsibility, power and lies. These themes help to articulate his belief that all people share a common humanity and so all are part of a community whereby everyone should help each other, regardless class. Social responsibility is possibly the most prominent theme through the play and is explored a number of times. Priestley shows how lack of social responsibility can cause a ‘chain of events’ which will lead to something rather more severe.
A situational irony happens when a wicked man, The Misfit, causes the old woman to become sympathetic. Her enlightenment allows her to redeem herself by casting off her selfishness and reaching out to the serial killer. The Misfit's felony led to the old woman's redemption.
In conclusion, many examples are given throughout the novel that exemplifies all three types of irony: situational, verbal, and dramatic. There are many more examples, like Bernard wanting attention and John’s suicide. His suicide can be an example of irony, with the reader hoping that John (the revolutionist) might succeed, but John taking his own life. Irony plays a huge role in the book, pointing out that no society can be perfect and that some laws are broken by the creators themselves.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. "dramatic irony (literature)." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. .
Irony is a useful device for giving stories many unexpected twists and turns. In Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour," irony is used as an effective literary device. Situational irony is used to show the reader that what is expected to happen sometimes doesn't. Dramatic irony is used to clue the reader in on something that is happening that the characters in the story do not know about. Irony is used throughout Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" through the use of situational irony and the use of dramatic irony.