An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley
Consider how J.B Priestley combines dramatic effectiveness with
political comment in 'An Inspector Calls.'
An Inspector Calls can be described as a carefully constructed play as
the author, J.B Priestley, cleverly combines dramatic effectiveness
with strong political comment to create an entertaining play based on
morals and ethics to make the audience think about the issues
contained within the play. I believe that Priestley intended to change
the perception of his audience's opinions of society, and so by
writing this play, he achieved these aims.
An Inspector Calls was written in the mid 1940's, although the actual
story is set in 1912. It deals with one major political issue in
particular and that is the immense contrast to the lives led by the
rich as opposed to the lives led by the poor. The arguments for and
against a socialist system are a great feature of the play. J.B
Priestley, if we can judge him from 'An Inspector Calls', was a
socialist. He believed that whether or not we acknowledged it, we all
live together in a community and have a responsibility to look out for
each other. Being a well-known essayist at the time, he wrote essays
as well as plays to highlight these beliefs and also to share them
with the rest of the world. We know, as is stated in the introductory
passage to the Heinemann edition of the play, that Priestley was
significantly influenced by his father and his circle of socialist
friends' "hot arguments" and their broad minded political discussions
and debates. Priestley describes himself as "politically minded" and
these views were to have a great impact in s...
... middle of paper ...
... may mean that if a person does not learn from their mistakes the first
time round, then a more harsher lesson may be in inflicted upon them.
As the audience gradually progress through the play, we are no longer
expected to believe in its realism. The play has become a sort of
parable in that it is illustrating a moral truth about society.
There may be hope for the characters Sheila and Eric as they seem
truly remorseful of their actions. But Mr and Mrs Birling only seem to
care about getting away with it without to much publicity. Although
they have not committed a crime in the eyes of the law, but have
behaved selfishly and immorally. In the case of An Inspector Calls, a
valid speculation would be that the author aimed to educate his
audience through the characters realisation of their roles in Eva
Smiths suicide.
to say for herself she gets the sack. And this is what the author is
In this essay I will examine how Priestly ends each act on a note of
J.B. Priestley's Inspector Calls. An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley is set in an industrial city. Brymley in 1912, just before the First World War. The Inspector's dealings with the Birling family cause some of the characters in the play to re-evaluate their position in society, whilst others remain.
or two, or a few German officers have too much to drink and begin to
his speech' showing he is not from the class he now is in. He is
entry is timed to be just at the point when Mr Birling is saying how
in jeopardy than how he may have driven a young girl down a spiral to
listen to him, then they do. Sheila even says about him " I hate to
Birlings, as they find out that they have all played a part in a young
An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley Through out the play Mr Birling is made out to be a dislikeable character and in the opening stage direction priestly describes Mr Birling as "A heavy looking rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech," This quotation gives the audience an immediate clue to Mr Birlings character, suggesting that he is self interested before he has even spoken in the play. The audience's dislike for Mr Birling quickly grows because of the attitude he displays to Gerald. He sees the marriage as an opportunity to improve his own standing by merging his business with Gerald's fathers; "Perhaps we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birling are no longer competing but are working together-for lower costs and higher prices" Birling has no interest in weather Sheila, his daughter, is marrying Gerald on the basis of love and respect. His only concern is the potential the union of businesses has for him; to make more money by joining the Birling and Croft family businesses.
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 and techniques of control into the character of the Inspector, which are use continuously throughout the play. Also, of Priestley's use of dramatic irony to cause reactions in the audience and to create certain feelings towards each character within the play.
been a hoax, he is happy to believe that everything is as it was a few
that there will be no war in Europe. He was of cause wrong about all
Eric Birling seems to be a lively young man who likes his drink. He is
Everyone, at some point in their lives, has made a mistake. Sometimes we get lucky and only falter a little, making it through the problem relatively intact. Other times, we mess up a lot and have to fix what was damaged over a long period of time. However, the same is true for most, if not all cases—those who make the mistake learn from it. Often times, our failures teach us valuable lessons that we only gain because of the experience we gain after messing up.