An Inspector Calls by John Boynton Priestley
The story “An Inspector Calls” is set in 1912 and is written by John
Boynton Priestley. The story, which was written in 1934, is about an
upper- class family who believe that because they are richer than
other people that they are more important. The story was made as a
play by Priestley in 1944-45 using the characters he had already
thought up several years earlier.
An inspector calls is what is known as a well-made play. This is
because of the progression throughout the story from ignorance to
knowledge for both the audience and the characters. Priestley observes
the classical unities of time, place action in the structure of the
play, by considering these Priestley has made the play seem more
realistic because the actual time span of the play while being
performed is roughly that of which these events would take to unfold
in real life. The audience’s interest is sustained not only by the
progressive revelations but by their desire to find out who,
ultimately, was responsible for driving Eva smith to suicide.
The whole story takes place in a “fairly large suburban house” besides
one or two minor flashbacks between characters. The major-ness of the
story being set here is not noticed until early in act one when the
head of the household, Mr. Birling, when it becomes apparent that Mr.
Birling thinks of himself as being a larger than life character.
In the opening act of the play Priestley’s characters show what he
thinks about society at the time the play is set, using different
characters to preach his feelings.
In the play there are several characters and each is different but of
the six characters, 3 do not feel any remorse while the other two do,
these two are grouped with the inspector because they have the same
idea about how people should be in the future.
There are two main characters in this story, these are:
Arthur Birling- A wealthy businessman who is very involved in local
He was particularly scathing about the class system and the extreme contrasts of wealth and poverty prevalent at that time. He also disapproved of the selfishness within the individual and the fact that many people were only concerned with their own power, profit and gain. Priestley powerfully highlighted the exploitation of women and through the character of Eva Smith, he illustrated the rights that women were beginning to voice in society. Finally, Priestley used the different characters in his play to show the how the sins of greed, pride and selfishness have so corrupted society that the individual has become oblivious to the consequences of their actions, in this case culminating in the death of Eva Smith. Although 'Inspector Calls' is set in 1912, it was first written in 1945 and produced on the lst October 1946, just after World War 11.
and say and do. We don't live alone. We are members of a body. We are
How Priestly Uses the Characters to Represent His Own Views on Society The play "An Inspector Calls" is set in 1912 but was written in 1945. Edwardian society at that time (1912) was strictly divided into social classes and over two-thirds of the nation's wealth was in the hands of less than 1% of the population. Below the very rich were the middle classes (doctors and merchants, shop workers and clerks), after that came the craftsmen and skilled workers. At the very bottom of the social ladder was the largest class of all - the ordinary workers and the poor, many of whom lived below the poverty level. The men of industry treated the workers very badly and they were paid pittance.
J. B. Priestly was born in 1894 in Bradford and he died on the 14th of
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.
Priestley's Social Message in An Inspector Calls The play an Inspector Call’s was written at the time of 1945 but is set in 1912. Priestley conveys a lot of social and important messages in this play. He conveys the messages through the character of Inspector Goole. One most important message that Priestley conveys is about Socialism.
Priestley’s Main Aim in An Inspector Calls JB Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ to enhance the message that ‘we don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’. This is something Priestly felt strongly about and he succeeded in representing his views through the character of the Inspector in the play itself. He wanted to communicate the message that our actions, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, always affect others.
the end of the Second World War. The play is set in 1912, just before
especially for a woman. Even if a woman did get a job they would get
An Inspector Calls is a play with lots of political messages as well as social messages. J. B. Priestley believed in socialism and he used large amounts of his plays to try and convince people to his way of thinking. It was written in a time when Britain was ruled by a Labour government and socialist policies were seen to be a good way to go. It was a common way of thinking at that time so Priestley's aim for the play was to influence the unconvinced in society.
Birlings, as they find out that they have all played a part in a young
the suicide of Eva Smiths death. The aim of the story is to, try to
The story of Eva Smith is a dramatic one. JB Priestley is full of good
The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard For this unit, the play which we are studying is "The Real Inspector." Hound" written by Tom Stoppard, an English playwright famous for his clever use of language and ironic political metaphors. Stoppard was associated theatre of the absurd, and often his play referred to the meaninglessness of the human condition. He combined English tradition of the "comedy of manners" (a play that attacks the customs).
was genuine and this allows the audience to almost predict their own ending; how will the family react to the arrival of the real Inspector? Will they acknowledge this as a chance to admit to their mistakes or will they try and conceal their guilt? I thoroughly enjoyed studying An Inspector Calls and have learned a great deal about how society has changed and how moral ideals have evolved over time. I found the play effective although because of the way in which society has developed Priestley's morals may not be applicable to life today. As wealth and power have become increasingly more important socialist feelings of responsibility for one another have been progressively weakened.