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Priestley's ideas in inspector calls
How is eva smith an important character in an inspector calls essay
Priestley's ideas in inspector calls
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Coming back to the play, “An Inspector Calls” is focused on the middle class family of the Birling’s and it explores how each member of the family relates to the suicide of a working class girl called Eva Smith. Arthur Birling is the head of the family, initially described as a “heavy looking” and “portentous man”. The carful choice of words in the stage direction immediately gives the audience the impression of Mr Birling as very authoritative and serious figure in the society and in his family. Moreover, the word “portentous” instantly hints the audience about the self-centered and arrogant nature of Mr Birling that eventually suggests his conservative attitudes towards the social issues. At the beginning of act 1 he makes his position
The war was said to bring fire blood & anguish in to our lives. WW1 -
A Comparison of Characters of Mr. Birling and Inspector Goole in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
As the play was meant to be produced on stage, rather than to be written as a book format, 'An Inspector Calls' is very dramatic; to capture the audiences' attention, and to keep them thinking as the play develops. Each of the three acts are very dramatic, but I am choosing to analyse the first half of Act One of 'An Inspector Calls', because in my opinion, this is where J.B. Priestley's use of dramatic devices is most evident. This part of the play is very important, because it is the opening scene. Not only must the opening scene of the play grab the audiences' attention, it must also give impressions and introductions to the main characters. J.B. Priestley has used the scene to capture the audiences' attention and imagination, and gives a good introduction to the characters and their personality.
· The social class system at the time when the play is set, (rich and
'An Inspector Calls' is a morality play - a form of play developed in the late middle ages in which a Christian moral lesson was brought out through the struggle between the forces of good and evil - set in 1912, and revolves around the questioning of a family by Inspector Goole about the suicide of a young woman (Eva Smith) that the family knew.The author, J.B. Priestley is trying to show us what some people's arrogance and selfishness can cause without them even noticing. Priestley was a socialist, therefore by writing this play he was drawing attention to the bad things about capitalism. The Inspector was intending to teach the Birlings that ?...we have to share something. If there?s nothing else, we?ll have to share our guilt? Act One. By saying this, he is telling them they are all as guilty as each other of the suicide of Eva Smith, this also links to Priestley being a socialist because he is putting the Birlings to shame.
An Inspector Calls' is primarily focused on he attitudes surrounding the higher classes in 1912, and how these attitudes can lead to actions with potentially devastating consequences. The attitudes are particularly aimed at women, especially those of working class status. In the play women are portrayed as second class citizens, after men. However the difference (e.g. in independence) between upper class men and women is greater than that of working class men and women.
"And be quiet for a moment and listen to me. I don't need to know any
he has to hang up his wet cloak, but inside is warm and cosy with a
The whole family’s actions are the cause of Eva’s death however the message about responsibility the Inspector presents is only take on board by Eric and Sheila. In conclusion, Priestley clearly gets across his message of responsibility towards others in the play. A clever script cunningly executed points out Priestley’s views to the audience. ‘Responsibility’ is the focal point of the play and is consistently addressed at the end of each interrogation, but the Birlings fail to recognise this.
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 from our mistakes. I have learned about socialism and about life in 1912. my views haven’t really changed because I didn’t know about socialism before. my view is that the play is a decent play, but not one that I would go and see.
Character Analysis of Birling from An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley The play An Inspector Calls was written by J.B.Priestley. Birling is an important character in the book for a number of reasons. The reasons for this will be discussed throughout the book, how he deals with his own responsibility and others, how he deals with the hoax and what he’s used for generally in the book. The play is about a family who are all in someway to blame for the death of a girl.
The Importance of Birling's Interaction with the Inspector in Act One of An Inspector Calls
In the play “An inspector calls” by J.B priestly, Mr Birling and Shelia Birling have contrasting attitudes to social issues. The author uses this to difference to highlight the diversity between generations and their reaction to situations faced. Arthur Birling is the father to Shelia Birling and is presented as the old fashion generation whereas Shelia is the young generation, who is more aware of the responsibility she has towards other people.The play begins with Mr birling and his family celebrating the engagement of Shelia and Gerald. The atmosphere is happy and light-hearted. Before the inspector arrives, Mr Birling is happy with life and himself “It’s one of the happiest nights of my life.” This shows that Mr Birling is quire selfish because he only thinks that it is one of the happiest nights of his life and not of Shelia and Gerald.
Priestley shows the theme of responsibility in An Inspector Calls through the way he chose the setting of the play and adapted his characters to portray the different aspects of society and the role that each type of person has. This is done as the play is a social commentary that conveys the responsibilities of everyone no matter if they are upper class, upper-middle class or the working class - these are the classes that Priestley made his characters to draw attention to the issues of the public at the time amongst the hierarchy in place.
In act 1, while Arthur Birling was giving advice to Eric and Gerald, an Inspector gives them a visit to investigate a young working-class girl’s suicidal death. This is very important because later on, we find out how J. B. Priestley has linked the girl’s death to all the Birling family members.