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Priestley's ideas in an inspector calls
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Priestley's ideas in an inspector calls
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Analysis of 'An Inspector Calls' by J.B. Priestly
‘An Inspector Calls’ is a twentieth century drama written by J.B.
Priestly in 1947 but takes place in 1912.
This story is about the Birling family celebrating their daughter,
Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft. A few pages into the story, an
Inspector called Goole which means ‘spirit in death’ interrogates the
family and the story of Eva’s death unfolds. As it progresses each
character realises their connection to her tragic death.
Behind this story there are many meanings or points that Priestly
wanted to get across, especially his views on socialists and
capitalists. A socialist is somebody who believes in and supports
socialism or socialists party. Inspector Goole’s character portrays
Priestly’s views on socialists but on the other hand Mr Birling is
against the ideas of socialists and is a prime example of a
capitalist. A Capitalist is a wealthy person, especially somebody made
rich by capitalism and considered to be avaricious.
The story was based in 1912, right before the 1st and 2nd world war,
The Labour Strikes, The sinking of the Titanic and The Suffragettes.
Parts of Mr Birling’s speeches create dramatic irony as the Titanic
did sink and the war did happen.
In ‘An Inspector Calls’ tension is created in many ways. It can be
created by stage directions and the characters use of language.
To answer the question above, I am going to see what techniques
Priestly uses to create dramatic tension in Act 3 and how it would be
shown on a staged production.
In this play, Inspector Goole portrays Prieslty’s views and opinions
on socialists and capitalists. The Insp...
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...r example
when Eric returned just in time for the inspector to interrogate him
and how it connected to his mother story. Priestly adding a final
suspension to the play; which was the phone ring at the end made it a
really good cliff hanger. If it were to be put on stage production and
to create dramatic tension, they would have to bring the characters
out from the book and portray their personalities. By using dramatic
entrances and exit in the right places would create tension for
instance Eric’s entrance. The actor who plays the inspector would have
to be confident but blunt, manipulative and show no emotion. By this,
this will create tension as the audience would want to know who the
inspector is. Finally I think that Priestly’s play was a smart way of
portraying the socialism, capitalism and politics in the world.
My least favorite aspect of this play was the ending. The ending confused me and was anticlimactic. It was not funny and not entertaining at all.
There would be more of an effect on the audience at the time, as it
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.
"And be quiet for a moment and listen to me. I don't need to know any
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.
technology and how a man should live. He says 'A man has to make his
Socialism is one of the greatest messages that Priestley conveys. This message is spoken through the inspector. The Inspector represents Priestley’s strong moral views. Through the play, the Inspector’s character is shown as if he is Priestley’s image, and also shows that he is no ordinary Inspector. His character is shown as if he is more concerned with morality than legality, other than that of an ordinary Policeman/Inspector.
At the start the playwright creates slight allusions that produce tension; Sheila wondered ‘half seriously what had happened to Gerald previous summer when Gerald never went near Sheila’. Lady Croft and Sir George have not come to the engagement feast and Eric is behaving quite anxiously. Eric’s strange behaviour on the cheerful occasion creates trepidation and foreshadows a rather surprising event which interests the audience.
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.
play is set in 1912, only 2 years before the outbreak of WW1, and in
First the rule in the NFL was that the play would be an automatic penalty, would result in player fine, and an additional fifteen yards would be added from where the foul was committed. The play is reviewable; however, if the call on the field does not stand the player is not fined, but it is still a fifteen yard penalty. A lot of coaches and other National Football League associates disagreed with that section of the rule and after debates and discussions the rule was changed. As of the season, if the play is reviewed and there is not an actual penalty then
the suicide of Eva Smiths death. The aim of the story is to, try to
Goole. Some the Birling family are used to show how we are not to act
... may mean that if a person does not learn from their mistakes the first