J.B. Priestly's Use of Drama in the First Act

J.B. Priestly's Use of Drama in the First Act

J.B Priestley was well known for his ability to incorporate time in

his plays. An Inspector Calls creates a real and believable sense of

safety for the audience and collapses that, gradually as the inspector

develops. Throughout his life Priestley was interested in the theories

of Jung and Ouspensky; this would tell us that he believed a policeman

in our dreams usually signifies our conscience. The inspector has an

aura of mystery that allows him to have a sharp penetrating quality

gained by his inner knowledge. As the play develops the audience

begins to feel that it is a slight coincidence the whole family being

caught up in one girl.

Inspector Goole controls the play from the moment he tells the

shocking news of Eva Smith's death, 'Two hours ago a young woman died

in the Infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she

had swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant'. He uses simple to the

point language and stays relatively quiet, thus making an impact when

he does raise his voice, and takes authority 'Stop', and 'Your

daughter isn't living on the moon'. Birling is annoyed by the

Inspector's ability to control the situation and does not like his

actions being questioned as they are when concerning Eva Smith's

dismissal. The Inspector simply asks why he wouldn't give her a rise

in pay - 'Why?' 'Did you say why?' Birling also becomes agitated at

the involvement of his family and in the middle of act one he says

angrily 'We were having a nice little family celebration tonight. And

a nasty mess you've made of it now, haven't you?' the Inspector

replies 'That's more or less what I was thinking earlier tonight, when

I was in the Infirmary looking at what was left of Eva Smith. A nice

little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty little mess

somebody's made of it'. The Inspector repeats words or phrases that

Birling has used to increase the power of his own words, example of