How does Priestly reveal the attitudes of two characters in Act One?
“An Inspector Calls”, is a play written in 1912 Edwardian England, by J.B. Priestly. It is a philosophical play about social conscience and the crumbling of middle-class values. In this time period there was a large social divide between the upper and lower class. This play is about a higher class family who having a strong connection with a young woman who has committed suicide, with a suspicious Inspector uncovering the plot throughout the play. Priestly presents Mr Birling as a “Portentous” man, with capitalistic views, and his daughter Sheila Birling, is portrayed as a naïve young girl, but as the act goes on she begins to become more independent, but also becomes more aware about society.
Mr Birling is presented as a prosperous business man, with capitalistic ideals and beliefs. Mr Birlings business-like ways are shown through him trying to convince Gerald that they are a family worth marrying due to the fact that they drink the same port as Geralds’ father, perhaps Priestly is commenting on the
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social divide between the classes, because no matter what class you are in you always have someone to conform to someone of higher status, and continually try to please them. This leaves the audience wondering whether or not you can truly move classes. Adding to this, the stage direction “her husband’s social superior” is suggesting that Mr Birling began in a lower, working class and worked himself up to the upper class, where he is now, perhaps that is why he likes to continually inform others of his wealth and of the important people he knows, he may be just trying to convince them of his worth, which to some degree is understandable considering how hard he may have worked to be where he is, but regardless that does not justify the way in which he treats people below him and his capitalistic ideals which can be considered selfish. Similarly, Arthurs gratitude and thankfulness of Gerald is shown when he says “You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted”, this is most likely due to the money and status that the Croft family has. This is very selfish, as Mr Birling is approving of his daughters fiancé due to the wealth and the title he comes with. The use of dramatic irony shown through “.. the interests of the Capital – are properly protected. And we’re in a time of steadily increasing prosperity”, however this is untrue, as the audience is aware on the events that are about to happen. This again happens when he calls the Titanic “unsinkable” and refers to war as “these silly little war scares” that are not bound to happen yet we as the audience know that he is horribly incorrect, perhaps this has been done to suggest that his socialistic views are incorrect as well, and it also affects the audience, who are having to consider whether or not Birling is being truthful as his ideals are incorrect even when he is very confident with them. Furthermore, Mr Birlings constant need to impress people is shown when he introduces Gerald through his title “Crofts Limited”, this emphasises Mr Birlings need to be thought highly of and perhaps his need to continuously convince himself of his high superiority, this helps to characterise him as being quite superficial, as he is more concerned with business and profit and would do anything to get a higher status even if it means using his daughter. In this Act, Mr Birling is presented as a selfish manufacture, with fabricated views on the future. Sheila is presented as a ‘pretty”, naïve girl, who begins to become more independent and learns to view society in a more socialistic manner. At the beginning of the act, Sheila is described simply as a “pretty girl in her early twenties”, the fact that she is being described as merely a “pretty girl” introduces the gender roles portrayed throughout this play, as her family members has been described as “…prosperous”, “…portentous man”, and “…her husband’s superior”, which almost makes them seem venerable and significant. At the beginning of the Act, the audience may mistake Sheila as being spoilt and superficial, due to her materialistic view, which is demonstrated through the stage direction “who has put ring on, admiring”, the fact that she seems to care more about the ring than the proposal leaves the audience questioning whether or not her feelings for Gerald is a façade and like her father, just seems to be more interested in marrying for wealth and status. Adding to this, the imperative “Run along”, is most commonly used when talking to children, not a woman in her early twenties. Here we get the impression that Mr Birling either does not want Sheila to know that he was involved or he may just be ever protective of her, as he continues to shield her from the harsh truth, also the audience is being introduced to this divide between the older and younger generations and how the youth are more capable of showing sympathy and are even more open to the idea of changing for better which is shown through her changing views of individualness to more collected and as a whole. Furthermore, Sheila’s reaction when finding out about Eva Smith is shown through “Oh – how horrible! Was it an accident?”, perhaps this has affected her so much as both women were nearly of the same age, which would have been easier for Sheila to relate to. Priestly, may have included this, as it demonstrates that the only thing that separates and distinguishes the two women is class, and perhaps due to the fact that class has been commonly referred to as a divide, Priestly may be suggesting that class acts as a metaphysical barrier between people, stopping them from being a community and acting as a whole rather than individuals. Similarly, the stage direction “cutting in”, demonstrates her newly found independence as she is standing up towards her father offering her input, rather than agree to the norm. she truly believes that everyone should take some social responsibility for the things you have done, this leads to the audience questioning whether or not someone is responsible for an event due to however large or small their role may have been. Adding to this, Sheila believes that people are more important than business, she believes that regardless of their class they are still people and deserve to be treated equally and just, whether or not they come from nobility or are wealthy, this is shown when she says “But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”, this strongly goes against the capitalistic views of her father, as she believes in treating people fairly not firing someone due to them wanting a raise. Also, here it seems as if Sheila may be correcting the Inspector as he refers to the girls as ‘cheap labour” in the hopes of getting a reaction out of Mr Birling, but Sheila is right these women are not just a means of work they are living, breathing people that require the same essentials to live, the only division between Sheila and the women is that Sheila comes from a family of a higher class, but the fact that Sheila does correct him, emphasises the way in which her character has developed throughout this act, as she is beginning to accept her responsibility in the death of Eva Smith and becomes more aware of society and the divisions between the classes. Sheila is presented as a ‘pretty”, naïve girl, who begins to become more independent and it seems that she and Eric are the only Birlings that have a sense of social responsibility. Priestly presents Mr Birling as a “Portentous” man, with capitalistic views, and his daughter Sheila Birling, is portrayed as a naïve young girl, but as the act goes on she begins to become more independent, but also becomes more aware about society.
Perhaps this has been done as it offers a huge contrast between the two, and the separation that has occurred due to their opposing views on society and the fact that older generations are more resistant to change. Priestly may have wanted to provoke the thought on whether or not this social divide still exists and how does it affect people in society? The audience is also left wondering whether or not Mr Birlings need to be of a higher status has come from his original situation, when he was of a lower class and had to work his way up, if so this may explain why at times it seems as if he is trying to prove others that he is worthy of this
status.
Discuss Priestley's depiction of the Birling household and Gerald Croft, prior to the arrival of Inspector Goole In this submission I hope to fully discuss Priestley's depiction of the Birling household and Gerald Croft, prior to the arrival of Inspector Goole. The play is set in the fictional town of Brumley, an industrial town in the North Midlands. It is evening in the town, in the spring of 1912. At the moment the play starts the characters are celebrating the engagement between Gerald Croft and the Birling family's only daughter Sheila. They are all very pleased with themselves and are enjoying the occasion.
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.
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 play is very simplistic and overtly political. It heavily features varying aspects of non-illusory theatre to semaphor Priestley's political message. When reading the play, it is important to remember that the characters are not people but caricatures Priestley employs to manipulate the reader. This combines with the artificiality of the plot to form a completely biased play, from whichever angle one looks at it. However at the time of its publication it was not so outlandish, because it upheld the New Labour government, struggling so hard to bring about its reforms and stay in favour of a people who had suffered many hardships and were now looking to more years of difficulty and discomfort.
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.
The Dramatic Techniques J.B. Priestley Used to Create and Develop Tension in Act one of An Inspector Calls
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.
He uses the downfall of Eva Smith and a chain of events to demonstrate this. This leads to a very convincing and well-devised play, which puts across JB Priestley’s views clearly and precisely. In Edwardian Britain there was a great difference in the roles of men and women in society and the outlook of what and was not accepted differed substantially. A prime example of this in the play is when Mr Birling says ‘Nothing to do with you, Sheila.
In 1947 Britain had just come to the end of a devastating world war where families had suffered immense losses and society was desperate for a fairer, more equal lifestyle. Socialism and left-wing Labour views were becoming increasingly popular and Priestley, himself a Socialist, was anxious to point out the flaws of a society which rewarded rich men who openly exploited the poor for profit. He effectively uses hindsight in his play to ensure the corruption, hierarchy and discrimination of Edwardian Britain was not repeated. There is an irrefutable message in Priestley's thriller, a feeling ... ... middle of paper ... ...
Priestley's Use of Characters to Send a Political and Social Message to the Audience in An Inspector Calls
The Inspector, straight form his introduction, is commanding and authoritative. Upon his entrance he creates, “…at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.”(PG.11) The Inspector continues to create this impression as he progresses through his speeches and through his interrogation of the family. The Inspector remains confident, sturdy and composed, while people around him crumble and fall to pieces. His ‘solidity’ is proven by the fact he remains on task despite numerous attempts from Birling to digress from the points he is making. The Inspector is told to appear ‘purposeful’; this is shown where he explains to Birling that Birlings way of thinking “Every man must only look out for himself,” is not the case, and all warps of society are interlinked. The view is best illustrated in the Inspectors final speech, where he says, “We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”(p.56). This idea is one that Priestley, himself believed in deeply, and many of Priestleys writing shared this very theme.
This helped Priestley promote socialism against capitalism. JB Priestley uses dramatic devices to make An inspector calls a modern day morality play, to do this he uses dramatic devices, such as dramatic irony and tension in order to convey the message through the entire play. They are used accurately considering the time in which the play is set. Priestley also uses the characters as dramatic devices, they symbolise the dramatic devices, an example of this is Priestley makes us hate Mr. Birling because he symbolises capitalism, and in Priestley’s eyes capitalism is wrong. Throughout the play, Mr. Birling is the voice of capitalism....
Consider the role of the Inspector in “An Inspector Calls”? And what we learn about Priestley’s view on society through the character and his effect on others.
In this section at the end of Act Two we find out that Mrs Birling