Explain, with detailed reference to the text, how this atmosphere is created and maintained in the play
J.B Priestly uses a lot of ideas to give the audience an idea of suspense and mystery. At the start of the film and play production the audience can hear music, this makes them wonder what is going on as the family inside the house is happy and joyous, yet the music seems eerie and almost scary. Minutes into the play a grand entrance is made (that of the inspector) which creates a feeling of unease, as the audience and the family wonder what he is doing there.
The entrances and exits are used in the best possible way, he makes the entrance of a character leave a big impression, but the exit of a character leave an even bigger one. The biggest entrance during the play is that of the inspector during Birlings speech about "looking after himself and his own family, yet when the inspector leaves he makes a speech about not living alone but looking after everyone and that we are responsible for one another." This creates another feeling of unease as this is the complete opposite of what Birling said at the start. This leaves a cliff-hanger which J.B. Priestly also uses to great effect. The cliff-hanger which leaves the biggest impression on the audiences mind is that at the end of act 1 between Gerald and the inspector, it leaves the audience wondering what will happen as Gerald has given his connection with Daisy Renton away and is trying to cover it up. This leads to dramatic irony as the audience knows what is going on, but still not all the characters know.
J.B Priestly uses a lot of ideas to give the audience an idea of suspense and mystery. At the start of the film and play production the audience can hear music, this makes them wonder what is going on as the family inside the house is happy and joyous, yet the music seems eerie and almost scary. Minutes into the play a grand entrance is made (that of the inspector) which creates a feeling of unease, as the audience and the family wonder what he is doing there.
The entrances and exits are used in the best possible way, he makes the entrance of a character leave a big impression, but the exit of a character leave an even bigger one. The biggest entrance during the play is that of the inspector during Birlings speech about "looking after himself and his own family, yet when the inspector leaves he makes a speech about not living alone but looking after everyone and that we are responsible for one another." This creates another feeling of unease as this is the complete opposite of what Birling said at the start. This leaves a cliff-hanger which J.B. Priestly also uses to great effect. The cliff-hanger which leaves the biggest impression on the audiences mind is that at the end of act 1 between Gerald and the inspector, it leaves the audience wondering what will happen as Gerald has given his connection with Daisy Renton away and is trying to cover it up. This leads to dramatic irony as the audience knows what is going on, but still not all the characters know.
