How does Priestly in Act one prepare the audience for the rest of the play?
How does Priestly in Act one prepare the audience for the rest of the play?
During the opening scene of 'An Inspector Calls' J.B Priestly uses various methods and techniques to hint to the audience about what was likely to happen in the latter stages of the play. Due to the play being in the murder/mystery genre, the audience at first are given no real indication on what was the main cause of Eva Smiths death, however in the opening sequences of the play, Priestly provides the audience with some of the keys to help unlock the mystery, without telling them which doors lead to the truth, this leaves the audience guessing until the last minute and on the edge of their seats throughout the play.
One of the cunning ways which he does this is through the clever use of characters. Authur Birling is a prime example. Being the most prominent character in the play, Priestly uses his speeches, interposed with dramatic irony to send the audience a clear message that, this 'self made man' possesses a lot less knowledge than he thinks he does. Moreover Birlings last speech before the inspector arrives with the use of hindsight gives a great insinuation to the audience, as it is this speech which the play is based around and more importantly, is the only speech by the Birlings to be directly answered by the inspector later on in the play. In addition to this the opening scene of the play required each of the individual characters to act in a distinct and peculiar way, with the objective that within 5 minutes the audience could develop a personal relationship with every character. This would prove extremely important as later on in the play, each characters personalities is exposed, and the way each person acts during the dinner gives the audience a strong indication about how they all treated Eva Smith. Furthermore the stage directions in the opening scene play are a significant role in the production, and when observed closely, can give a useful insight on how the characters are feeling inside. Additionally the props and settings are another key which Priestly uses to acquire the audiences attention. The beginning of the play, the atmosphere reflects the general mood, with pink lighting and mellow, angelic music reflecting the cosy, joyful environment.
The first sign which the audience gets which indicates how the play eventually turns out is through Gerald and Sheila's dialogue within the opening exchanges. This can be said because although this was their engagement party, it is clear that Sheila still has some resentment towards Gerald because of the way he treated her last summer. This is made clear by the tone which she talks to her husband to be, stark and inhospitable which is completely at odds to the overall mood. Moments later the audience is exposed to its first piece of irony, where Sheila foolishly says after receiving the ring that Gerald gave her "I'll never let it go out of my sight for an instant", this comment which at this time nobody could foresee, would come back to haunt her.
In addition to this in the opening scene Eric presents himself to the audience as an oddball character, talking and acting in a childish manner with comments like "steady the buffs" and gestures like laughing when nothing amusing has been said. Although these actions could be explained because on a few occasions he was seen helping himself to port, therefore as a result at the time he was slightly tipsy. Furthermore Eric lets slip a piece of dramatic irony when he says that his sister "got a nasty temper sometimes", which later on will be sensationally exposed. However ...
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In addition to this in the opening scene Eric presents himself to the audience as an oddball character, talking and acting in a childish manner with comments like "steady the buffs" and gestures like laughing when nothing amusing has been said. Although these actions could be explained because on a few occasions he was seen helping himself to port, therefore as a result at the time he was slightly tipsy. Furthermore Eric lets slip a piece of dramatic irony when he says that his sister "got a nasty temper sometimes", which later on will be sensationally exposed. However probably the most confusing moment in the first scene was where Eric suffers another lapse of concentration when himself and his dad are talking about the importance of cloths to women "Yes, I remember-". The way he said this and rigorously denied it tells the audience that Eric was hiding something, but it would not be revealed what until later on in the play.
In the opening scene the audience also learns what sort of character Mrs Birling is. This is because while her husband and Gerald are congratulating Edna on a wonderful meal, Mrs Birling unnecessarily condemns them for doing this "(reproachfully) Authur, your not supposed to say such things". From this sentence alone the audience can learn that Mrs Birling is selfish, arrogant and unpleasant, and in the latter stages of the play this evaluation of character will be proved further to the spectators.
Finally from Mr Birling the audience could learn a great deal about what was going to happen in the rest of the play. It is first learned that Mr Birling like his wife is cold and greedy. This can be said because in one of his opening speeches Mr Birling openly says that the main reason why he wants Gerald to marry his daughter is because of his association with Crofts limited, therefore his main reason of happiness is that the marriage could bring "lower costs and higher prices" ironically the strive for this maxim was one of the first reasons why Eva Smith took her life. Furthermore in one of Mr Birlings later speeches the audience has its first taste of dramatic irony. This is where Mr Biriling seems absolutely convinced that there is no chance of any world war. Because the play was performed from 1946 onwards, but set in the early nineteenth century in a period just before the Great War, this is an indication to the audience that whatever comes out of Author Birling's mouth may not be truthful. In his next speech there is also three more pieces of dramatic irony, firstly when he states that the Titanic was in his words "absolutely unsinkable" when the audience knew that the ill fated liner sunk on its maiden voyage. He then went on to say to Eric complacently that in 1940 his son or daughter might be getting engaged, when later on in the play it emerges that Eric was the father of Eva Smiths child. Finally Mr Birling predicts that the whole world would be moving forward with rapid progress, except in Russia. Again what he didn't know and what the audience did know is that the only country not affected by the great depression was the Soviet Union and in the 1950's it was the second most industrialised country in the world behind America. In his next speech however, Mr Birling drops the biggest hint to the audience that something bad was going to happen. While he was boasting to Gerald that there was a good chance that he would get a knighthood in the Honours list, he complacently said that the only thing that could stop him was if they "Get into the police court or start a scandal..."
In Mr Birlings final speech before the Inspector called, he explained his ethos of life to Gerald and Eric. Considering what the audience had heard from him already, they should have been prepared to take what ever he said and reverse it to make sense. His first point was that a "man had to make his own way...look after himself-and his family too". From what he said and the way he said it, the audience could expect that whatever happened in the remainder of the play, Mr Birling would defend himself to the end, and do what ever it takes as long as he didn't look bad. His second main point was that community and togetherness was nonsense because a man "has to mind his own business and look after his own" From this second statement by Mr Birling, the audience learned that he would not put himself out for anybody, and as long as it didn't affect himself. Once Mr Birling had delivered this speech the audience are immediately prepared for an anomaly because the lighting unexpectedly changed from an easy pink, to a much sterner darker red, a colour which perfectly reflects the incoming circumstances which the Birling family will face. Moment's later Edna introduces the audience to inspector Goole. Immediately the audience is given two clues about the inspectors personality and what he is about to do to the Birling family. To begin with there is the fact that he is an inspector, with the similar sounding spectre meaning ghost or apparition, this sends warning signals that this is no ordinary detective. Secondly there is the more blatant clue of the fact that his name is Goole which is defined as 'somebody who takes pleasure from the misery of others'. These two small, but subtle hints given by Priestly to the audience are intended to prepare them for the austere interrogations which await. Additionally the mean, contemptible manner which the inspector introduces himself, almost engaging in an out and out squabble with Mr Birling just to assert his authority. Just before the inspector fully introduces himself, another of a huge quantity of dramatic irony speeches is revealed. Whilst Birling is talking to Gerald, he unwittingly says when responding to Birlings' suggestion of why the inspector was there "...Unless Eric's been up to something...And that would be awkward, wouldn't it." It is only later where the audience, as well as the Birlings' find out that due to the situation that awaits, it was a very imprudent thing to declare.
. Mr Birling was strong and defended himself stoutly when the inspector came to interrogate him. The opening scene clearly showed him as a talkative and confident man, who believed strongly in his own principles. When questioned by the inspector, Mr Birling gives defiant and reasoned answers, however, a clear indication that he only cares about his own well being is when, the inspector reveals that he is not the only person who is going to be questioned, a relieved Mr Birling says "If I'd known earlier, I wouldn't have called you officious and talked about reporting you". Despite this however the irony of this situation is that once he fully realises what he has done, Mr Birling says "Look inspector - id give thousands - yes thousands-" when Eva Smith originally only wanted a 3 shilling pay rise. Nonetheless the moment Mr Birling thinks that he's of the hook, he almost forgets what had happened and begins to celebrate. This is the final and most prominent indication that he used his own advice that "A man has to look after himself"
Finally there is the inspector himself who in the opening scene presented himself as a confident harsh disciplinarian who would not tolerate any prima donnas. His final speech which is probably the most important in the whole play, Everything which he says in this speech is in a direct contradiction to what Mr Birling had been saying to his children in the opening scene of the play. The inspector states that contrary to what Mr Birling thinks who thinks that "We are not all bees in a hive" and "Every man has to look after himself and his own" the inspector who responds as if he heard every word of Mr Birlings speech says "We are all members of one body, We are responsible for each other". Which ironically is one argument which Mr Birling uses for taking care of ones self.
To conclude, J.B Priestly uses a huge array of features to prepare the audience in act one for the rest of the play 'An Inspector calls'. Stage directions, speeches, dramatic irony and atmosphere were used to give the audience some insight in the likely outcome of the play. Who inspector Goole actually was is never answered in the duration of the play, however with the use of hindsight, the ending could be worked out within the opening scene of the play.
Jay Barnett 11 MD An Inspector Calls
Coursework
English Coursework - An Inspector Calls