How does Priestly present Gerald in "An Inspector Calls"?

In the opening stage directions, Priestley refers to Gerald as “too manly to be dandy but very much the easy well bred- young man-about-town” How does Priestley present these and other ideas about Gerald in An Inspector Calls? “An inspector calls” was written by J.B. Priestly in 1945. It was set in a Midland Industrial town in 1912. The plot of this dramatic play is based around a visit by an inspector to an apparently normal and well-respected family. All the characters are affected by the death of Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton, Gerald unlike the other characters showed sympathy towards Daisy Renton he had feelings for her but knew could not follow up on them due to hi social class. Gerald is descried at the start of the play as “easy well bred- young man-about-town”, this gives the audience the sense that Gerald gets on easily with other people he is self-confident and assured. Gerald is in a higher social class than the Birling family, and his father is business rivals with “Birling and company”, however “Crofts Limited are both older and bigger” than Mr Birling company. Gerald’s parents are not pleased with the engagement, as the Birling family are in a lower class, however Gerald is not bothered by this, which shows how he values love more than social class, however it is not the same story when he meets Daisy Renton, and he knows he can’t marry her

  • Word count: 757
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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an inspector calls - What does the inspector want to teach the Birlings and Gerald Croft in 'An Inspector Calls'?

What does the inspector want to teach the Birlings and Gerald Croft in 'An Inspector Calls'? J.B. Priestley wrote 'An Inspector Calls' in 1945 although it was set in 1912, two years before the 1st World War when society was still judged in groups of social classes. J.B Priestley intended to show people that all groups of social classes should be just one not the poor and the rich but all united. Although he thought that unless people changed the 1st and 2nd world wars saw only terrible trouble and tragedy lie ahead for society. The play is based on an upper middle class family the Birlings and the turn of events that are about to happen to them. The Birling family are spending a happy evening celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft - a marriage that will result in the merging of two successful local businesses. Yet, just when everything seems to be going so well, they receive a surprise visit from an Inspector Goole who is investigating the suicide of a young girl. The inspector goes round the family asking many questions and reveals how each character in turn has contributed to the unhappy circumstances that apparently drove this girl to a violent, horrible death. In the play J.B. Priestley uses the characters and attitudes of the Birling family, especially Mr. Birling, to make the audience feel sympathy for Eva Smith. In the opening lines of the

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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An Inspector Calls.

An Inspector Calls. This play 'An Inspector Calls,' was written by J.B Priestly in 1945. John Boynton Priestly was a socialist, he thought that whether or not we understood that we live in a community, we have responsibility to look after others and not see any difference between classes. To portray his thoughts he wrote "An Inspector Calls" so that we would understand there is no difference between the upper and lower class and that we share the community. At the time the play was written World War 2 had just finished and reconstruction was starting to take place in Britain. The play 'An Inspector Calls' was based around the time of 1912, when Britain was portrayed as a mighty empire. At the time when this play was set there was a big division between the rich and the poor. The rich had a life of luxury and a better upbringing, whereas the poor had to live in appalling conditions and fight for survival. This play portrays a vital message that we should all live in a world were we can help 'we are responsible for each other,' and this is shown by an inspector investigating the suicide of a lower class woman. At the beginning of Act one, J.B Priestly has situated the family around the table. Priestley uses this image to symbolize the family united around the table. This shows the dramatic contrast because at the beginning of the play the family is united but at the end of

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  • Level: GCSE
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An Inspector Calls

'An Inspector Calls' was written in the winter of 1945, by J. B. Priestley. Priestley set the play though in 1912, and having lived through both world wars, it is quite significant that the play was set before World War I and World War II and was in fact written after both of the world wars. Priestley wrote his plays having a social and political mind, because he grew up among his father's friends, and many of their political discussions have featured in his plays as in 'An Inspector Calls'. 'An Inspector Calls' is a modern morality play and has the style of a detective thriller, and the moral issues Priestley is trying to convey, are sustained throughout the play. The play begins in the Birling's house, around a table, celebrating Sheila, Mr. Birling's daughter's engagement to Gerald Croft a wealthy business man. The evening's celebrations are soon intruded though by the sharp ring of the front door bell, and in comes the harsh looking character of a police inspector. He has come to investigate the suicide of a young working-class woman, named Eva Smith, and eventually under the questioning and inducement of the Inspector each member of the family reveals their involvement in Eva Smith's death. Priestley's main aim in writing 'An Inspector Calls' was to teach the reader about the morals of responsibility and to teach them to treat all people with the same deserved respect

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An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls An Inspector Calls is set in 1912, and was written in 1947. During these years between these dates, Britain was involved in two world wars, which turned the world upside down and disrupted the old orders forever. Already an established writer, playwright and broadcaster, particularly known for his moral-boosting wartime broadcasts, J.B priestly used his reputation to explore the clash of the old and new orders and the difference between the upper and the lower class. He drew attention to the complacency of Britain after the Industrial Revolution and before the World Wars, supported gathering socialists movement, which began to see the world as a place where all shares responsibility for all. This contrasted with the view that each person is only responsible for him or herself and their family. Priestly sort to warn his audiences of the threat posed by carrying on as before, putting too much faith in outdated values and institutions. The first audiences of 'An Inspector Calls' were receptive to new ideas, which could mend the misery and deprivation of a war-torn nation. This was a society hungry to find ways forward to a better future. The contrast between these views continues in the present-day British politics. In 1987, just three years after Priestly died, Margaret Thatcher who was Prime Minister at the time said, 'There is no such thing as

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  • Level: GCSE
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An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls In 1945 J.B. Priestley wrote 'An Inspector Calls' however it is set in 1912 and is written in a murder mystery style. J.B. Priestley explains throughout the story how all the members of the Birling family and Gerald Croft is responsible for the death of Eva Smith. Priestley makes the story interesting as he links up the events leading up to Eva Smith's suicide. Priestley also explains how we are responsible for each other in society. J.B. Priestley also brings ideas to life such as actors, staging and lighting. 'An Inspector Calls' was written in 1945 but set in 1912 to show the audience how industrialists like the Birlings and Gerald Croft were responsible for World War. Priestley believed in a welfare state, he wanted a welfare state because then the likes of Eva Smith would not depend on families like the Birlings. The Inspector arrives after Mr Birling's speech; he slams the door as he comes in. He slams the door to show he has come to look into and investigate their lives as well as to show how we are all connected in society. The play is set in a rich industrialist's dining room. The lighting is 'pink and intimate' as an engagement is being celebrated until the determined Inspectors arrival. When Inspector Goole arrives the lighting should be 'brighter and harder' as the Inspector has come to look into their lives. The colour screen play

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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An inspector calls

In act one of ' An Inspector Calls' how does J B Priestly use dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience as well as interest and involve them in his play? J B Priestly was a socialist, which indicates he believed everyone is responsible for each other and that we all have shared interests. The play was set in 1912 but written in 1940, which means Priestly had written the play 'An Inspector Calls' using hindsight. Priestly knew the way life had evolved over the last 28 years and wanted to share his views about the The play 'An inspector calls' is set in 1912 but was written and performed in 1945. This was done to show the people of 1912 that life was more important than such things as pride and money. J B Priestley writes that the older generation just cared about themselves and let other people get on with what they wanted. He then talks about the newer generation and how they are more caring about other people. Priestley also explains how we are responsible for out own actions and the consequence that come out of it. This makes us think how we can apply this to our own lives and help us change as people. "Goole. G. Double O-L-E." This is the inspector's introduction to the Birlings in the play, 'An Inspector Calls'. The Birlings are an upper class family who live in an industrial city called Brumley. They live in a large suburban

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  • Level: GCSE
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An inspector calls

An Inspector Calls Coursework The play 'An Inspector Calls' was written by J.B Priestley, a well known author who write many books this being his most successful and most popular. It is set spring 1912 when the First World War was about to start and written in 1945 as the Second World War finished. Then it was first performed in 1946 and has been running in theatres ever since. I am going to answer the question, In Act 1 of 'An Inspector Calls', how does J.B Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns about English society to the audience while maintaining their interest in the play? A clear dramatic device would be the set; the Birlings use expensive props like the very modern furniture which would be for show and not for comfort at all. The dining room is full of expensive dining, there are champagne glasses on the table, this is showing there is a celebration they are removed by Edna the maid and replaced by port and cigars these being also expensive, showing the upper class of the Birlings. The way they are dressed also shows the class of the Birlings, They're not wearing diner jackets but wing collars and Sheila and Sybil are wearing smart, comfortable dresses. This implies that the Birlings are trying to show their money and how classy they are. Gerald is attractive, self confident and classy he has this

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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An Inspector Calls

In 1945, J.B. Priestley was 51 and felt very strongly about the state of government in England at that moment in time and thought that people were being exploited in England, so he had some very liberal views. He expressed many of these views to the public in the form of a book called, 'An Inspector Calls'. The play 'An Inspector Calls' was written by J.B. Priestley, in 1945 but was set in 1912. The play takes place in the Birling household on one evening after a family celebration. The celebration is of the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. It is just after dinner when an inspector visits their house investigating the suicide of a young woman. As the play unravels we see that all members of the family are somehow involved in the suicide. For many reasons, an audience may consider this play a detective story and nothing else. It fits with the stereotypical detective story format in a number of ways. Firstly it is generally about conducting an inquiry into the suicide of a young, working-class woman. "Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she'd swallowed some strong disinfectant." This sentence also means that the death is announced very close to the beginning of the play, another trademark of detective stories. From the beginning it appears to be a mystery story but ironically we find out that they are

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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An Inspector Calls

Sachin Sabharwal An Inspector Calls An Inspector Calls was written in 1945. It was set in the dining room of quite a large suburban house belonging to a wealthy manufacturer in Brumley. It is an industrialized city in the North Midlands. This play An Inspector Calls is set in the year 1912. The Birling family Mr and Mrs Arthur Birling, Sheila, Eric Birling and Gerald Croft are having dinner together due to a special occasion. Then the doorbell ring. It's Inspector Goole, who shocks the family about one of Arthur Birling's ex employees' death. Eva Smith. Back in 1912 people were split into different classes depending on how wealthy they were, their place in society. There were high class, middle class, and working class. Classes were treated with different respects. Most businesses and companies were shut down so it was hard for people to find work to make enough money to live and survive, especially for a woman. Even if a woman did get a job they would get half of what a man would get. Priestly is trying to show that all members of a society have responsibility to care for everyone in that society (e.g. the rich should take off the poor).All actions have a consequence (e.g. an individual's action affects other individuals and our society as a whole). Mr Birling is a heavy looking, somewhat significant man in his mid fifties. He is a high class business

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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