Firstly Priestley uses Mr Birling, a lavish character in ‘An Inspector Calls’ to represent the wealthy upper classes and industrialists. Birling is described by Priestley as ‘a heavy looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.’ Furthermore, Priestley uses dramatic irony to show how people like Mr Birling were responsible for the war, for example Birling boasts ‘the titanic, she sails next week, absolutely unsinkable’ both a modern and 1946 audience would have known that this was the worst shipping disaster on record. Moreover Birling claims that ‘the Germans don’t want war’ this shows Mr Birling’s foolishness as world war one would have began about 2 years after Mr Birling said those words.
Mr Birling also defines the investigation as ‘ uncalled for and officious’ this explains he is a foolish character as he thinks just because he and his family are wealthy and well known they have no right to be questioned, this also reflects on the fact how they are cut of from the rest of the society. J.B. Priestley also describes that Mr Birling is not a responsible person as he writes ‘still I cannot accept responsibility’ this also shows Mr Birling’s belief of individualism.
Sheila the daughter of Mr Birling is described as a ‘pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited’ she is excited as it is her engagement with Gerald. She is probably pleased with life due to her father’s wealth and the comfort she lives in. Sheila is described as ‘stressed’ when she is informed about Eva Smiths death as she felt drinking disinfect was a horrible way of dying, and she played a part in the chain of events which forced Eva to commit suicide. When the Inspector shows the photograph of Eva she ‘looks at it closely, recognises it with a little cry, gives a half stifled sob and then runs out’ the effect of this is Sheila has a guilty conscience. Sheila changes throughout the play as she starts to accept responsibility and Acts more like an adult. Sheila is also desperate to know the truth as she Acts very rhetorical. She asks Gerald ‘was it after she left milwards? When she changed her name, and began to lead a different sort of life? This shows her frustration and anger at Gerald.
Sheila’s role changes towards the end of Act 1, as she helps the Inspector with his investigation. Rather than being loving and romantic like earlier in the play, Sheila is very angry at Gerald because he had an affair with Eva Smith which she earlier had no knowledge about. Sheila may also be having revenge with Gerald due to his Actions as she wants him to reveal the truth, Sheila asks and informs Gerald ‘why -you –fool- he knows- of course he knows -and I hate to think how much he knows that we don’t know yet –you’ll see you’ll see.’ Sheila wants Gerald to co-operate with the Inspector.
The character playing Inspector Goole should have a strong stage presence and should approach the other characters in a challenging and determined mood. Some people think that Inspector Goole could be a ghost as his name sounds same as ‘ghoul’ other critics suggest him being a 1945 time traveller which makes a lot of sense as he is wearing a 1945 costume. There also suggestions he is Eric and Eva Smith’s son that was not even born! The Inspector describes the events that led to Eva committing suicide as ‘chain of events’ giving the effect that more than one event made her commit suicide.
The Inspectors role is to question the Birling family and Gerald Croft about their appalling Actions. The pertinacious Inspector says to Mr Birling ‘better to ask for the earth’ the effect of this is Goole is on the workers side. The Inspector is an assertive character, because when he is showing the photograph he only shows it to one person at a time. He is ‘cutting through massively’ on the others who want to see it. This links up with the idea of Gerald, Eva Smith being more than 1 person. At the end of the Act when Goole is questioning Gerald, he already knows about the affair.
Dramatic tension is used in the fist Act to interest the audience. There are eight main events which cause huge or little tension. I think the event that causes a lot of tension is Sheila
And Gerald arguing as the audience will wonder will their relationship come to an end, now Sheila knows about the affair. The Inspector saying ‘well’ in an enquiring manner at the end of Act one makes the audience watch or read the next Act, as well as causing huge tension. I think Mr Birling’s knighthood alongside Sheila and Gerald’s engagement does not cause much tension as it isn’t exciting or mysterious. The Inspectors arrival causes high amount of tension as he is described as ‘creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.’ This explains to us he must be here for a serious issue. The revelation of Eva’s suicide does not cause much tension but causes enough tension to ensure us the Birlings have something to do with her death. The Inspector showing Mr Birling and Sheila the photograph builds up tension as he is only letting one person see it at one time, when Gerald wants to see it Goole says ‘all in good time’ reflecting on the issue something serious has occurred and how they are all different from each other. Gerald is described as ‘shocked’ at hearing the name of Daisy Renton this causes huge tension as the audience may feel he knew her very well.
The Act ends in a cliff-hanger as the Inspector says ‘well’ which interests the audience in to the next Act.
In conclusion ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a play about social responsibility. Act one introduces the audience to characters and themes in the play. However the final twist in the play is in Act three. In my opinion the most interesting thing about the play is the use of dramatic irony, the audience will know the comments are false as the play is wrote in 1945.
Ajmal Mohammed 10 c