An Inspector Calls

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In Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’ how does J.B. Priestley 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. Priestley had many concerns, especially towards capitalists and their ways. Priestley himself was a socialist, believing in people sharing what they have and for everyone to be equal, the concerns he tries to portray in An Inspector Calls are that capitalists are the opposite of this, working for profit for themselves. Priestley incorporates himself in the play as the Inspector; they both share the same views and visions as one another. The Inspector wants to show the Birlings that the way they live and their attitudes towards other people should change as they are self-centred and arrogant of what other people have to say, refusing to accept they may be wrong. This is a message that Priestley reiterates throughout the play and continually questions capitalists. The dates 1912 and 1945 are extremely significant as many major events, most of which are infamous catastrophes, happen within this time period. World War one and two both took place as well as the sinking of the Titanic and these events are referred to within the play and helps Priestley to convey his concerns.

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     J.B. Priestley tries to influence the audience in a number of ways and does this, to a degree, in a very convincing manner by incorporating dramatic devices into the play. He uses these devices almost immediately, with dramatic irony being used to show the arrogance of Mr. Birling, a capitalist who is self-centred and governed by money. He talks of Titanic and the War.

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     This is an extremely significant quote from Arthur Birling as it is very typical of something that Birling or any other capitalist would say. He ...

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