How does J.B Priestley dramatically present his social concerns in his play 'An Inspector Calls?'
John Boynton Priestley was born 1894. At twenty he joined the army. Priestley wrote many plays which were also performed during the Second World War. His characters in 'An Inspector Calls' is based upon his experiences from World War II. Priestley even added an interesting twist to the plot. Priestley uses the role of the inspector to expose the characters in the play, and to put his own views across about the Birling's and their conservative beliefs and also his concerns about the world. J.B Priestley thought that moral responsibility was extremely important as he mentions responsibility thoroughly throughout the play. He especially touches upon responsibility at the end of the play when the inspector makes the audience think about their responsibility. J.B Priestley also believes that money and social status are important and his views about them are touched upon at various points in the play. J.B Priestley was influenced by many historical events including the world wars. The play was written in 1945 but set in 1912 so the audience are in a position to judge the characters beliefs and behaviour. Priestley deliberately set his play in 1912 because the date represented an era when all was very different from the time he was writing.
The Literary influences and techniques Priestley relied on and that are shown in the play are sarcasm, dramatic irony and direct irony. Responsibility and duty are also mentioned. These influences are conveyed through different characters throughout the play. He uses the technique of foreshadowing to indicate a clue in the story which will come up later on. Whenever foreshadowing is portrayed, the atmosphere intensifies. Humour and Symbolism were also used and this adds to the effect of dramatic irony. The effect may encourage a contrast of feelings in the audience such as offence. The play was mainly influenced by three different types of genres consisting of Detective fiction, Greek tragedy and Medieval Morality. Detective fictions focus on the crime that centres upon the investigation involving a detective. Greek tragedy is also used which is a drama characterised by seriousness, usually involving conflict between the character and higher power. In Greek tragedy the play would take place at the same time, for instance one day, and in the same place, in this case the Birling's home. Medieval Morality plays portray a sense of mystery and have a strong moral message in the play. Medieval Morality plays also include allegorical characters. The play contains numerous actual outcomes that can help it to be identified in any of these three styles of literary. Stage effects inspire the dramatic effect by conveying a sense of realism; the lighting, costumes and props make the set seen realistic. These effects and techniques are all used throughout the play.
At the beginning of Act One, J.B Priestley conveys many of his concerns. In the stage directions it is explained that the Birling's live in a 'fairly large suburban house and 'Edna, the parlour maid is just clearing the table... of dessert plates and champagne glasses.' This portrays that they are wealthy and are higher up in the class system for an audience in 1945. The Birling family are holding a dinner party to celebrate the engagement of Sheila to Gerald Croft, the son and heir of Mr Birling's rival in business. Although there is not perfect satisfaction in the room, the atmosphere is still rather light-hearted. Mr Birling said that 'It's one of the happiest nights of my life.' This portrays that he is happy for his daughter's engagement but also because he could be in on the chance of his knighthood. Priestly uses foreshadowing as an interesting technique when Sheila says 'yes - except for all last summer, when you never came near me and I wondered what had happened to you.' The audience sense that Gerald is not telling the entire truth and this conversation would be raised again later on.
Priestley's concern about war is mentioned through Mr Birling; 'I say there isn't a chance of war. The world's developing so fast it'll make war impossible.' However, as the audience would know two World wars then broke out soon after. This is an example of dramatic irony. The audience would begin to doubt Mr Birling's judgement - if he is wrong about this, what else is he wrong about? Mr Birling then goes on to talk about the Titanic. '...-the Titanic - six thousand eight hundred tons - and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable' is also an example of dramatic ...
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Priestley's concern about war is mentioned through Mr Birling; 'I say there isn't a chance of war. The world's developing so fast it'll make war impossible.' However, as the audience would know two World wars then broke out soon after. This is an example of dramatic irony. The audience would begin to doubt Mr Birling's judgement - if he is wrong about this, what else is he wrong about? Mr Birling then goes on to talk about the Titanic. '...-the Titanic - six thousand eight hundred tons - and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable' is also an example of dramatic irony. However the audience may laugh at this point because they know that the Titanic will sink. When the ladies leave the men to their port, Mr Birling has a 'man to man' chat with Gerald and Eric, advising them 'that a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course and not worry about the wider community. This shows that he is extremely selfish because he believes that a socialist idea that stresses the importance of the community is "nonsense" and that a man has to 'look after number one.' The Inspector enters after this and Priestley emphasises the noticeable contrast to what has been said to what they have done.
Inspector Goole enters and announces that he has come to investigate the suicide of a young working-class girl who died that afternoon, called Eva Smith. After seeing a photograph of her, Birling admits that she used to be one of his employees: he discharged her when she became one of the ring-leaders of a strike asking for slightly higher wages. Birling justifies sacking her by saying he paid his workers the usual rates. Mr Birling's selfishness is revealed once again because he just wanted to protect his business and he believed that he did not have anything to do with Eva Smith after she was sacked. The Inspector works very systematically as he likes to deal with "one person and one line of enquiry at a time." His method is to confront a suspect with a piece of information and then make them talk which Gerald and Eric are rather surprised and annoyed about. The stage directions describe that the Inspector is watching Mr Birling as if he knows something and he is just waiting for Mr Birling to come out and say it. The Inspector's body language and attitude towards the Birling family makes the audience suspect that a murder has been committed.
In Act Two, Priestley highlights several other concerns. At this moment in the play, the inspector is questioning Mrs Birling in which she answers sternly and sharp: "well, come along - what is it you want to know?" This shows that she doesn't actually show any interest in the situation and isn't that bothered. Mrs Birling is a prominent member of the Bromley's women charity organization and the Inspector was shocked to hear that she refused Eva Smith's application of help. When Mrs Birling exclaimed 'Oh - a lot of silly nonsense,' it portrays that she doesn't care and shows no sympathy; however she could also be trying to hide something. In contrast, Mrs Birling remains confident even though the Inspector is rather confrontational. Mrs Birling said Eva was 'claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd for a girl in her position,' in which the Inspector replies in a crude manner 'her position now is that she lies with a burnt-out inside on a slab.' This language is very confrontational and the audience would be shocked and possibly intimidated. The Inspector portrays annoyance when this is said. The Inspector says this in a crude manner and this is an example of dark humour. Therefore it creates mixed feelings by the audience. One moment the audience would be laughing at her arrogant 'airs and graces' and then they are focused on the unpleasant image of a dead girl. Mrs Birling has got it into her head that she has absolutely nothing to do with the suicide of Eva Smith. Mrs Birling reveals that the father of Eva Smiths baby should be dealt with severely and it is his entire fault. Sheila now interrupts because she figured out what is going on. She exclaims "Mother - stop - stop!" and are said with 'a sudden alarm.' This is an example of foreshadowing because a hint is dropped that the truth would be revealed. The audience will now instantly be aware that there was fault in her Mother's sayings. On the other hand, Mr Birling does not think that Sheila is doing any help and suggests that she is being her immature self. Mrs Birling also suggested that Sheila is behaving like a 'hysterical child.' This shows one of Priestley's concerns in life. It concerns the social conflict between the older and younger generation Sheila interrupts numerous times which show urgency and importance. The fact that Mr and Mrs Birling both pay no attention towards Sheila shows ignorance and that they are only thinking about themselves in the situation.
Mr and Mrs Birling soon realise the problem and as a result exchange frightened glances. This portrays to the audience that they now understand who is involved and they are daunted by the outcome. Mrs Birling should be feeling guilty as she told the Inspector the punishment and now she knows that it is her son. She reveals her hypocrisy: 'I don't believe it. I won't believe it!' showing she is confident. However when she realises it is her son, Eric, she becomes a hypocrite and refuses to accept the truth. The lights at this point should be beaming bright as opposed to the dim, illuminated light at the beginning of the play. This is due to the fact that the lighting reflects the mood of the play so the lighting would be bright and sharp when the atmosphere intensifies. Furthermore the sudden falling of the curtain that closes the scene at a crucial moment creates tension as the audience would now be in suspension.
In act three, J.B Priestley portrays numerous concerns and themes shown through the characters and the inspector. All the Birlings now know they played a part in the girl's death. Mr and Mrs Birling are concerned about covering up their involvement, whereas Sheila and Eric are more aware of the personal tragedy and feel guilty. However at one point Mr Birling may be feeling guilty and he is rather upset. He says 'I'd give thousands - yes, thousands.' But the Inspector ignores his foolish behaviour and replies 'You're offering the money at the wrong time.' The inspector then begins to conclude the conversation by closing his notebook and surveying the Birlings sardonically. Sheila begins to cry which reveals her sympathy and guilt which she has shown throughout the play. The audience may feel sorry for her as she is the only one out of the family who actually truly cares about Eva Smith. This relates back to one of Priestley's concerns, truth. It is at this point that the inspector delivers a strong speech about how everybody should be responsible for each other. The Inspector's speech is an example of the clear influence of the Medieval Morality Plays. During the Inspector's speech you can imagine the Inspector turning and talking to their audience about the responsibility and not the characters anymore. He walks straight out, leaving them all 'staring, subdued.' This conveys how the inspector has had an impact on their lives and how he has made them all think about their responsibility and that 'we are all responsible for each other.' Sheila is left quietly crying still, Eric is left brooding desperately and Mrs Birling collapsed in a chair.
Mr Birling immediately blames Eric for everything, saying that there would be a public scandal because of him. Eric exclaims that he doesn't care conveying he is only sorry for what he has done to harm Eva Smith and not what the public would think of him. Priestley uses older and younger generation conflict as an interesting technique when Mr Birling sees Eva Smiths death as an unfortunate event and 'that's all.' Sheila is obviously upset with this and her attitude is now scornful. Mr Birling says 'I've learnt plenty tonight.' This is ironic because he is not talking about learning a lesson; he is suggesting that he has learnt some gossip. The audience is more likely to be on Sheila's side as Mr Birling reveals his selfish behaviour and that he is stuck up. Sheila exclaims that if the Inspector wasn't a real Inspector then it wouldn't make much of a difference anyway. However Mr Birling disagrees but only because he is worried about how the public will view the story and he is even more worried because they have told a complete stranger how they killed a girl. The tension is raised and the audience are more likely to be engaged and would be questioning themselves, what is going to happen? When the Birling's hear the doorbell they are all alarmed, worried that it might be the Inspector coming back to answer more questions.
At the end of Act three, a few of J.B Priestley's concerns and themes are highlighted throughout the scene. Gerald announces that he had found out that there had been no Inspector Goole on the force and Mr Birling confirms this with a phone call revealing that this is true. J.B Priestley uses older and younger generation conflict when Eric and Mr Birling are shouting at each other. Mr Birling portrays just how important he takes his business and how much he doesn't want a public scandal when he was 'threatening' Eric about kicking him out of his house. Gerald begins to work out how the 'Inspector' could have gotten away with what he done. He suggested that the Inspector showed each member of the family a different picture of a girl that only applies to them. Gerald then has an idea to ring up the infirmary and settle the whole thing. Whilst Gerald is on the phone, the others watch tensely.
At this point the audience would be eager to find out if there was even an Eva Smith and the suspension would be high. Mr and Mrs Birling would definitely be suspicious to find out if Eva Smith was real as they didn't want a public scandal. Gerald reveals that there has been no girl that has died from drinking disinfectant. Mr Birling is rather pleased and triumphantly says 'There you are! Proof positive. The whole story's just a lot of moonshine, nothing but an elaborate sell!' and he produces a big sigh of relief. They begin to start celebrating and restoring back to the quiet mood.
Sheila still remains as the guilty one and exclaims, 'everything we said had happened really had happened.' This relates back to one of J.B Priestley's concerns, responsibilities. However, Mr Birling never really cared about the suicide of the girl so he just turns the whole thing into a joke. He starts mocking the Inspector by imitating him and laughing at Sheila and Eric. This shows Mr Birling's foolish behaviour and in response the audience may laugh. Sheila and Eric's attitude is still the same, guilty that what didn't happen could of happened, but Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and Gerald are all pleased that is wasn't true and are amusing themselves about it. Then the telephone rings 'sharply' showing a change in atmosphere quickly. The room is filled with silence. Mr Birling answers the phone and looks in a panic stricken fashion at the others. The impression on Mr Birling's face conveys that he is shocked and astounded from what he has heard. 'That was the police. A girl has just died - on her way to the infirmary - after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here - to ask some - questions...' At this point you can imagine the characters standing there, frozen not knowing what to do. This restores the tension very dramatically. It is an unexpected final twist to the plot. At this point the audience would be shocked and anxious because what just happened may well happen again. The stage directions describe that they stare guiltily and dumbfounded and then the curtain falls. The timing of the curtain falling at this point creates an effective dramatic atmosphere. It leaves the audience on a cliff-hanger not knowing what was going to happen with the real inspector and the Birlings.
We can clearly see that Priestley dramatically presents his social concerns through a variety of techniques, these being suspense, irony, stage effects, humour and foreshadowing. The concerns in which Priestley presents across are inequality, generation conflict, truth, responsibility and duty.
