An inspector calls
By Makez Rikweda
'An inspector calls' is a moral play about the Birling family and their guest Gerald Croft who are having dinner in celebration of the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. They are all happy and gleeful until they are suddenly interrupted by an inspector who is investigating the death of a girl named Eva Smith. The play slowly progresses from ignorance to knowledge as the inspector slowly unravels the involvement of each member of the family to the girl's suicide.
Time, place and action are significant factors of the structure of the play. Priestley highlights the significance of time and the consequences of people's actions by using well known references to events in history such as the sinking of the Titanic and the world wars. He cleverly sets the play before the Second World War yet he wrote it after the Second World War. By doing this it enabled him to put forward his socialist views of social responsibility and use examples of horrors the world faced due to ignorance of social responsibility and selfishness to help influence the audience's opinions and views.
The play is set in the Birling's living room and this setting is continuos throughout the play. This may be because Priestley wants people to focus on the moral behind the story rather than the fancy stage setting and props. The play starts out as a straightforward detective thriller with the audience trying to find out who was responsible for the death of Eva Smith yet as the story unravels, the story focuses on the morality of each of the character's actions and the effect these actions had on Eva Smith. By doing this Priestley highlights the importance of these actions and conveys a powerful message of morality.
As a director I would start the play with darkness everywhere whilst the curtains are being pulled apart. Then I would have a blinding white light shone on the chandelier hanging from the ceiling of the stage. At the exact moment that the light is seen, I would have a piece of soothing music played slowly getting louder and louder. As the audience watch the hypnotising motion of the light playing with the crystals of the chandelier, I would change the colour of the light to a sky blue creating a peaceful mood. This would allow the audience to relax and get into the mood of the play as they watch the chandelier flinging rectangular shapes onto their faces.
I would then have the light slowly spread across the stage revealing the interior of a house with "good solid furniture of the period". As the light is spreading, I would have the music increase in speed and volume, finally coming to a climax when the table is revealed. Around the table are five figures who are engulfed in shadows despite being around a table, which is filled with light.
I would then have the music suddenly stop with a loud unnerving bang making the audience jumpy and a little scared. I would then have a spotlight slowly crawl its way from the table to the end of the stage in an eerie silence, as a figure at the end of the stage becomes apparent. Just as the spotlight reaches the figure I would have it stop for a couple of seconds bringing the audience to the edges of their seats as they become anxious to know who the figure is. Then the light would slowly creep up from the figure's legs to the figure's face revealing to the audience Edna the maid dressed in a black dress with a white pinafore and carrying a tray.
I would have the spotlight stay on Edna as she stands at the end of the stage for a couple of seconds. Then as Edna walks towards the table, the spotlight would follow her and with every step that Edna takes, the brighter the light would become on the table slowly revealing to the audience the Birling family and Gerald Croft sitting around the table. The Birling family and Gerald Croft should look like their in deep conversations as they murmur and laugh which is then interrupted by Edna's appearance.
I would stage the opening act with a naturalistic tone to set the idea of comfort and satisfaction that the Birling family and Gerald Croft are feeling. Tone and lighting play an important part in expressing the play's themes and tensions, as there is no change in scene. Therefore a lot more effort has to put into keeping the audiences attentions and the tone and lighting play a vital role in doing this.
Priestley specifies that the living room in which the play is set is a 'fairly large suburban house, which has good, solid furniture of the period'. Despite this the home produces a comfortable but not quite cosy effect. In the opening act I would follow Priestley's specifications and have lighting of a pink/red colour producing an effect of happiness and the portraying the rose tinted mood the family and guest are feeling.
This rose-tinted mood is then interrupted when the inspector calls rather unexpectedly. This should be represented by the lighting, which should become a lot harsher and brighter to portray the surprise and alarm felt, by the Birling family. Also this use of intense bright light could portray that the Birlings and Gerald Croft are being put under the spotlight.
In the opening scene the Birlings and their guest Gerald Croft are seated at the dining table. They have just finished their dinner and are having their plates cleared by Edna the parlour maid. Priestley chooses to ...
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This rose-tinted mood is then interrupted when the inspector calls rather unexpectedly. This should be represented by the lighting, which should become a lot harsher and brighter to portray the surprise and alarm felt, by the Birling family. Also this use of intense bright light could portray that the Birlings and Gerald Croft are being put under the spotlight.
In the opening scene the Birlings and their guest Gerald Croft are seated at the dining table. They have just finished their dinner and are having their plates cleared by Edna the parlour maid. Priestley chooses to mention that Edna is clearing the table "which has no cloth" perhaps because he wants to hint at the fact that the Birlings despite seeming high class aren't really as shown by their lack of breeding i.e. no table cloth.
All five characters are said to be in the evening dress of the time with the men being in white ties and tails. Priestley describes Mr Birling as a portly pretentious man in his mid fifties with average manners and "rather provincial" in his speech meaning that despite all the money, Mr Birling's class can be sensed by his accent. Mrs Birling is described as a cold woman who is her husband's social superior.
Sheila Birling is in her early twenties and is summarised as a pretty girl who is pleased and excited. Eric on the other hand is said to half- shy and half-nervous leaving us to think that he is rather troubled. Gerald who is Sheila's fiancée is described as a thirty-year-old well bred young man about town.
The play begins with Mr Birling instructing Edna to get some port, this is nothing strange in itself except that Mr Birling seems to be trying to impress Gerald by stating that it is "the same your father gets". This can be emphasised by Mr Birling saying it in an eager tone that seeks approval from Gerald. Gerald doesn't really know much about port and admits to this, which makes Sheila join in by stating in a matter of fact voice "I should jolly well think not Gerald, I should hate for you to know all about port like one of these purple faced old men". Mr Birling would then reply "here, I'm not a purple faced old man".
I would direct this piece of dialogue to be acted out playfully in a joyous voice expressing the rapture the family and Gerald are feeling. I would probably ask Sheila to say her words in a matter of fact voice, which hints at her naiveté. Mr Birling would also speak in a mock defensive yet still cheerful voice.
This piece of dialogue is vital as it shows that before the inspector's arrival the family, were blissful in their ignorance of Eva Smith's existence. This would change after the arrival of the inspector.
When Mrs Birling takes a drink, she talks to Edna in a strict non-emotional manner yet when Edna leaves the room, Mr Birling states "good dinner, tell cook from me". The upper classes didn't acknowledge their maids and staff. Mrs Birling being of a 'superior class' to Mr Birling knew this but unfortunately her husband who is a self made man doesn't. This causes Mrs Birling some embarrassment as she reproachfully states that he isn't 'supposed to say such things". This shows how lacking in class Mr Birling really is and therefore I would have Mrs Birling say this in an embarrassed high-pitched tone.
Mr Birling excuses himself by saying that he is "only treating Gerald like one of the family and I am sure he won't object". Sheila then in a mock aggressive yet playful tone urges Gerald to object whom in a jolly reply says that he "wouldn't dream of it, I insist upon being one of the family now, I've been trying for long enough haven't I?" At this moment the playful and mocking conversation takes a step back as a darker and uneasy tone emerges showing that all is not well in the Birling family. The happy façade is broken by Sheila who doesn't reply in the happy and cheerful mood expected. Instead she seems slightly doubtful as she tells Gerald, "Yes except for all of last summer when you never came near me".
I would direct this piece of dialogue by placing harsher brighter lighting on Gerald and Sheila as they talk. Also I would have Sheila circuling the rim of her glass and staring at the glass as she talks to Gerald creating a sense of unease as she doesn't give eye contact to Gerald. This would cause Gerald to become very frustrated as he becomes insistent upon Sheila to answer him or even look at him. Then after Sheila tells him about how he never came near her all of last summer, he would blush and become hot which could be shown by him fidgeting with his collar and trying to loosen his bow tie.
Gerald would then rather hurriedly and defensively reply that he "was awfully busy at the works". Sheila would then sound resolute as she quietly tells Gerald in her 'I don't believe a word your saying' tone, "Yes that's what you say". The conversation lightens yet that feeling of unease and a sense of skeletons in the closet still lurks.
As the scene continues, Mr Birling mentions that it is a "pity that Sir George and er Lady Croft cant be with us, but they're abroad". This tells the audience that Gerald's family doesn't agree with his choice of a wife probably thinking that Sheila isn't good enough for Gerald. Whilst Mr Birling is saying this I would have him shuffle on his feet and move around a little bit creating the sense of unease and embarrassment that he is feeling.
Mr Birling goes onto tell Gerald that his engagement to Sheila means a "tremendous lot to me". Gerald is "just the kind of son in law" Mr Birling has always wanted. As Mr Birling is saying this I would have him puff out his chest to show that he is proud. I would also have him "hold a glass of champagne in his hand, which he would have raised to show that he is making a toast.
The audience would then at this point find it sweet that Mr Birling is happy about the engagement of his daughter to Gerald yet as his speech goes on we get a feeling that there is another reason why Mr Birling is so happy about the engagement. This other reason is revealed as we find out that Gerald's family owns Crofts limited, which has been Birling and Company's (Mr Birlings company) "friendly rivals for some time now". Mr Birling's delight is actually for himself as he thinks that Gerald will bring the two companies together, "no longer competing but working together-for lower costs and higher prices".
Once Mr Birling's toast is over, Eric ruins the moment with his funny joke: "All the best! She's got a nasty temper sometimes- but she's not bad really. Good old Sheila!". This leaves Sheila with nothing to toast to so Gerald asks her to toast to him. She then sincerely says "All right then Gerald, I drink to you". Sheila at this moment would be very quiet and genuine as she looks deeply into Gerald's eyes. I would have her raise her glass with one hand to Gerald and with her other hand I would have her reach for Gerald's hand. Then as Gerald replies "Thankyou, and I drink to you- and hope I can make you as happy as you deserve to be", the pleasure and joy should become apparent in Sheila's face with tears coming to her eyes. This pleasure should become even more apparent when Sheila is presented with her wedding ring. Sheila should act like a typical girl and smile whilst she places her ring on her hand and shows it off to her mum.
Priestley was a very considerate and compassionate man who strongly believed in social responsibility. In An Inspector Calls he cleverly makes one of the lead characters Mr Birling have the exact opposite views to himself. By doing this Priestley has the opportunity to argue his point of view in favour of social responsibility and takes this opportunity by having Mr Birling make a very ironic speech.
The Birling family have just finished eating dinner and the mood is very happy and light due to Sheila being presented with her engagement ring. But as Sheila and Mrs Birling are about to leave the room, Mr Birling suddenly becomes serious as he announces that he wants to make a speech that he wants the whole family to hear. Mr Birling who "speaks as a hard headed business man" advises his family to "ignore the silly pessimistic" talk and reassures Gerald and Sheila that they will "be marrying at a very good time".
An Inspector Calls
After the Birling family have eaten and Sheila has been presented with her engagement ring, Sheila and her mother are about to leave the room when Mr Birling stops them indicating that he wants to make a speech. For a while he holds their attentive gazes before diving into his speech in which he tells Gerald and Sheila that they are marrying at a good time despite the "good deal of silly talk".
He advises that as a "hard headed businessman" he knows that "the silly pessimistic talk should be ignored". Priestley takes the opportunity to use a lot of dramatic irony in Mr Birling's speech in order to make the audience realise how stupid Mr Birling's point of view really is. By doing this he puts forward his views of social responsibility in a positive way.
Examples of dramatic irony in Mr Birling's speech include the coal miner's strike, which he describes as "a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future". This is ironic, as the 1920 coal miners strike did actually lead to the 1926 strike in protest of the mass unemployment. As well as this Priestly chooses to use the more famous example of the sinking of the Titanic which Mr Birling hails as "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable". Everyone knows that the Titanic in actual fact did sink and would probably be sniggering at Mr Birling as he says it. By doing this, Mr Birling and his views (which are the opposite of those Priestley believed in) would look unintelligent.
But more importantly Mr Birling states, "there isn't a chance of war" which is the most ironic statement Mr Birling makes in his whole speech. As mentioned before Priestley cleverly chose to set the play before the Second World War yet actually wrote it after. By doing this he used the highest form of dramatic irony possible, as the audience would know that Mr Birling was wrong and would probably snigger as he says it.
Lighting and sound would play a very important role in this scene. When Mr Birling begins his speech, I would have the lighting be very bright with all of the characters in full view. But as the speech goes on, I would have the light slowly close in on Mr Birling. When Mr Birling mentions the coal miner's strike I would have the sound of hammering in the background. Then when Mr Birling mentions the titanic, I would have the sound of someone drowning, whilst groaning "God, help me" as a background to his speech.
This would put the audience on edge, which would increase when Mr Birling mentions the chances of a world war. At that exact moment, I would have Edna drop her tray with several glasses on it. The broken glasses would represent the deaths that were caused due to the war, which Mr Birling simply dismissed as "fiddlesticks".
After this ironic speech, Sheila as well as Mrs Birling and Eric leave the room for a moment whilst Gerald and Mr Birling talk. Mr Birling makes use of the time and tries to impress Gerald by mentioning the fact that although Lady Croft feels that Gerald "could have done better for himself socially", he will find himself into the "Honours List, Just a knighthood of course". Here Mr Birling is trying to impress Gerald whose parents obviously think that Sheila isn't good enough for Gerald, which Mr Birling is well aware of. When Gerald congratulates him; "Oh I say, congratulations!", Mr Birling tries to be modest and insists that "it's a bit too early for that" yet you get the feeling that Mr Birling is secretly very proud.
Also in this scene Priestley chooses to play with the audience's head by making Mr Birling mention the fact that he will only get his much wanted knighthood if him and his family stay out of trouble "so long as we behave ourselves...don't cause a scandal". Yet the audience knows this will not be happening from the title- 'An Inspector Calls' and would probably smirk as this is said.
When Eric returns, a triangle of power that exists between Mr Birling, Eric and Gerald comes to light. Mr Birling seems to have a respect for Gerald, his son in law whereas this respect doesn't seem to exist for Eric. Instead the only feelings Mr Birling has for Eric are contempt and distrust.
When Eric returns, he mentions how he left his mother and Sheila talking about clothes, and how he doesn't understand why "women are potty about 'em". Mr Birling then tells Eric to remember, "that clothes mean something quite different to a woman". This is nothing important yet the fact that Mr Birling refers to Eric as "my boy" shows that he doesn't regard Eric as an equal, rather as an adolescent who doesn't know anything.
Mr Birling and Gerald also seem to be suspicious of Eric, which becomes apparent when the inspector is announced, "Eric has been up to something". Eric becomes angry asking, "Here, what do you mean" and Gerald lightly replies, "only something we were talking about when you were out. A joke really". When Eric uneasily states that he doesn't find it "very funny", Mr Birling sharply stares at him asking him what's the matter with him. This is an example of Mr Birling preferring Gerald over Eric, as he doesn't defend Eric, instead giving him sharp stares.
On the other hand, it is quite clear to see that Mr Birling not only regards Gerald as an equal but also as someone who is above him as shown by Mr Birling trying to constantly impress him. "It's the same port your father gets" is an example of this. Also when Mr Birling and Gerald talk to Eric they share confidential nods and speak to each other rather humorously as friends do yet when Mr Birling speaks to Eric, he only seems to lecture him showing no love.
The triangle of power is quite clear to see with Mr Birling being at the top of the triangle as shown when he "lectures" Gerald and Eric whom he refers to as "two young fellows". Gerald and Eric are below Mr Birling in the triangle of power with Gerald being placed higher than Eric.
So far in the play, the audience have a clear impression of each character. Mr Birling is a selfish and rather pompous man whom believes that he is right about everything. This is shown when he ironically lectures the family about how there isn't a chance of war and how the world is going forward with new ships like the Titanic being built, which he hails as "unsinkable". Ironically we know that the Titanic did sink and that there was a world war showing that Mr Birling was actually wrong.
Also Mr Birling believes that it is everyman for himself and that he doesn't believe in helping other people, "community and all that nonsense". Instead Mr Birling thinks that a "man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own". This shows that Mr Birling is self-centred and selfish, yet there is a nice caring side as shown when he jokes around cheerfully with Sheila and Gerald- "Here, I'm not a purple faced old man".
Gerald seems to be a nice and caring young man who is also very polite as shown when he gets embarrassed when Mr Birling talks to Gerald about how his family feels that he "could have done better for himself socially". He also seems to have a good humour yet there is something about "last summer" when he never came near Sheila that leaves us wondering what he was doing. The fact that he got a little angry and annoyed when Sheila didn't answer him shows that he had a guilty conscience and must have done something quite unruly last summer.
Sheila comes across as a carefree and caring young woman who has a good sense of humour as shown when she jokes around with her dad and Gerald at the beginning. But there is something obviously on her mind, which she allows the audience to get a hint of when she tells Gerald that she doesn't believe him when he says that he "was busy at the works". Yet in spite of this it is clear to see that Sheila is in love with Gerald as shown when she gets very emotional when Gerald presents Sheila with her engagement ring.
Sheila's mother on the other hand is a rather cold woman, who seems to be fake. She gets somewhat embarrassed when Mr Birling tells Edna to "tell cook from me" that it was a "good dinner". The upper classes never acknowledged their staff and for Mr Birling to do this shows how lacking in breeding he really is. Mrs Birling gets a little flustered and this shows how superficial she is.
Eric is the only character that remains a little mysterious. He gives the impression that he is unhappy yet he seems to joke around a lot -"steady the buffs". He is hiding something as shown when he tells Mr Birling "I remember" yet when, asked what, he replies "nothing" in a rather confused tone. Gerald quite rightly states that it "sounds a bit fishy to me". Eric can't decide whether or not he is happy or sad, confident or shy. There is something obviously in his past that troubles him.
J. B. Priestley makes good use of irony throughout the play. This is the case when the inspector calls, as Mr Birling is just finishing his speech " By the way some of these cranks talk...you'd think everybody has to look after everybody else...communities and all that nonsense". This is ironic as the inspector has the exact opposite views to Mr Birling, which we will find out as the play goes on.
The inspector is announced as Inspector Goole, a man who although is not a big man at once "creates an impression of massiveness". Inspector Goole is described as a "man in his fifties, dressed in plain darkish suit of the period". Inspector Goole seems to be a very intense man who makes people uncomfortable by his hard stares. Also his name which is 'Goole' is rather weird and mystifying, which is probably the effect J B Priestley wanted as he made it sound the same as 'ghoul', a type of mystifying ghost.