An Inspector Calls

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How does the inspector help to convey JB Priestley’s political ideas?

JB Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a play written in 1945, just after the Second World War, which is set in 1912, just before the First World War. 1945 was a time after the two world wars and the Russian Revolution. Priestley was worried about the social discrimination to the people in lower classes, at that time. Priestley set his play on 1912 because he wanted his audience especially middle class people to watch how difficult it was to live in 1912. It was the time when every people where classified in to different classes. It was a period when there were many strikes, lack of food and political tension.  However, by that time in 1945, every thing was changed; as a result of two world wars, the classes were broken up to an extent. Priestley uses the time difference efficiently. The play supports and encourages the community to build up a social relationship between people. It says that people have to work together to restructure the country instead of continuing with capitalism. Particularly, poignantly the 1946 audience would have just gone through another terrible world war.

Now a days the way this play comes in theatre is different because every people have equality now. No lower classes or upper classes… Gaslight, Pink String and Sealing Wax, and Hatter's Castle, these were used for the previous times which looked back to the era before the Great War with revulsion.“An inspector calls” is not a musical or tragedy, but it can be described as a good thriller and that is why lot of audience still comes to it. It does not have pope stars or comedians but it still have it’s own tension and flexibility.

Priestley is trying to use his ideas and show the dramatic purpose through the role of the inspector in this play. He appears in the play like a lightening and shocks every one like a thunder. In the beginning of the play, Priestley widely explains the stage directions. The wealthy Birling family were celebrating there daughter Sheila’s engagement to Gerald, who is even wealthier. He clearly shows the luxurious life of Birling family, by which he means all the ruling class people.  He exemplifies how the family are very rich and wealthy, by showing the way they  uses “dessert plates” and “champagne glasses” as well as other expensive items and to describe their wealth he also explains the way that they uses ‘decanter of port’ and ‘cigarettes’ for their party. However, he also explains the difference between the men and woman as he writes that "men are in tails and white ties, not dinner jackets" and that “the general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike”. He also shows the distance by placing Mr Birling at one end, and Mrs Birling at the other end of the table.

Priestley explains the settings and lighting as it should be “pink and intimate” which shows a luxurious atmosphere. However, it also says that the atmosphere have to change in to “brighter and harder” as the inspector arrives which gives the feeling and experience of theatrical reality and truth.

There are many things, which we can explain the inspector could be. He could be the voice of God, because the way he speaks tells the audience and the Birling family that he has a power over everything. He speaks in an authoritive manner. In another way, we can explain the inspector as a ghost. The name ‘Goole’ makes the inspector sound ghostly and he seems very confident when he speaks. He could be a combination of all.

Moreover, may be he is just a dramatic device which Priestley uses so that he can keep the interest in the audience. When he enters to the play, he is a massive presence who changes the all atmosphere of the play. Priestley describes the inspector like this:

“The inspector need not to be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.”

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 He creates tension and an impression of enormousness all over the play. This makes him very powerful and focuses the audience on his political and moral ideas, which seem directly to link with those of JB Priestley.

Priestly represents the aspect of extreme selfishness, capitalism and greed through the role of Mr: Birling. He is arrogant who always thinks he is right. He gives early predictions about the war and the future of the world at the beginning of the play. He says:

“the Titanic- she sails next week- forty-six thousand eight hundred tons- forty six thousand eight hundred tons- New ...

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