An Inspector Calls

The novel is a traditional mystery, which reveals about the suicide of a girl. An Inspector Calls is more an ironic novel, because there is not really a criminal for this case. J.B. Priestley tries to tell the audience about the difference between Capitalism and Socialism. In fact nobody really killed Eva Smith, but the whole Birling Family was involved in her death. The main theme in this novel is taking responsibility about each other and not being selfish. Priestley also tries to show the difference between the upper and lower class at that time. He uses Mr Birling as a representative of the upper class and Eva Smith as one of the lower class. Another character that Priestley uses to convey his political concerns is Inspector Goole. He wants to teach the Birlings family to take responsibility for each other and exactly the opposite of Mr Birling’s beliefs. The play was first performed in 1945 but set in 1912 because the time represented an era when there was everything different to the time of the performing.

The play uses a lot of dramatic devices to convey the concerns of Priestley to the audience. The main device is dramatic irony. At the very beginning Mr Birling starts off with his beliefs, that the Titanic was unsinkable and that Germans never want war. An audience in 1945 knows that the Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage and that there have been two wars, which Germany was both involved in. This is one of the first dramatic devices as dramatic irony, which Priestley uses in his play.

The play starts off with the Birlings sitting on a table and celebrating the engagement of their daughter Sheila Birling. There Mr Birling tells his philosophy of life from his view. He says that a man has to look for him and should not worry about anything else.

Exactly after Mr Birling finishes with his philosophy, Inspector Goole enters the play. Priestley uses the doorbell when he enters to show the audience that there will be a sudden change in the play from there on.

In conclusion Priestley has used a lot of dramatic devices to convey his political concerns to the audience. I think this play would be even relevant to today’s society because even today people sometimes react like Mr Birling does. This play would tell the people today that still people have to work together and care for each other.