An Inspector Calls coursework

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Using a section from “An Inspector Calls”, illustrate how dramatic devices can be used in order to build suspense.

        “An Inspector Calls” was written in the 1940’s by J B Priestley; however it is set in 1912. This was because J B Priestley uses a lot of dramatic irony in this play, which is when the audience are more aware and know of what the situation or circumstances are to come in the future than the characters in the play; what the characters think and their feelings are all ironic because they are different from reality. This was only possible because the play was set in 1912, a time in which rich industrialists like Arthur Birling lived in false security about the future. J B Priestley wanted to unsettle his audience; he wanted them to see how arrogantly they behaved and their mistakes. He also wanted them to look at different perspectives of different situations in life. He wished to make the point that everyone has their responsibilities and that they should fulfil them too. There are a lot of different responsibilities portrayed throughout the play, the responsibilities of an employer, the responsibilities of a father, of a mother, of children, the responsibilities of being a citizen. In the Edwardian era, when the play was set, technology had made a huge improvement and when the ‘unsinkable’ titanic was launched, the country was full of national pride. The death of a king had also shaken the country, they were uncertain of what to do, or what was to happen. Miners had already had a strike in 1907, and there had been one in 1910 too, which had caused riots frightening the society. There had also been a lot of talk about war, because after the downfall of Napoleon III, there were fears of German denomination.        The Edwardian period had an extremely rigid British class system, with there being a huge difference between the rich and poor. There was also a change in social thought; there was more attention towards the poor, and also the status of women. The women’s suffrage also protested for the rights of women, as it was a social, economical, and political movement aimed at extending the right to vote for women. There was a lot of rapid industrialisation and more economical opportunities which created an environment in which there was more social interaction and people became more liberal.                         I will be analysing a section of the play, which I have chosen to be from p45-49. I will look how different dramatic devices are used to create suspense. Dramatic devices can vary from, dramatic irony to a doorbell. They create the tension and uneasiness we feel in the play.                                                                        At the opening of the play, the stage directions state that the dining-room should be ‘Substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike.’  This shows the personality of the Birling’s to be a front and fake because they would prefer to look powerful and united in front of people rather than be at home and at ease. They still have to uphold the same manner they have outside in the world, inside their own home.  This is what they are expected to do, or what they want to do. Lighting is also mentioned in the stage directions, as it says that the lighting should be ‘pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder’. When the lighting is pink and intimate it shows that the atmosphere is calm and relaxed in the house, showing it is a special happy occasion. Later on the light changes to brighter and harder light, showing the intensity of the interrogation and to emphasise the seriousness of the situation. The lighting makes the audience more alert of what is happening, as well as the characters in the play too.                        The doorbell is another device that is used to create tension in the play. At first Mr. Birling is giving a talk to Gerald and Eric telling them that there is no such thing as community and that every man is for his own. During this speech he is interrupted by the doorbell and Birling stops to listen. This shows that he is curious to know who has interrupted them, creating suspense as the audience also want to know who has arrived, interrupting the speech that Birling was giving. Birling told Gerald with great confidence that he was expecting to receive a knighthood, he is trying very hard to impress Gerald and his family because he doesn’t’t want Lady Croft to feel that her son could have married someone with a better position in society. This adds to the tension and suspense as Birling says to Gerald that there should be no public scandal in the coming months, only then will he receive the knighthood. This is hinting to the audience that foreshadowing events are to take place, making the audience more curious to see what happens next. Another time when the doorbell was used as a dramatic device was when everybody found out that the Inspector was not a real Inspector. They are in shock and the doorbell rings. Mr. Birling reaction is this, ‘“Yes- well. We’ll have to do something and get to work quickly too… (Ring at front of door)  Now who’s this? Had I better go?”’ You realise here that Birling is tensed as he asks a lot of questions after the bell, showing it is making him uncomfortable and so this increases the tension.                                 The photograph is used as a dramatic device as the Inspector uses it to create tension between the Birlings. “Inspector takes a photograph, about postcard size, out of his pocket and goes to Birling. Both Gerald and Eric rise to have a look at the photograph, but the Inspector interposes himself between them and the photograph. They are surprised and rather annoyed. Birling stares hard, and with recognition, at the photograph which the Inspector then replaces in his pocket.”  Gerald says “(showing annoyance) any particular reason why I shouldn’t’t see this girl’s photograph, Inspector?” The Inspector replies “(coolly, looking hard at him) There might be.”  This shows that by showing the photograph to Birling and not Gerald and Eric they are getting agitated and annoyed at the Inspector. Showing the Inspector in a cool way, indicates that he is calm and wary that he is annoying them but he sees this to be a benefit for him, as they themselves are getting worked up about the photograph before they have seen it. This creates a lot of tension. Afterwards when everyone discusses what happened with the Inspector, Gerald looks into the possibility that maybe the Inspector used different photographs making us doubt the Inspector, and this also creates tension as you start to doubt everything that has happened and what is to happen too.        The end of act one is a cliffhanger leaving the audience interested to know what will happen next.  Sheila has guessed that Gerald knew Daisy Renton and even though the Inspector knows he leaves them to talk, knowing that Gerald himself will confess he knew her. This shows the Inspector to be cleverer and a lot wiser than all of the Birlings. Sheila says   “(laughs rather hysterically) why- you fool-he knows. Of course he knows…she looks at him almost in triumph. He looks crushed. The door slowly opens and the Inspector appears, looking steadily and searchingly at them. (Inspector) Well?”

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The Inspector ends the act off with a question, giving it a very intriguing finish, which leaves the audience wandering what is to happen next. This creates even more anxiety.                                                                                        The telephone plays a vital device towards the end of the play. Gerald is using it to phone the infirmary to find out if any girl has been brought in who has committed suicide, “Is that the infirmary? This is Mr. Gerald Croft of Crofts limited…Yes…We’re rather worried about one of our employees. Have you had any girl brought in this afternoon who committed suicide by drinking disinfectant- or any like ...

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