An Inspector Calls: Essay

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An Inspector Calls: Essay

In Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’ how does J.B. Priestly use dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the member of the audience, as well as interest and involve them in his play?

        

In ‘An Inspector Calls’ the Inspector wants to teach the Birlings how important it is to treat everyone equally, regardless of social standing. I believe, in a way he is also trying to teach the Birlings how events can have ‘knock-on’ effects, and how their actions have consequences, even if they are not intentional. Priestly’s main concerns are the same to those of the Inspector – Priestly voices his opinions through the character. The play was set in 1912, this is important because it is two years before the start of the First World War. The date 1945 (when the play was first performed) is also an important year, as it was the year that the Second World War ended. ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a Drama, meant for performance.

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J.B. Priestly uses an array of different dramatic devices to influence the audience. He uses dramatic irony very early on in the play, in the form of Mr. Birling’s speech. Birling talks about the Titanic, and how it is ‘unsinkable’; and about how there was absolutely no chance of war. Both of these statements are ironic because the Titanic does sink and there are two wars to come!

        

Another dramatic device used is the change in lighting. At the start of the play the lighting is ‘pink and intimate’, this changes to ‘brighter and harder’ lighting ...

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