An Inspector Calls Essay Timing and stage directions are central to the text as a play. What is the role of these techniques in the play?

Authors Avatar

An Inspector Calls Essay

Timing and stage directions are central to the text as a play. What is the role of these techniques in the play?

Priestley’s main idea is that “we are members of one body” and need to take care of each other. He expresses this through the death of Eva Smith and inspector Goole. Also the inspector tries to warn about ww1 through Goole’s and speech “fire, blood and aguish”, “we don’t live alone. We are members of one body.” Priestley’s tries to show that pride comes before a fall especially false shown by characters. Pride is shown as being rooted in shallow soil, with no important base. Also Priestley explores the idea of lies and now the characters lie to each other and themselves. Other lies concern how characters define respectability and truth. Moreover, the play points out the need for responsibility in every member of society; responsibility for each other, not only for individual actions, but also how they affect others. The inspector voices Priestley’s views throughout the play most strongly but is joined by Sheila and, to a lesser degree, by Eric.

Stage directions are important in the play as they can describe characters through actions and reactions. Stage directions at the start of the play establish a typical murder mystery. Everyone’s “pleased with themselves” and “are celebrating a special occasion”. All characters are on stage, the murder has happened before the play which keeps the audience interested. The audience doesn’t see the event emphasising the dramatical element of the play.

Furthermore when the inspector comes in, “cutting in” on Birling’s speech on “community and all that nonsense” demonstrates that the inspector clearly disagrees with him. Also this proves that Birling is a valid culprit in the play as when Eric mentions Birling’s speech on “community and all that nonsense” in front the inspector leaving Birling embarrassed. This is the first of many embarrassments the Birling family will face. Moreover the strange, strategic and peculiar of the inspector’s investigation, along with his tone, hint of an unusual attitude. Also the inspector’s name “Goole” suggests the inspector is a ghost or “ghoul”.

Join now!

The stage directions describe the inspector but also create the “impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness” needed to achieve the inspector’s personality. One way this is achieved is in the inspector’s entrance when the lighting is “pink and intimate” until the inspector arrives and then changes to be “brighter and harder” emphasising the tension made by the inspector’s “massiveness”. Also the way he is described shows that Goole remains calm and unruffled and “speaks with authority”. The way he is described shows his importance.

Another thing is that the inspector stresses he is in a hurry “I haven’t much ...

This is a preview of the whole essay