An inspector calls - tension and suspense

During the opening stage directions, Priestley says that the lighting is 'pink and intimate' until the Inspector arrives. I find this quite ironic as there is nothing intimate about the Birling family.

Similarly, there is nothing warm about the house, it is not cosy or welcoming.

Priestley describes Arthur Birlingas "a heavy looking, rather portentous man'. I think that Arthur Birlingis a person who is trying to be someone else, e. g. he married his social superior.

Mrs Birling (Sybil) is described as being 'a rather cold woman', which I agree with entirely as she has a superior attitude towards everyone.

Sheila is stated to be 'a pretty girl in her early twenties'. We would certainly not call someone in their twenties a 'girl', the word is used because Sheila has not grown up mentally.

Gerald is 'an attractive chap', meaning that he's just a little big-headed, but generally well-mannered.

Eric is said to be 'not quite at ease'. I do not think that Eric really fits in to the Birling family, he is quite different.

The tension between Arthur Birling and the audience begins when Birling speaks of labour trouble and stating that 'we've passed the worst of it' when the first World War was just about to start or had already started. What we must remember is that people who are watching this play are still very angry and upset about the second World War. So, Mr Birling strikes them as a total idiot and the audience dislike him.

A certain amount of tension amounts between various family members also. The occasions on which these things happen are:

* Sheila and Gerald - Gerald told Sheila that he had been working the previous summer when he hardly went near her. She had suspicions that Gerald was being untrue to her. She was assured, however, that it was all in her head. She finds out that Gerald was being untrue when he was being interrogated.

* Sheila and Eric - Sheila has always said that Eric drinks too much but he has refused to believe it. In a strange twist, Sheila and Eric stand united towards the end of the play.

* Eric and the Birling family - When the family finds out that Eva Smith/Daisy Renton is/was pregnant with Eric's child, there are furious at the indecency of it all.

* Mr. and Mrs. Birling - Mrs. Birling becomes quite angry towards Mr. Birling because of his inappropriate manner, e. g. speaking of business at Gerald and Sheila's engagement, thanking the cook.

Most of the characters in the play are very artificial or pretend to be what they are not. This can greatly annoy people.

Upon the arrival of the inspector, Mr. Birling becomes verynervous, e. g. Mr. Birling asks :- 'Some trouble about a warrant?'.

All of these build the audience up and they become quite tense.

As each of the characters is interrogated, the audience grow to dislike the characters more and more, all except Sheila, whom they feel sorry for, because she feels terribly guilty over Eva Smith's/Daisy Renton's death. She is the only one who has a conscience, really.

Priestley's motivation is for people to think about how they treat other people. Many people in the audience would feel guilty for treating any one person badly. This makes the audience consider what Priestley is trying to say.

In the final twist, the audience are confused as to whether the Inspector exists at all. The audience are left in suspense and are also left thinking about their role in society.

Whilst there is a deep, profound and significant meaning to the play, it is also a well crafted piece of entertainment that is very much enjoyable to watch or to read.

By

Helen Leach