Sheila Birling learns a lot during the play and undergoes, in a short time space, a change that usually only happens over a very long period of time. This is caused by what she has to go through during the play. First, she finds out that she was involved in Eva's suicide. This makes her think about the sort of person she is and this starts the change of attitude inside her. Then, she finds out that Gerald had been having an affair with Eva/Daisy, this makes her think about the sort of people she lives with and loves. She becomes more mature as the play progresses and in the current National Theatre production she moves into the Inspector's light. This is symbolic of her moving from an enclosed life into the real world and her being enlightened by the truth of her part in Eva's death. When the Inspector leaves, Sheila takes over his role and tries to teach her family that they should care for other people of all classes. In the current National Theatre production, whilst in the light, she undresses. This symbolises her learning from her actions and whilst undressed, the falling rain washes her clean of her past. At the end of the play, she has higher moral standards and has learnt to show compassion for every human being no matter what they look like, their social status or how much money they have. She is no longer a dependent girl and it is obvious that the Inspector is successful in making her see the consequences of her actions. Finally, the Inspector and she are in agreement; and she fully understands everything that he has been trying to teach them. Her concordance with the Inspector is shown in her echoing of his words when she says to Gerald during her questioning of him about Eva/Daisy "We haven't much time". The Inspector is always aware of the lack of time and that everything is controlled by it. Little things like this show that she understands the Inspector. Also Sheila says to her parents "It's you two who are being childish- trying not to face the facts". At that moment she seems to tower over them just like the Inspector did. She goes on to say that "it doesn't make any real difference [if he was a real Inspector or not]" because in her opinion he fulfilled his purpose. The main reason for her change in attitude is that she has an open mind and is willing to listen to what people have to say. More importantly, she tries to improve the bad aspects of her personality. She admits "I behaved badly too. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it". It is obvious that she wants to change because she keeps saying, "You're pretending everything's just as it was before" and she does not want it to be that way. The only other person to share her attitude is Eric. This shows that the younger generations do have open minds and care more for other people. She benefits from the Inspector's visit and if another inspector were to come, then she would immediately tell the truth. She has learnt not to hide things from people. I think that she will try to improve her family's relationship and help people in need, treating everybody with the same respect.
Mrs Birling is more hard-hearted than her husband. She is fully aware of her social status, and uses this to gain whatever she wants. She shows little consideration for her subordinates, and this is accented in her position on the charity organisation. She has the seat on the charity council, not because she wants to help the poor, but because she wants to feel more superior to the lower classes. Her use of influence is shown in the line "I used my influence to have [Eva's case] refused." She tries desperately to put the Inspector in his place, but as with Mr Birling, he ignores her irony. She seems to feel that she has the authority to remove the Inspector from her house whenever he decides to say something with which she disagrees. She also has a way of telling her side of the story that makes her seem innocent of any involvement: "you're quite wrong to believe I will regret what I did…I was perfectly justified in advising the committee not to allow her claim for assistance…I accept no blame for it at all." However, everybody can see that she is trying to please her conscience and protect her reputation and social status, which are the most important things in her life. She does not concern herself with real problems and she condemns Mr Birling for saying a mild oath- "Look- for God's sake". She condemns him very strongly for saying God's name in vain but she never shows such condemnation over the death of the young girl. Mrs Birling seems to know little about her family, and their habits. This is displayed at the end of Act Two, when she finds out that the child Eva was carrying was Eric's. This shows that she may not show much interest in her children's lives, as she prefers to concentrate more with her own. She endures many shocks, and she learns more about her family than she ever thought she would know, especially about Eric and his drinking habits. This is because she is self-centred. At the end of the play she shares her husband and Gerald's jubilation that the Inspector was a hoax. She learnt nothing from the experience, and would probably make the same mistake again, making her seem very ignorant. Saying Mrs Birling learnt nothing is actually incorrect because she will probably learn one negative point and that is to keep quiet about her affairs to strangers. She says, "He certainly didn't make me confess" and from this we can see that she is going to be very cautious about what she says in the future. This is because she does not want it to become public knowledge. If another Inspector came then she would not show any emotion at all and keep quiet completely. The only time that she does show some emotion is when she finds out that she contributed to the death of her grandchild. She does not have an open mind and so is not willing to listen to other people and what they have to say because she believes that she is always in the right. She is very prejudiced and does not want to have anything to do with people of a lower class, except to rule over them. She believes that they do not have feelings and they get exactly what they deserve. In her opinion the lower classes are inferior. She shares her husband's jubilation that there is not going to be public scandal as her world revolves around money and her position in society.
The play is still popular after 55 years because of the fact that the issues raised in the play are still relevant today. This is because of the fact that people still think more about themselves and their families than about how they affect others. Socialism won't be widely accepted by the people who have money, because Capitalism is more beneficial to them but Socialism is more beneficial to the rest of us. Unfortunately, it is the people with the money who rule the country. The only way that this can change is if the attitudes of generations are changed, and this is difficult. In the play, Mr Birling is a recognisable capitalist and since he has the money he believes that he has the power to run over the world. In his opinion, only people with money are worthwhile because they have a high status in society. To himself and Mrs Birling their reputation and position in society are the most important things and people's feelings and desires do not come into it. The people who are high up in the world believe that the only purpose for inferiors is to exploit them, making them do all of the hard work.
The play was written at the end of the 2nd World War being performed for the first time in 1946. It is set in 1912. Priestley expresses his own views about society of 1912 through the character of the Inspector. During these pre-World War 1 years there was a divide between the rich and poor. Attitudes such as: the poor's struggle to work and survive; profit, greed and privilege of class; double standards and the lack of a responsible attitude from those in power, were thought acceptable. Economic prosperity, power and moneymaking took priority over humanity. The consequences of this attitude can be seen in that not just one, but two world wars have ensued since the time set in the play. Priestley is telling us that we are not learning lessons from history; thus there was a grave message for the 1946 audience, who, like the Birling family were being given a further opportunity to get it right. Moreover, there is still that message today, thus giving the play a universal value.
From the play, I have learnt many fundamental things and that is why the play is so popular, because it teaches different people, different things. When Sheila, and particularly the Inspector, say important things they should direct them towards the reader or in a theatre, they should speak directly to the audience. This makes the viewer think carefully about the hidden messages. One main message to be learnt is to treat and respect everybody as equals because that is what they deserve. To be prejudiced is a problem that people should address and try to improve on because it is very hurtful to others. If you have ever done something wrong then the play makes you think about it and what you should do if you are ever in that situation again. The best thing to do if you are in trouble or if you have done something wrong is to talk about it, however hard that might be. The important thing is to try to correct it because if you do not then it just blows up out of proportion. This is shown well in the play when Sheila realises that she should have said something about Eric's drinking problem as it is the main reason that he got into his terrible situation. You should have an open mind, try to improve any faults in your personality and be open to others. The main thing that the play wants people to improve on, is to have more consideration for everybody and life does not revolve around money but compassion for others. Another message that is underlined throughout the play is that all classes have different material wealths but when it comes to feelings and sensitivities, we are all equal. The final message of the play is a plea for change, a change in human nature first, then a change in society. People have to learn that private behaviour has public consequences.
Explore the devices Priestley uses to make 'An Inspector Calls' as dramatic, engrossing and meaningful today as it was for its first audience, with specific reference to Act 3.
J.B. Priestley was a popular play writer in the early 1900's. He was born on 13th September 1894 in Bradford, Yorkshire. When Priestley was 16, he decided to leave school. He believed that the out side world would teach him how to write. Priestley's first job was a "very good clerk" with the local wool firm of helm and company. He got a lot of his inspiration for his writing before World War 1, the years 1911-1914. When war broke out in 1914, he joined the infantry, at the age of 22. He left in 1919, narrowly escaping death on the front-line, also being the victim of a gas attack. Taking a place at Cambridge University, studying Modern History and Political Science, he achieved his degree. In 1921 he left to go to London, and started a career as a Freeland writer. Many of his novels became a huge success. These included 'The Good Companions' written in 1929, and also 'Angel pavement' in 1930. He then started to write plays for the West End. 'An Inspector Calls' was written in 1945 after many major West End hits. This particular play was set in 1912, on the week of the maiden voyage and sinking of the Titanic. Many techniques were used to make the play dramatic, engrossing and meaningful to the audience both back when it was fist released and also to this date.
Stage directions play a huge part of any play. The stage direction provides the director with details such as position of actors, lighting, facial expressions and many more physical actions. Positions of actors, 'the four Birlings and Gerald are seated at the table', can set a mood. If the characters are sat or standing together as a group, in this case sat as a family at a table, it shows a sense friendliness and co-operation. But if the characters are spread out on the scene, it gives the audience an impression of hatred within the group. Lighting is very important as it makes the audience feel the characters feelings. 'The lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder' is a good example of how the directors set the feelings.
When the inspector arrives, it makes the characters feel uneasy and curious. Increasing and making the lighting harder builds up suspense for
the audience. Facial expressions show how the characters are feeling and what they are thinking. Smiling immediately gives the impression of a
happy person, and crying gives the impression of sadness and upset. Direction of vision tells us who is talking to whom. With out this, the play would not be as effective in making it meaningful to the audience.
A play would not work if it were not structured. This also applies to An Inspector Calls. Linked with the stage directions, there are entrances and exits. The stage directions tell us when the characters leave and enter at the appropriate times. 'The INSPECTOR enters, and EDNA goes, closing the door after her' is one of the most important directions in the whole play. Cliffhanger endings make the play dramatic and engrossing for the audience because they want to find out what happens next. Techniques such as the telephone and doorbell ringing make the play engrossing for both the characters and audience. 'The telephone rings sharply. There is a moment's complete silence. Birling goes to answer it.' Is an example of how it makes the audience want to carry on with the story and find out what happens.
The historical and social background to this play makes the play ironic and dramatic. J.B Priestley uses irony a lot in an inspector calls. An example of this is 'Why a friend of mine went over on this new liner last week - the Titanic - she sails next week - forty six thousand tons - New York in five days - and every luxury - and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.' Said by Mr Birling. This ironic sentence lets the audience know when the play was set, back in the year 1912, when the Titanic sank on her maiden voyage. It's ironic because the audience knows that the titanic sank on her maiden voyage but the characters don't know. Also Mr Birling talks bout war. He says 'The German's don't want war. Nobody wants war, except some half-civilized folks in the Balkans.' but he does not know what the audience does in that in 1914, there is an out break of war with Germany. These kinds of devices make the play meaningful to the audience by realising how you take things for granted. All the characters use irony. Mrs Birling, 'He should be made an example of. If the girls death is due to anybody, then it's due to him.' She blames the death of Eva Smith on the man who made her pregnant, as Eva came to Mrs Birlings when she sent the mother of her grandchild away, but she didn't know it was Eric's child. This part of An Inspector Calls is especially engrossing for the audience as the audience wants to see if Eric does get in any more trouble for being the father of the unborn child.
Surprise is the most common device in 'An Inspector Calls'. Act 3 in particular. In this act, there are many of the biggest surprises in the play the characters find out. First they find out the Inspector was not a real policeman. This causes confusion for both the audience and characters, making Act 3 dramatic and engrossing, as they want to find out who was
the inspector. This discovery that the inspector wasn't a real policeman makes a huge difference to Mr and Mrs Birling. They were worried about
their position in society for the case that the inspector has told the public about this suicide and the results of his investigation 'they just won't try to
Understand our position or to see the difference between a lot of stuff coming out in private and a downright public scandal'. But at the end they
have found out that the inspector isn't a policeman, they feel they do not need to worry bout their positions and what they did as no one is going to find out. Mr and Mrs Birling change the least thought out the whole play. This affects the audience because they are the main characters and have an influence on the audience. They don't think about their behaviour after finding out the inspector was not real. They don't think about this because they know they can't be legally accused. This discovery makes no difference at all to how Sheila, Eric and Gerald feel guilty. They have both found out that they cannot trust each other any longer after Gerald confessed to having had an affair with Eva Smith. They also feel that the inspector visited for a reason and there they were a moral in this visit. They feel guilty for the selfish events they did not thinking about the affects it could have on Eva Smith, leading to her death. This makes the audience realise that the past can lead to present events.
Then there is the discussion if the so-called Eva Smith had even been admitted to the infirmary. It comes as a shock and surprise that there has not been a suicide in months 'No girl has died in there today. Nobody's been brought in after drinking disinfectant. They haven't had a suicide in months.' This surprise turns the whole play around. The characters, especially Mr and Mrs Birling, feel as the whole evening should be forgotten, 'Well, here's to us. Come on, Sheila, don't look like that. All over now.' Yet Sheila still feels guilty for her actions 'everything we said had happened really did happened. If it didn't end tragically, then lucky for us. But it might have done.' This is dramatic for the audience because through out the whole play, no one has thought of this as a hoax.
After characters have found out that there has been no suicide and the inspector was not a real policeman, Mr Birling gets a phone call. When the phone rings it makes the play engrossing because the audience wants to find out whom it is and why they have phoned so late in the night. It's the police reporting that there has been a suicide by a young girl and a Inspector is one his way over to ask some questions. J.B Priestley has used the telephone so the audience can only hear one end of the conversation, and see the facial expression on Mr Birlings face when told. The telephone call is engrossing for the audience and the other characters. 'Yes?… Mr Birling specking… What? - here -' is a quote of how it is engrossing for the audience.
I think that Shelia best represents J.B Priestley's point of views. She accepts her responsibility and does not try to make her self innocent after the inspector has left, when found out that it been a set up and the inspector was not official. Sheila tries to make the rest of the family see they were still responsible. That is the author's intention and he uses Sheila to make the audience see his point of views in a situation like this. 'But don't you see, if all that's come out tonight is true, then it doesn't much matter who it was who made us confess. And it was true, wasn't it? You turned the girl out of one job, and I had her turned out of another. Gerald kept her - at a time when he was supposed to be too busy to see me. Eric - well, we know what Eric did. And mother hardened her heart and gave her the final push that finished her. That's what's important - and not whether a man is a police inspector or not.'
Conflict is a part of An Inspector Calls that all the characters are involved in. This affects the audience because it is dramatic and tense. Mr and Mrs Birling are in conflict with their children about issues such as what the inspector already knows and their responsibility after it is found out it he wasn't a real police inspector. Conflict between Shelia and Gerald about personal issues to do with their relationships is a result as the inspectors visit. At the end of act 2, when discussing the issue of who as the father of Eva's baby, the conflict Priestly sets up between the Mrs Birling and the inspector makes this play very dramatic and engrossing for the audience. We want to find who is the father. Mrs Birling 'Then he'd be entirely responsible - because the girl wouldn't have come to us, and have been refused assistance, if it hadn't been for him', and blames the death of Eva on the man who made her pregnant, with out knowing that it was her own son. But when the inspector refuses to leave and insists on talking to Eric, Mrs Birling gets the idea that Eric is the father. This part makes it engrossing, as we want to find out whether it is true. Conflict adds to the dramatic and engrossing effect because it brings excitement to the audience.
As a result of this visit, Shelia and Eric appear to have changed their attitude. They have regrets and are disappointed in what they did in Eva's life to make her feel depressed and un-happy. At the beginning nearly all the characters are arrogant towards the inspector, but as the play goes on, some of the characters notice that the inspector already knows all the details the characters are giving him.
Mr and Mrs Birling are very alike. They both try to make them selves out as a higher position than the inspector, ' I was an alderman for years - and lord Mayor two years ago - and I'm still on the Bench - so I know the Brumley police officers pretty well - and I thought I'd never seen you before'. They try to do this because they know that the police inspector is of a higher status. This causes conflict in which makes the play dramatic to
the audience. The inspector was just the author's tool to make the both of the Birling's behaviour a bit logical.
The Inspector is the most important character of the play. The first impression we get of Inspector Goole is 'an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.' This name Goole is related to things such as ghosts, which links with the ending. His looks make him seem powerful and important, he has authority and is in control and a very solid appearance. He is careful not to give clues away to the other characters. The timing in which he enters 'The INSPECTORenters, and EDNA goes, closing the door after her' is in the middle of a gathering to celebrate an engagement, which is a happy event. The inspector challenges the audience's attitude. He is a mouthpiece for J.B Preistley and has a strong moral voice, which stands out. He constantly rises above the Birlings. The inspector is so dramatic because of his method of investigation. He talks to each character about the death in tern. He does this because he knows what happened to Eva Smith and what part the characters had to do with the suicide. Shelia is the first person to notice this 'You knew it was me all the time, didn't you?'
The ending is a mystery and leaves the audience thinking. This ending takes the audience back to the beginning when the inspector arrives. It leaves us thinking whether the Inspector was some kind of sprit warning the Birlings. The supernatural quality - the idea of time- is involved in the characters and audience's thoughts. This adds to the dramatic tension of the play.
I think the play was a success in making it dramatic, engrossing and meaning to the audience with all the use of these devices. I think that issues such as homelessness and refugees have changed since the play was written and set in 1914, but it still has the same affect on the audience. I think the moral in this play has some thing to do with how events can take effect on some ones life over a period of time. Think about the least fortunate then yourself and how your actions could take a massive impact on others who live and work around you. This play would challenge the audience with their moral beliefs of right and wrong.
Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left
An Inspector Calls is a play that was written by J.B. Priestley in 1945 and is set in 1912, focusing on a respectable upper class family; the Birlings. 'Inspector Goole' interrupts a joyful engagement celebration party between Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft, and the Inspector announces the horrifying news that,
"Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She'd been taken there because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant."
The characters react in extremely different ways to this information and Sheila emerges a very strong and conscientious character. We begin to discover the hidden depths behind each character's outer appearance as the play continues. We start to find out each family member's involvement with Eva Smith's horrendous suicide as the Inspector interrogates them, trying to make them feel guilty and responsible for her tragic death. During the play, some characters show feelings of guilt and remorse but others simply dismiss the death completely.
The play conveys a very strong message that we have the power to change other people's lives and we should all care and look out for each other. Throughout this essay I am going to be examining the role of Sheila, subsequent to the Inspector's departure.
Sheila and Eric, the younger generation, have opinions that totally contrast their mother and father's and they particularly get a chance to show their feelings following the Inspector's visit. Mr Birling gets very irate and angry and is exceptionally quick to blame his son, Eric, for the whole incident and disruption. He complains,
"You're the one I blame for this,"
as if it were all Eric's fault and he himself did not have anything to do with it whatsoever. Birling shows no signs of compassion for the death of an innocent girl and says arrogantly,
"I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List."
This is what Birling is thinking about after all that has happened, therefore this reveals how selfish and self-centred he is. However, Sheila's thoughts are completely the opposite of this and she explains,
"I behaved badly too. I know I did. I'm ashamed of it. But now you're beginning to pretend all over that nothing much has happened."
This reveals that Sheila has strong emotions and feelings and cares that Eva Smith has died. She regrets the mistakes that she has made in the past and is trying to learn from them. It shows that she feels very guilty and responsible for the suicide and is a very sensitive and caring character. She has learnt her lesson, but believes that her parents are acting very irresponsibly and unintelligently. Later, she says to her father,
"You don't seem to have learnt anything."
This is a very realistic statement, and the audience know that Birling hasn't learnt anything. Contrasting this, Sheila has changed and matured a lot from prior to the Inspector visit. She has developed miraculously throughout the play, from acting like a young child, being naﶥ and looking up to her parents to now, telling her father exactly what she thinks of him.
We also discover that Sheila is an exceptionally intelligent character because she is the first person to start working things out, that the Inspector wasn't actually a real Police Inspector, commenting sharply and attentively,
"Is that when the Inspector came…?"
This is the start of the family uncovering the truth behind the unusual Inspector and Sheila's awareness and intelligence helps to reveal his true identity. Following Sheila's doubts about the Inspector being genuine, the older generation begin acting very differently. Birling thinks that,
"It matters a devil of a lot," and "It makes all the difference,"
if the Inspector was a fake. This reveals a number of unpleasant aspects of his character, and how he doesn't care about he girl, but about himself. He thinks that his knighthood is at risk and that if the Inspector was a fake then no-one would find out about his foolish and insensitive behaviour. However, Sheila shows her views strongly, and forcefully disagrees with her father, proclaiming,
"It doesn't much matter."
and then she continues to make a very significant speech. This could have actually been spoken by the Inspector, their views and opinions are so similar. This shows her respect for the Inspector and how she has listened carefully to everything he said that evening. She explains thoughtfully that,
"If all that's come out tonight is true, it doesn't much matter who made us confess."
This speech illustrates that Sheila's feelings are that everything they said they had done they had still done and it makes no difference if the Inspector was real or not. She has a very moral point of view and has taken the Inspector's role now he has left, reminding each character of their crimes and idiocies.
Once Gerald has confirmed that the Inspector was not a real Police Inspector, Mr and Mrs Birling show their joy, Birling commenting excitedly,
"By Jingo! A fake!"
and Mrs Birling speaking in a triumphant manner. This shows how much it matters to them that the Inspector was a fake, and that they are so happy now they have discovered the truth. Have they completely forgot about their inappropriate behaviour and what they did to Eva Smith? They think that everything is back to normal now, but Sheila disagrees, sarcastically pronouncing,
"I suppose we're all nice people now."
This confirms her feelings that it makes no difference what the Inspector was. Eric agrees with her, pronouncing,
"She's right though."
Eric then expresses his moral point of view, explaining,
"It's what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters. And I still feel the same about it, and that's why I don't feel like sitting down and having a nice cosy talk."
This shows how similar Eric and Shelia's thoughts are and it shows their maturity of dealing with the situation in a sensible fashion. It also conveys the message that they are accepting the facts, and again shows their assertiveness to their parents.
Birling copes with the situation by aggressiveness, unlike the calm and composed attitude of the younger generation. He threatens Eric and again shows his concern and fear of there being a "Public Scandal." He strictly and belligerently commands Eric to pay back the money that he stole from his father, not for himself but to help Eva Smith out when she was in need. This shows Birling's arrogance and selfishness.
Standing up yet again to her father, Sheila explains that,
"That won't bring the girl back to life, will it?"
treating her father like he is acting at this point-very immaturely and unwisely. This conveys the message that Sheila thinks her father is forgetting about the ghastly suicide of Eva Smith completely, and is more concerned about his son paying back the money. This is yet another example of how egotistical Birling is.
Sheila shows her annoyance and infuriation with the older generation, exclaiming,
(flaring up) "Don't let's start dodging and pretending now. Between us we drove that girl to commit suicide."
She is clear and concise with her facts and this speech reveals that Sheila knows that the girl's death is the priority and the topic that they should be discussing, rather than trying to change the subject or to argue between themselves. This is practically the only speech that Sheila makes throughout the whole play when she slightly loses her temper because she is so frustrated and exasperated by her parents' actions. It also shows how calm and collected she has kept throughout the play and how she rarely loses her temper, unlike her father who has acted violently and aggressively throughout.
Following this, Gerald then queries the fact that a girl has actually committed suicide, commenting,
"I say-there's no more real evidence we did than there was that that chap was a real Police Inspector."
and also,
"All right, you all admitted something to do with girl. But how do you know it's the same girl?"
At first, the family members don't see how this could be possible, but as Gerald then explains in detail how it could be true, that they weren't necessarily shown the same photograph, the family members begin to listen to him and understand his point and puzzle about how this could possibly have happened to them. This shows Gerald's awareness and intelligence at this point of the play.
To verify that his point is true, Gerald then makes a phone-call to the Infirmary, beforehand stating,
"Either there's a dead girl there or there isn't."
Birling still shows no sign of compassion at this point, and feels anxious because of his possible knighthood and mention in the next Honours List, commenting uneasily,
"It will look a bit queer won't it-ringing up at this time of night-"
However, Gerald goes ahead to phone up the Infirmary and after he puts the telephone down at the end of the conversation, he exclaims,
"No girl has died in there today. Nobody's been brought in after swallowing disinfectant. They haven't had a suicide for months.'
This confirms the fact that together they hadn't helped to kill a girl, and the whole evening was a fabricated scene of events. Birling shows his signs of relief from the possible nightmare that could have arisen, exclaiming triumphantly,
"There you are! Proof positive. The whole story's just a lot of moonshine. Nothing but an elaborate sell."
Then he produces a huge sigh of relief that shows how everything has suddenly adhered together, and now everything is back to normal again. Also, it shows how much tension has built up throughout the play and how thankful he is that his knighthood is longer at risk. He smiles, showing his happiness and contentment. Gerald and Mrs Birling also smile at this point, their relief also coming through strongly. Following this, Birling raises a toast to the family, starting to drink gleefully. Mr Birling then comments merrily,
"…All over now."
This is a very significant speech because it shows what he has learned from the evening, that he thinks that everything is all over and they can continue to live their lives again as normal. However, as the family later discover, everything is anything but normal. Sheila disagrees with her father's point again, and shows her ability to learn from mistakes, proclaiming,
" But you're forgetting one thing I still can't forget. Everything we said had happened really had happened. If it didn't end tragically, then that's lucky for us. But it might have done."
This is a very true and realistic point, and illustrates her maturity and intelligence. Unlike her father, who simply dismisses their crimes now he knows that it was all an insincere outrage, Sheila's view is rather different. She realises that this could have been a possible outcome of the situation, and that they were very fortunate that it was not.
Birling puts forward his view that,
"The whole thing's different now…"
and continues acting irresponsibly to mockingly imitate the Inspector. He even begins to laugh, showing how he has not learned anything, and how he feels that it has made a miraculous difference now that they know a girl has not died.
Sheila is astonished and displeased by her father's egocentric attitude, and tells him that,
"It frightens me the way you talk."
Birling doesn't seem to understand or even consider Sheila's moral point of view and exclaims, in reply to Sheila's previous comment,
"Nonsense! You'll have a good laugh over it yet."
This shows how both Birling and Sheila think that the opposite generation is talking complete nonsense, and also shows the way in which Birling has taken the news. The fact that he thinks Sheila will laugh about it shows his ridiculous and bizarre feelings. Why would anyone laugh at the fact that they have just committed a crime that could have helped contribute to the death of a girl, but luckily it didn't? Well, Mr Birling obviously finds the fact that they have been set up amusing, although this contradicts his point of view earlier on in the play. This shows how Birling is an inconsiderate, careless character.
Sheila then pronounces passionately, that,
"You're pretending everything's just as it was before,"
but Eric announces,
"I'm not"
This is another time when the younger generation side, arguing against their mother and father. However, Birling doesn't try to cover up the fact that he believes everything is not the same as it was before the Inspector's visit, questioning,
"Well, isn't it? We've been had, that's all."
This indicates the unawareness of Birling's character and how he hasn't learned anything or changed at all throughout the play, totally contrasting the characters of Sheila and Eric, who have matured a lot and learned something that evening. Sheila replies to her father by saying,
"…So there's nothing to be sorry for, nothing to learn. We can all go on behaving just as we did … Whoever that Inspector was, it was anything but a joke. You knew it then. You began to learn something. And now you've stopped. You're ready to go on in the same old way."
This shows how Sheila has realised that her father has not learnt anything and knows that he will probably continue acting the same as he did before, in a smug and arrogant manner. It also shows how seriously Sheila has taken the Inspector's visit and that she knows it wasn't just a joke. Birling finds Sheila's comments and remarks funny, and acts in an amused fashion. However, Sheila continues expressing her feelings, and explains to her father how the Inspector made her feel,
"Fire and blood and anguish."
This shows how she remembers how she felt very clearly and how she feels terribly guilty of her misbehaviour in the past and she can't just forget about it easily like her father.
Mr and Mrs Birling think that their children are taking everything far too seriously, and Mrs Birling's explanation for Sheila and Eric's absurd behaviour is that,
"They're over-tired. In the morning they'll be as amused as we are."
This is an example of how Mrs Birling has few feelings and shows no signs of compassion. She uses the word amused to describe her own feelings at this point which shows that she isn't thinking about the situation and finds it funny. Gerald takes the same point of view as the older generation, thinking that everything is back to normal again, and foolishly asks Sheila if she would like to reconsider taking the ring back again, however Sheila does not accept this offer.
Mr Birling then criticises Sheila and Eric, pointing at them and saying,
"…They can't even take a joke-"
This sums up his feelings-that the Inspector's visit was a joke and he is amused by it. However, immediately after he said these words, the telephone sharply rings yet again. The news is announced that a girl has just died on the way to the Infirmary after swallowing some disinfectant and a Police Inspector is on his way to ask some questions.
This is the point at which the play ends, and the finishing paragraph shows the consequences that could happen if people act arrogantly, and when warned (by the Inspector in this case) they don't try to learn from their mistakes. The penultimate part of this play sums up the characters and summarises their behaviour throughout the play. Sheila's mature attitude was shown throughout the play, and her guilt and willingness to learn from her mistakes were also displayed. Sheila came through as a caring and thoughtful character and also an intelligent and realistic girl. Eric generally followed his sister, who was a powerful character with moral thoughts, but their views contrasted them of the older generation. Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald all acted irresponsibly, behaved immaturely and acted insensibly.
Sheila did put forward her feelings, but her parents wouldn't listen to them or simply dismissed of them. Sheila knew what was the right thing to do, but unfortunately her parents wouldn't listen to her. If the whole family had acted similarly to Sheila, the outcome would have most probably been contrary of the unfortunate ending in the play.
How does Priestley use the characters in "An Inspector Calls" to convey his own attitudes and opinions?
"An Inspector Calls" is a politics based detective play script written by John Bonyton Priestley, or better know as J.B Priestley.
The play takes place in the wealthy Birtling's family dining room, a room of which has "good solid furniture of the period", "the general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable but not cosy and homelike."
The family are celebrating their daughters engagement to Mr Gerald Croft, an upper class man, as are the Birling's in the play. A visit from the Inspector Goole becomes a terrifying experience for the Birlings, as they find out that they have all played a part in a young girls suicide. J.B Priestley wrote this play after world war II in 1945, and was first performed in 1946, though he set the play as if it were taking place in 1912,just a week before the Titanic took sail to New York.
In this play, Priestley's main aim was to encourage people to take responsibility for their actions, and to stop people from shifting the blame on to others.
Priestley conveys his attitudes and ideas through the characters in the play. Inspector Goole is used to voice his own opinions, where as the Birlings are to show what Priestley's opinions are of 'capitalists.'
Many people in 1912, thought that capitalism was the right way to go about things, (such as upper class people, the Birlings and Gerald Croft who appear in the play) where as others thought that this was an incorrect way, and unfair such as lower class people, Inspector Goole and J.B Priestley.
In "An Inspector Calls", Priestley tries to encourage socialism, and for it to over come capitalism. He tries to make a point that socialism is the correct way to go about things such as politics and ideas.
Priestley completes the task by making characters according to how he wants them to be presented by their attitudes, opinions, overall appearance and personality.
There are two types of people in "An Inspector Calls" which are the socialists and the capitalists.
The capitalists being the Birling family and Gerald Croft who are the upper class people, who do not believe in equality, where as the socialist, being Inspector Goole a middle/ lower class citizen believes in nothing but equality and fairness.
Mr Birling is the main capitalist in the play, he is a rich upper class man, he owns a factory in which he exploits lower class citizens who work for him, and pay them peanuts. This is typical capitalist behaviour. Mr Birling is said to be "portentous" by J.B Priestley.
Priestley uses Birling as maybe a role like the "baddy" in which we still see in films and theatre of today, such as Jafar in the Disney film Aladdin.
At the beginning of act one, Mr Birling believes "a man has to make his own way, has to look after himself and his family too", Mr Birling believes this throughout the whole play.
Mr Birling then begins a speech on community. "The way some of these old cranks talk, and write now, you'd think everyone has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive- and all the nonsense". You seem to get the idea from this speech, that if you were a lower class person running down his street from a rapist, and knocked on his door to get away, he would just turn you away!
Inspector Goole then enters at this point, as if he were there to disprove Birlings speech.
At all times during the play, Birling persists that he is treated with respect, and that he should be in charge of the investigation, using his status to dominate Goole, though this does not work. Birling forever reminds Goole that he was an ex mayor and a magistrate, he becomes extremely angry when he is accused of being involved in Eva Smith's suicide.
Priestley made the Inspector appear intimidating. In Priestley's stage notes/ advice he says "He wasn't a big man, but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness".
Goole asserts control during the play, he has a omniscient and omnipotent character. Goole speaks as if he knows the future.
At first (the beginning of act one) Priestley wrote in his notes that "the lighting should be pink and intimate, until the Inspector arrives, then it should be brighter and harder".
The lighting change in telling the viewers and readers that unexpected news is on it's way, something is going to go wrong, and that the Birling's are going to be opened to the world, for who and what they really are.
"An Inspector Calls" is a very good play, and covers a variety of aspects on politics.
Priestley wrote this play to convey his own attitudes and opinions to the world, he does this very well, and he shows demonstrations and examples on how to, and not to behave.
Priestley wanted socialism to overcome capitalism, by using Mr Birling and Inspector Goole as examples of the differences between the two.
Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a hero, he makes the socialist seem to be the nicer person of the two, and therefore encourage the viewers/ readers to have the same opinion or change their opinion to a "socialism rules, capitalism sucks" point of view.
Priestley's views are absolute and he puts this into both characters. Birling believes in absolute capitalism, where as Goole believes in absolute socialism.
Priestley does convey his opinions and attitudes, though I don't think unfortunately well enough to change other peoples attitudes. There will always be people such as the Birlings, thinking that they are so much better than others.
In what way does the story of Eva Smith's life as revealed by the Inspector make you aware of the attitudes at the time the play is set? You should refer closely to the text
in your answer
"Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. And I don't see why she should have been sacked". Eric to Mr Birling says this. Eric is drawing a comparison between the Upper class owners, and the lower class workers. Eric can see the comparison between Mr Birling trying to do the best for him, and the workers doing the same for themselves and their families. Mr Birling won't allow these sentiments, however, and sees them as a bad attitude. One can assume that this attitude is a general reflection of the attitudes held by older generation of the upper classes in 1912 as portrayed in 'An Inspector Calls', when it is set, with Mr and Mrs Birling representing the older generation of the upper class. 'An Inspector Calls' is primarily focused on he attitudes surrounding the higher classes in 1912, and how these attitudes can lead to actions with potentially devastating consequences. The attitudes are particularly aimed at women, especially those of working class status.
In the play women are portrayed as second class citizens, after men. However the difference (e.g. in independence) between upper class men and women is greater than that of working class men and women. Many women living alone and supporting themselves (for example by working in factories- like Mr Birling's) and their families demonstrate this, whereas the upper class women are totally dependent on their husbands for money and accommodation. The play shows that the treatment of working class women is degrading. For example it portrays the assumptions that the working class women who are jobless are quite willing to turn to prostitution. "Have you any idea what happened to her after that? Get into trouble? Go on the streets?" Mr Birling assumes that working class woman, like Eva Smith, get into trouble regularly, and if they are fired, they turn to prostitution quickly. This shows that the attitudes are totally different between upper class and working class women. Working class women are seen as easy virtue, and whores, whilst the upper class 'virgin maidens' are almost untouchable in their purity. The upper class girls are treated with respect, and are on the whole protected. "I think you ought to go to bed now, and forget this absurd business" Mr and Mrs Birling want to protect Sheila from the horrors of affairs. However in the Edwardian society there were upper class men, who were abusive, and over domineering. For example Alderman Meggarty who tried to harass not only Eva Smith (who was working class) but a girl that Sheila knew, who must be upper class, because Sheila would only socialise in upper class circles. "A girl I know had to see him in the town hall, and she only escaped with a torn blouse." Upper class men look down on working class women, who actually are prostitutes. This demonstrates the double standards revolving in the play, because though the men look down on prostitutes, and see them as disgusting, the still go to them. Women are not expected to think about business at all, nor have any interests apart from shopping, gossiping and probably needlework. "Now Sheila … you'll realize that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly al their time and energy on their business". Mrs Birling told Sheila that men do the work, and are the bread winners, leaving their wives alone, as if to prove that women can't think about business at all.
Mr and Mrs Birling treat Sheila as if she was a child, of about twelve years old, though she is old enough to be getting married. She is constantly being talked about as if she isn't there, and is told what she feels. "She's had a long, exciting and tiring day …and now she's obviously had as much as she can stand". Gerald told the inspector what Sheila was feeling, and why her behaviour was the way it was. This is perhaps reflective of how the men had all the knowledge of everything to do with them, including the feelings of their wives, or fianc饳. This portrays that women not only couldn't think about business, but also couldn't express their feelings. Mr Birling thought that Eric was a good boy, and she also treated him as if he were a child. She obviously didn't know her son well at all and this is also reflective of what upper class mothers would think of their sons. "Besides, you're not the type- you don't get drunk" Mrs Birling is treating her son like a child, and assuming that he still is a child, and instead of drinking alcohol, he is still playing musical chairs. Gerald shocks, again, Mrs Birling, by revealing his secret affair to the inspector. Mrs Birling is totally shocked, whereas Mr Birling, though taken aback, isn't as shocked by the upper class young men's behaviour. This shows that the older generation women of the upper class are more trusting in the men's behaviour, and assume that they have stronger morals, than they actually do.
Who is responsible for the tragedy of Eva Smith?
Eva Smith's life contained a number of people who both loved her and hated her. She in return has loved and hated them. Each person she met in the inspector calls all ended up killing her and her child. As the inspector says "we are all responsible for each other".
I think the character with least responsibility for Eva Smith's death is Gerald Croft. He still carries some of the blame but was good to Eva for the time he knew her. When the inspector questioned Gerald he at first tried to hide the fact that's of his relationship with Eva. "I don't come into this suicide business". When Eva first met Gerald she was hungry, and poor. Gerald felt sorry for her and took her to a hotel to eat. He then made her his mistress. In those days men were happy to have 2 woman. One, which would be suitable to parade around town and marry and then in some situations a mistress who is there to sleep with and as you could say, have a laugh with. Eva moved into some rooms a friend had left in Gerald's hands for 6 months. " I insisted on Daisy moving into those rooms". By the time Eva had met Gerald she had changed her name to Daisy Renton. Gerald was fond of Eva but not inlove with her. The affair didn't last long but Eva understood why they had to split up. Gerald had made her happy for a while. When they split up Gerald gave her some money. "I insisted on a parting gift of enough money ". He was upset at Eva's death because he had cared a great deal for her. " I'm rather more upset about this business than I probably appear to be".
Next, I think that Arthur Birling has some responsibility for Eva Smith's death. Eva's life first started going wrong when she worked for Arthur Birling at his factory after a strike about pay she was fired. "She was one of my employees and then I discharged her". Eva was fired for been a ringleader to a strike over pay. Arthur Birling would not pay the rise of wages because of labour costs. "It's my duty to keep labour costs down". "Their wages were neither more nor less than they are generally paid in this industry". Gerald also points out that this is a reasonable thing to do. "I know we'd have done the same". Arthur as he has right to think contains no proper blame in Eva's suicide.
After Mr Birling, the next character to blame for her death is Sheila. Sheila on the whole was just a normal human being having a bad day. Yet I believe she played quite a role in Eva's suicide. Sheila got Eva fired from Milwards. Milwards was the next place Eva had been able to get a job after Mr Birling's factory. Sheila got jealous over a dress. "It just suited her"; "It just didn't suit me". Sheila went to the manager and told him that if they didn't fire Eva she would convince her mother to withdraw their account. "I told them that if they didn't get rid of that girl, I'd never go to the place again". After the inspector had interviewed her and during the interview she admits to feeling terrible about it. "I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worst". Sheila along with Eric both seem to take it extremely seriously over Eva's suicide unlike Mr Birling and Mrs Birling who don't think the suicide has anything to do with them. I still believe that Sheila has a lot to do with the suicide because after the Milwards job Eva had no where to turn and ended up being a prostitute. Even though Sheila knows how wrong she was she still takes some of the blame.
Following this Mrs Birling takes a lot of the blame. Mrs Birling is part of the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation. In my opinion Sybil Birling takes a lot of the blame because she knew Eva was genuinely in need but still turned her away in a careless fashion. As the inspector tells her, "You refused her even the pitiable little bit of organised charity you had in your power to grant her ". It is Sybil's uncaring attitude that makes her actions seem even worse. She obviously refuses to accept any blame and although she is shocked by Eric's involvement she never shows any upset. She believes she behaved correctly and "did my duty" in turning away an undeserving claim. She is a typical sort of women involved in committees in those times so they can ease their consciences. Mrs Birling does not feel at all remorseful for the girl's death and her view fails to change at all during the duration of the play. She remains cold and stone-faced even when every other member of the family has been accused and has accepted the blame.
What Is The Dramatic Importance Of Inspector Goole's Character In Priestly's 'An Inspector Calls' And What Things Would A Director Need To Consider When Casting This Role.
In this essay I intend to discuss the dramatic importance of Inspector Goole's character in Priestly's 'An Inspector Calls'.
Inspector Goole is a catalyst for the events of the play. He is calm, firm and confident. He forces, with words, the other characters to acknowledge and confess to knowing Eva Smith at one time or another. His manner also enables him to bring Sheila and Eric to the realisation of their guilt and responsibility towards the death of Eva Smith. Inspector Goole is dominating and puts a lot of pressure on the character he is questioning, this allows him to reveal the chain of events that led to the death of Eva Smith. A director would have to consider this when casting the role.
Inspector Goole has a great presence, 'he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness'. Inspector Goole dominates the situation from the start and is not intimidated by Mr. Birling, Gerald Groft or anyone else in the family.
Inspector Goole is always in control, '(taking charge masterfully)', he dominates the proceedings though-out the play, '(cooly, looking hard at him)', this also shows that Inspector Goole is not intimidated by anybody in the family and is in total control all the time. This shows to me that as well as not being intimidated by the family he is also controlling and dominating.
Inspector Goole deliberately controls the pace at which events are revealed, 'all in good time', Inspector Goole likes to put a lot of pressure the person he is questioning. One of the ways he does this is by starring the person being questions square in the eye, he also speaks slowly, '(slowly) Are you sure you don't know? He looks at Gerald, then Eric, then at Sheila'. By saying this then looking at Gerald, Eric and Sheila he is putting a lot of pressure on these specific characters. Inspector Goole takes his time, he speaks slowly and stares at the other characters, all these aspects are important in making the other characters confess to knowing Eva Smith.
Later in the play Inspector Goole's behaviour changes from being calm and cool to becoming threatening and aggressive. 'If your easy with me, I'm easy with you', therefore if your difficult and awkward with Inspector Goole he will be difficult and awkward with you. 'Don't stammer and yammer at me again, man. I'm losing all patience with you people.', this is another time in the play where we can see that Inspector Goole is not afraid or intimidated by Mr or Mrs Birling, at this point as well we can see that Inspector Goole is losing his temper. Inspector Goole has gone from being calm to losing all patience with the family.
There is also another side to Inspector Goole, he seems to have a supernatural aspect to him, 'If men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.' Inspector Goole here seems to be talking about the World Wars to come and the pain and hardship they will bring to many. ' Is that when the Inspector came, just after Father said that?', this also gives Inspector Goole a supernatural aspect because he just happens to arrive when Mr Birling is insulting community spirit, this makes it seem that Inspector Goole has come to teach the family a lesson.
When a director is casting this role he would have to consider many aspects of Inspector Goole's character. The actor would have to make an impression of massiveness, thou he need not be a large man but neither should he be small and feeble looking, the actor needs to be cool and calm, he can't be nervous looking, he also needs to be able to strike fear into his fellow characters. If all the points are not met the character would not have the dramatic importance he should.
I conclude that the dramatic importance of Inspector Goole's character is that his conduct, the way he can put fear and pressure on the character he is questioning, and his manner, he is not intimidated by Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald Croft, is crucial in revealing the chain of events that led to the death of Eva Smith. The actor in this role would need to be able to illustrate this or the character will have less dramatic influence.
'The inspector makes more of an impression on the younger characters that the older ones. Show two contrasting characters.
In the play 'Inspector calls' the characters can be seen to react in different ways. To demonstrate this I have chosen to show how Sheila and her mother, Sybil, react. The way Sheila reacts shows her age and nervousness. In contrast her mother Sybil is seen to respond to the inspector in a totally different way. She stays calm and isn't intimidated by the inspector. This essay shall demonstrate that age affects the way these two upper - class women react in the play.
Before the inspector arrives, Sheila acts arrogant towards Eric and a bit towards Gerald. She shows respect for her mother and father but with a tone of undermining. Sheila is very happy about her engagement to Gerald, but with this tone of voice towards her family , I feel that she is trying to remind them that this is her special day and that they shouldn't forget it. I feel this because she tries to change the subject back to her and her business. Arthur starts to talk a lot about business and Mrs. Birling says ' I don't think you ought to talk business on an occasion like this' and Sheila says 'Neither do I. All wrong.' Sybil acts as normal or what I suppose her to be normal because I haven't seen her in a different setting. She says she's happy for her daughter and her fianc鬠but she doesn't use emotion, tone of voice or body language to convey this. Sybil seems very cold towards all of her family. She doesn't show affection at all, not even through her speech. I suppose that this is how typical high - class women were expected to act. Sybil is basically on show for her daughters fianc頡nd she wouldn't want to embarrass her husband by being too sentimental, also it might look too lower class to show emotion.
When the inspector arrives he uses different interrogation approaches to get answers from his suspects. Sheila responds to the inspector in a very honest way. After coming back into the room, she is very sincere with everybody. Sheila answers his questions and queries as honestly as she can, she is genuinely sorry for what she did to Eva Smith and for contributing to her death, 'Yes but it didn't seem to be anything very terrible at the time. Don't you understand? And if I could help her now I would.' After her confession has come out Sheila is eager for everybody else to confess to what they supposedly did to Eva. Now that her dirty laundry is out in the open she's prefer everyone else's to be aired so they don't think she's so bad because they also 'helped to kill this girl' as Gerald said. When questioned, Sheila breaks down in tears. Sybil stays calm and again doesn't show her emotions. She doesn't let this stranger intimidate her because she feels she did the right thing by her charity of which she is a chairperson and is a great influence on the overall decision of who they should help. Every other character except Sybil feels remorse for what they did.
When questioned, Sheila and Eric have broken down and confessed their indecency after being asked just a few questions. Sheila was shown a picture of the girl she got fired from Milwards. She recognizes the picture and runs out the room sobbing. She comes back in and says 'You knew it was me all the time didn't you?"
Sybil on the other hand answers the inspector's questions with very short, few word answers. The inspector shows her a photo and says 'do you recognize her?' Sybil then says 'No. Why should I?' which is a blatant lie because when the inspector says 'But Mrs. Birling spoke to and saw her only 2 weeks ago.' Then Sybil admits it by saying 'Yes its quite true.' I think at first she tries to deny this because she may think that the inspector doesn't know anything but really he does or he's very clever and bluffing. The younger characters feel remorse for what they have done, Sybil doesn't even pity the poor girl. 'I'm very sorry, but I think she only had herself to blame.' But then Mrs. Birlings opinion is that Eva shouldn't of used the respectable Birling name , lied about where she came from and why she wanted help from the charity. The differences between classes at this time were very clear. The Birlings are obviously a rich family and there name highly respectable. For Eva to use the Birling name was a big insult for Sybil as people might think they are part of the same family and might lower her social standing.
Sybil having had much more life experience knows how people of different classes should speak to her. Lower class people should speak to her with respect because without people like her husband and their factories a lot would be out of work. When the inspector comes along and talks to her like her would any other person, she is a bit shocked. I think you can tell this by her short answers that go straight to the point. ' I meant what I said' most of what she says is never more than a line long. I think the inspector relises this and plays on it a bit, but this backfires because Sybil doesn't like being spoken to like this so she is very short and avoids the main point that the inspector is trying to get out of her. This is very clever, meaning the inspector actually has to know everything that Eva did relating to Sybil in order for him to get the story out of her. With the other characters he just mentions a name and asks a few questions and he has the whole story.
To conclude I have to say that I have found that age does affect the way these people act. If Sheila was older and more grown up then she would of known that someone not of her class, cant intimidate her if she knows how to act. Sybil obviously knows how to act but she does come off as a bit arrogant. Also if Sheila was older she would of known that she doesn't have to ashamed of her actions if she can justify them. If your actions can't be justified then they must be wrong. Sheila's actions weren't justified enough, because to get someone fired just because they look better in a hat than you do is a bit shameful. Sheila could f shown that she was sorry but she ran out the room crying. Sybil could have been more understanding with Eva, but then she doesn't understand how a girl in that position would feel. Sybil was proberly bought up like Sheila and then married before she had her first child. She proberly had never had to worry about money or anything like that in her life.
I have to say that honestly I didn't like this play very much. It wasn't very dramatic. It would have been better to have a big twist at the end, like Edna could have been Eva's mother or something like that.
How does J B Priestley use the character of the inspector to create dramatic tension in "An Inspector Calls."
"An Inspector Calls," is a play that incorporates many different and controversial aspects that remain indefinitely unresolved throughout the play. The moral issues of the play highlight the reality of the time and there relevance to modern day society as well as fifty years ago. The play demonstrates the human inability to recognise mistakes and identify guilt. For example as soon as the inspector leaves, although guilty, the Birling elders forgive themselves and return to their self assured lives. This indicates that the inflictions of parents views on younger generations, is not always the correct thing to do; the idealism of the young sees through the corruption of their elders. The play ultimately shows that although the consequences of an action are unintentional, most actions have a destructive effect on other people's lives. This is shown in the play through the behaviour of Alderman Meggarty. The reference to these actions portrays an image of a time when the poor and underprivileged were victimized by the dictatorship actions of the factory owners.
The play is set in a town called Brumley. This is fictional setting but the acute description provided by Priestley suggests it was based on his home town Bradford. The description of Brumley portrays a typical industrial based town, yet is notoriously more important than other towns as it has its own Lord Mayor and a police force with a chief constable. It becomes apparent that many women are in need of help due to the existence of "Brumley Women's Charity Organisation," the eeliest attitude inflicted by the more dominant figures still lurks among such charitable organisations. The play was written in 1945, just after the Second World War. However, Priestley chose to set the play just before the First World War. This enabled him to expose the political decisions made and relate the moral of his play to a much larger scenario. The play takes place in the Birling dining room, which is described as heavily decorated but not homelike. This highlights the domestic tensions between the Birlings. A family bond is based on materialistic factors such as money and social status. There is no suggestion that affection exists within the family.
"An impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness," is the initial and complete description of the inspector. This effective yet brief and general description of the character suggests that it may have been based on Priestley himself. This is apparent in the similarities in characteristics and sense of humour. The play provides scope for the audience to identify the inspector in their own way. The inspector's character is enhanced by the use of lines that are effectively questions showing a degree of inner certainty. Each question is answer that is met with agreement by the Birling in question. "And you made love again….. yes." The impression given by the inspector is one that brings fictional elements to life. Throughout the whole ordeal the inspector manages to stay unfailingly polite despite considerable ignorance on the Birling families' part. This demonstrates the class barrier that existed at that time between the higher and lower classes. He increasingly emotionally attached to the death of Eva Smith, more so than a normal and professional police inspector would, this I consider a chink in the armour of what otherwise is a physical representation that is the inspector. By identifying these subtle hints such as that one the audience may begin to form a new understanding of the inspector.
Mr. Birlings' speech tells us that he is unwilling to accept that he may incorrect as he lacks common knowledge in anything other than industry. Sybil is a disciplined character that seems to scare Mr. Birling and influence what he says "Sheila, I simply don't understand your attitude," "Neither do I, if you had any sense of loyalty." As the questioning develops so does the verbal power of the inspector. This, however, goes unnoticed by the Birlings as each has been made to feel accused despite their innocence. The inspector's method of speech is so contradictory to the hyperbole spoken so confidently by Mr. Birling that he feels threatened by the inspectors ability to undermine his authority, "Could I have a drink first," "No," "Yes," "Alright go then."
J.B Priestley was well known for his ability to incorporate time in his plays. An Inspector Calls creates a real and believable sense of safety for the audience and collapses that gradually as the inspector develops. Throughout his life Priestley was interested in the theories of Jung and Ouspensky; this would tell us that he believed a policeman in our dreams usually signifies our conscience. The inspector has an aura of mystery that allows him to have a sharp penetrating quality gained by his inner knowledge. As the play develops the audience begin to feel that it is a slight coincidence the whole family being caught up in one girl. Yet the power and precise accuracy of the inspectors recollection leads each member of the family to feel that they have committed an individual murder where as none of them has committed a punishable crime. The lack of law-related allegations also begins to expose signs of unreality. At no point does he mention any charges or threaten them with any penalty. Yet there seems to be an orthodox and almost religious quality in the way he can pursue such a case with only guilt as his virtue. The inspector could have been a ghost yet he did not haunt them or continue to do so until they were sorry for the events they had caused, he has simply made them aware of there actions. His knowledge about them all suggests that he is their collective conscience. Priestley being well known for his time-slip concepts uses an allegory to introduce a new possibility to the audiences' understanding of the play. The audience may begin to realise that the inspector is the result of their actions not a preventer of further actions. The inspector serves to make the Birlings realise the effect they have had on people financially and socially inferior to them such as Eva/Daisy. He is also a voice for Eva and the lower members of the very hierarchical society that existed then. All this serves as an attempt to make all the Birlings reform their actions.
The inspector manages to break each defence wall built up by the family yet as soon as he leaves, the Birling elders and Gerald fall back upon their faultless and self-assured lives. Sheila and Eric, however, seem much more emotionally and morally affected by the word of the inspector and show much more will to change their way of life. This brings the plot of the play to a conclusion; never the less Priestley uses this divided emotion to perform a final trick rather than providing a rational explanation. He gradually lulls the audience away form the boundaries of reality making the unexpected seem logical. His use of the last phone call is intended as a punishment for the family's refusal to appreciate what they have learnt. The phone call revives the guilt within each of the Birling elders and Gerald. Therefore giving the impression that there may be a possibility that the same inspector is may return, an infinite cycle until the lesson is learnt. The way in which Priestley wrote "An Inspector Calls," tells us more about the characters than they themselves know. We manage to satisfy our questions from the information yet are puzzled by the mystery and unforeseeable outcome.
Conclusively "An Inspector Calls," is a relevant play that expresses the reality of desperation, especially at the time when it was written. By using his skill of incorporating the audience into his writing Priestley is able to get a strong and noticeable moral across that can express the true nature and purpose for writing the play. Ultimately the play realises that the truth cannot be hidden, there is always a witness to what happened, when and where. Although put into a supernatural context the moral remains the same within a thrilling and dramatic production "Those who do not remember the past are condemned to relive it." - Santayana