During this essay I will be discussing the way J.B. Priestly looks at the dramatic devices have been used to convey his concerns. I will also examine the way his ideas effect the members of the audience

The dates in which the play is written are very crucial. 1912 is when the play is set this was also the year the titanic sank, while Mr Birling quoted " Unsinkable absolutely unsinkable." This shows that Mr Birling assumed that since this "unsinkable" cruise liner wouldn't sink showing he doesn't look at the circumstances properly and goes along with his first decision.

The plays genre also comes in to play, it is a blend of a morality play and mystery. A It is showing a message through a mystery of a woman who committed suicide. This builds up dramatic tension like a mystery but also addresses key issues that need to be considered amongst the public these are health care, income tax etc.

Dramatic irony is used right at the beginning where Mr Birling says " The world is a great place." Which he is right to an extent but he hasn't thought about poverty, war etc that go on. Mr Birling is a dramatic irony character he over looks a situation. He is a "A hard-headed business man", he believes that society is as it should be. The rich stay rich, the poor stay poor and there is a large gap between the two. Such as at the end of the play where has found out the Inspector wasn't a police officer, upon hearing this Mr Birling took in to account and thought that the whole thing was a hoax. He also does over look situations again as I said earlier the Titanic sinking and the World War 1.Birling's confidence in the predictions he makes - that the Titanic is "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable", that "The Germans don't want a war. Nobody wants a war". Everything he said was false the titanic sunk and world war did break out.

Change of lighting is significant and alters the atmosphere when the inspector enters. I imagine when he does enter the light would reflect on him showing truth and honesty. Shining from the Birlings on to the Inspector to see what has really happened.

Te use of the door bell as a sound effect leaves curiosity amongst the Birling household . It builds up tension and is also a sound of wreckening,. This is shown when the Inspector doesn't enter straight away he abides his time and lets tension build up even further. As he enters and creates an impression of solidity and purposefulness. This shows that one sound can change the mood from calm to dramatic.

The entrance of a new major character such as the Inspector change the atmosphere. When he enters he doesn't introduce himself he simple says "Mr Birling." and get in to the questioning. He intimidates the characters by looking hard at them. This makes them feel very uneasy about the situation. When it gets to intense the characters start to exit. Gerald leaves after getting questioned about his relationship with Eva. He walked out in silence but slams the door on his way out. When the characters leave the Inspector interrogates someone else furthering the plot by hearing someone else's story

The effect Act one has on the audience are how Gerald was involved with Eva Smith, he spent the entire summer with her. Act 1 has just started with the Inspectors interrogation the audience will be guessing about who was killed Eva and how other characters are involved. It leaves the Act on a cliff hanger letting the audience to know that Birlings aren't what they seem to be. For exmaple at the end it has Sheila and Eric outside tlaking aobut how to stop the Inspector form finding out about Eric's involvement

Act one is actually ironic retrospect because Mr Birling comments on the fact that the Titanic won't sink and there wouldn't be a World War. But in retrospect the Titanic did sink and the War happened. This shows the Mr Birling is patronising he doesn't asses the situation properly. He believes the media with the Titanic and didn't think how serious and how a war would effect us.

The playwright doesn't change my opinion of the Birlings in Act one. I have found that mainly Sheila is the only character that has really opened her heart to the situation she became concerned about what happened to Eva even if Gerald had an affair with her. She says " You were not only with her but you knew her very well." Even though Gerald has betrayed Sheila she lets that aside and thinks about her involvement that lead the Eva's death and can't help but feel miserable.

The methods Priestly used to involves the audience were used very erll in the way he thought of how to play the characters making sure when it was the right time to exit. This built up tension to a climax where some shocking truth came pouring out. In the way the characters moved from room to room helped too. The also involved the audience when it probably shone on the Inspector this was a sign of truth.

The message behind the play is still meaningful today the points Priestly tried to get across through the Inspector was if we don't' think now by look after each other now we will be taught in "fire, blood and anguish." Priestly is saying that man needs to work together to make this world a happier3 place to live and to look after each other.