GCSE: J.B. Priestley
- Marked by Teachers essays 21
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How does Priestly present Sheila Birling?
Although she has probably never before considered the impact of her decisions on the working class, she shows compassion immediately she hears of Eva Smith?s death. She first exclaims ?How horrible!? and proceeds to tell her father "But these girls aren't cheap labour - they're people." However, when the Inspector reveals Shelia?s role in causing the chain of events that lead to Eva Smith?s suicide, Shelia is horrified by her own part in Eva's story and is moved to tears.
- Word count: 754
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How does Priestley present the different generations in "An Inspector Calls"?
accept this with Gerald as seen by the phrase ?I don?t believe I will? ? this shows how Sheila often likes to challenge what the older generations say and believe. Sheila speaks mostly in short interjections such as seen from the phrase ?What?s all this about?. This emphasises to the audience her lack of voice as a young woman in 1912. At the start she does not have a place in the world of ?hard-headed? businessmen. This is further seen by the way her mother and father both speak to her in a highly patronising tone as if she has nothing of importance to say.
- Word count: 970
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In what ways is Eva Smith exploited? Why has Priestley used dramatic irony in Mr Birlings speech?
The audience believe that Mr Birling is clueless because of the statements. Priestley was a socialist , he believes that capitalism should be abolished and socialism would be brought in. Mr Birling is a capitalist and Priestley portrayed him as a fool. Priestley does not want the audience to believe in capitalism . In what ways is Eva Smith exploited? Eva Smith is exploited by the upper class as there was a lack of respect from the upper class to the lower class.
- Word count: 585
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How does Priestley express ideas about Arthur Birling in 'An Inspector Calls'
Birling has done anything but. This shows the hypocrisy of Mr. Birling?s attitudes; on one hand he is clearly very paranoid regarding the way others view him but simultaneously ignores and demonizes those below him in social status. There seems to also be no limit in Mr. Birling?s greed and pursuit of money; Priestly uses bathos to show how Mr. Birling demeans the importance of anything but money and personal gain. Mr. Birling says when speaking of Sheila and Geralds engagement that this was ?one of the happiest nights of [his] life?.
- Word count: 753
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How does Priestley express ideas about Eric Birling in 'An Inspector Calls'
Eva?s Sacking + Capitalism Eric clearly shows much more sympathy to Priestley?s views than that of his father. Discussing Eva Smith?s death, Eric suggests; ?Why shouldn?t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices? ? you said yourself she was a good worker? this shows how Eric is questioning not only the decision making of his father but also Mr. Birling?s view on society. Mr. Birling is a keen advocate of everybody ?looking after himself? but when a lower class workers attempts to improve their life changes Mr. Birling is contradictory and fires Eva.
- Word count: 946
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What clues in Act 1 tell you that there is trouble ahead for the Birling family?
Again dramatic irony bites when Gerald laugh and says, ?You seem to be a well behaved family-? which Mr Birling replies with, ?We think we are-? Knowing that the Birlings have been anything but nice considering their unjust full actions towards Eva Smith, will soon be exposed. They're too comfortable and their secrets of their refusal to bother will be uncovered by the Inspector. However, the connection between Gerald and Birling grow as the book progresses and we finally realise that his similar capitalist views hasn't been affected or even slightly altered by the end of Act 3, leaving him unchanged.
- Word count: 678
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How is Mr Birling Presented in Act 1?
We also find out that Mr Birling?s wife is his social superior meaning that Mr Birling may have worked his way up from a lower class into a higher class, he also enjoys telling people of how wealthy he is this may be understandable due to him working his way all the way up into the class he is in now. At the very beginning of the play, Mr Birling is shown to be obsessed with his social status by Priestly, due to him stating that ?You Ought to like this port Gerald, Finchley told me it?s exactly the same port your father gets from him?.
- Word count: 702
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How does Priestly present Eric in "An Inspector Calls"?
Priestly keeps making remarks about Eric?s unusual characteristics, the reason he does is to make the audience feel nervous around him, like you could be expecting anything when he says something. From Eric?s language he uses he can tell that he is drunk, and not himself, ?Good old Shelia!? Priestley?s use of the exclamation mark emphasises Eric?s exaggeration and makes the audience wonder why he is acting so strange. The audience gets hints that Eric is a drunk from the off, Shelia says ?you?re squiffy? he denies straight away with an aggressive tone, which what a drunk person would do.
- Word count: 813
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How does Priestly present Gerald in "An Inspector Calls"?
Gerald is in a higher social class than the Birling family, and his father is business rivals with ?Birling and company?, however ?Crofts Limited are both older and bigger? than Mr Birling company. Gerald?s parents are not pleased with the engagement, as the Birling family are in a lower class, however Gerald is not bothered by this, which shows how he values love more than social class, however it is not the same story when he meets Daisy Renton, and he knows he can?t marry her or be with her due to social class.
- Word count: 757