Examine the dramatic role of the inspector in the play.

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An Inspector Calls

By J B Priestly

Assignment Title: Examine the dramatic role of the inspector in the play.

This play was written in 1945 and set in 1912 and was first performed in London in 1946.

In the play the character – Arthur Birling is from the audiences view an arrogant, irritable and impatient person. He wished to keep his work force on a low salary and didn’t feel sorry or responsible for Eva’s gruesome death.

   Sybil Birling is very uncooperative by not admitting to recognising the photo the inspector shows her and reluctantly answering the inspector’s questions, she is stubborn, naive and cold-hearted.

   Sheila Birling seems genuinely remorseful and feels worse about what has happened than the others. Sheila seems to be very emotional, lively and moral.

   Eric Birling is a heavy drinker, has getting a prostitue pregnant (Eva) and has even stolen money from his father’s business to support Eva. He seems irresponsible, dunk and nervous.

   Gerald Croft is committed to his work like Arthur Birling, also like Arthur he try’s to hide what he done than what has happened due to what he’s done.

   Eva Smith / Daisy Renton was a factory worker at Birling and Company, shop assistant at Milwards and a Prostitute. She is pretty and depressed.

   The Inspector has a strong tone of voice that he can use to strengthen his authority. The inspector is Mysterious and Aggressive.

   The play starts with the Birlings and Gerald Croft celebrating Gerald’s engagement to Sheila, everybody is in a good mood eating and drinking port when suddenly the inspector arrives and disrupts the entire celebration, the inspector questions each of the characters firstly telling them that a girl had swallowed strong disinfectant which burnt her insides and died a painful death two hours ago in the infirmary. The Birlings start wondering what it has to do with them. The inspector then goes on to mention a diary and a letter that she left, and questions Mr. Birling asking if he remembers Eva Smith – She worked for you, he then showed Mr. Birling A Photograph of Eva Smith which reminds Mr. Birling of Eva. The Inspector questions everyone in room in the same fashion until Gerald asks for a private word, the inspector leaves the room and Gerald announces he isn’t a real Inspector, they then phone the infirmary and find out no one had died there today. Mr. Birling goes into the room with the Inspector in to find he has vanished, then the phone ring’s it was the police – a girl has just killed herself with disinfectant. An Inspector would be coming to ask some questions...

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The stage consists of one room the effect of which is quite strong, it makes the play feel more intimate and as if the characters are being examined by both the inspector and the audience, the Inspector would take one of the characters into either a corner of the stage / room or the front and show them a picture of a girl and question them. The characters then try and build up a strong wall of defence but inspector just nocks down the wall and makes the characters feel as if they are in a hole which is ...

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