Once we have found this out, this has already caused some tension because it is a special day. All Mr Birling can talk about is business and work, but as I thought deeper into the meaning of this and realised that the playwright may have meant to cause tension through suggesting that Mr Birling only see’s his daughter’s marriage as a step up on the business ladder, to his advantage because after all
“ Crofts Limited is both older and bigger than Birling and Company”
Before the Inspector arrives, there are many other hints of tension amongst the family. For example towards the beginning when there is a conversation between Sheila and Gerald
Gerald: …..In fact, I insist upon being one of the family now. I’ve been trying long enough haven’t I? (As she does not reply, with more insistence) You know I have.
Mrs B: Of course he does
Sheila: (half serious, half playful) Yes-except for all last summer, when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you.
Gerald: And I’ve told you, I was awfully busy at the works all that time.
Sheila: (same tone as before) Yes, that’s what you say.
This is the main cause of tension at the beginning of the play. Because Sheila and Gerald are engaged it get’s everyone thinking what a young man such as himself could be doing all summer. Not even he would be working all summer. I believe Sheila’s comment “yes-except all last summer when you never came near me” got the family member’s mind’s thinking, and the audience’s, causing all sort’s of tension as our thoughts jumped from one conclusion to another.
Further on in the text, Mr Birling make’s many ‘speeches’ but one of them stands out more than the rest which I believe causes tension amongst the audience
“..And then ships. Why a friend of mine went over his new liner last week – the Titanic - she sails next week - forty six thousand eight hundred tons – New York in five days – every luxury – and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.
The repetition of ‘unsinkable’ creates tension aswell because by now everyone knows that the Titanic sinking was one of the greatest disaster’s in history, and I believe Mr Birling saying that it’s ‘unsinkable’ is a sign of a disaster approaching them.
In addition to his speech, Mr Birling claims that there is no chance of a second World War starting because “ a few German officers talking nonsense and a few scaremongers here making a fuss about nothing.” We also know that there was a Second World War, and Mr Birling does not have a clue what he is talking about. I believe this causes some unsurities about Mr Birling, and how genuine.
Not long before the police Inspector arrives, Mr Birling and Gerald are having a conversation. The part that I found rather amusing, yet strange, was when Mr Birling said “.so long as we behave ourselves, don’t get into a police court or start a scandal-eh?” Just through reading the title of the book it was obvious to me that there was some kind of trouble about to start “An Inspector Calls.” This caused some tension for me because it made me think whether Mr Birling was the cause of some trouble and everything would go pear shaped for him?!?
In addition, further on in the text once everyone has relaxed, Mr Birling start’s making his speeches, and preaching how much of a “hard headed business man” he is. He repeats it so many times it makes me wonder whether he is trying to persuade himself that he is one! This causes tension because it makes me/everyone think that he isn’t as marvellous as he thinks or as he’s made out to be!
Page ten Edna announces that the Inspector is at the door. This already causes some tension and anxiety with Eric because of a little joke Gerald says:
“Sure to be, unless Eric’s been up to something (nodding confidently to Birling). And that would be awkward wouldn’t it?
Birling: (humorously) Very
Eric: (who is uneasy, sharply) Here, what do you mean?
It is obvious that Eric is very uneasy about the Inspector coming and suggests that he is hiding something because the stage directions say he’s “uneasy.”
Mr Birling on the other hand is far too relaxed about the whole thing. If I had an Inspector calling on my door, I would want to know why. But he, he just lays back has a chat with Gerald and act’s like everything’s right when as a matter of fact, it could be anything that he could be involved in!