Slightly later on, Gerald light-heartedly speculates that the inspector has paid them a visit because Eric has been up to mischief. His comment is ironic due to the fact they have all been “up to something”. But the stage directions show that Eric is now feeling uneasy and uncomfortable because of the comment, while Mr. Birling and Gerald are quite at ease.
Another dramatic device that plays a large roll early on in the play is the door bell. The shrill sound of the door bell is like an alarm to the audience. Priestly had the attention of the audience from the dramatic irony in Mr. Birling’s speech and then there was a sudden change in the momentum of the play as it is broken up by the door bell, it acts as a warning that something is going to happen, a change in the mood as it breaks up the calm, relaxed atmosphere in the room.
When the inspector does enter Priestly uses the lighting to visually mark the change in atmosphere. He notes that the room should change from the original "pink and intimate" to the "brighter and harder" light that shows the scene has immediately been disrupted by the inspectors presence and the calm, relaxed atmosphere is reversed and replaced by the sudden tension and menace. The new lighting also spreads light on the situation and lights up all the dark secrets that the Birling’s have. And with the lighting being so intense and bright, there is no dark corner for the Birling’s to hide, so the truth will be exposed.
Because of the way Priestly uses stage directions, tension and conflict could happen at any moment. His arrival brings immediate chaos to the stage. Firstly, all the family is seated and calm when the inspector enters, but by the end everyone is stomping around, crying, drinking and shouting. This is a very big change from the harmony to the chaos.
The way the inspector questions the Birling’s also brings uproar to the stage. He asks them bluntly and is very forward, so forward in fact that Mr. Birling does not quite believe it, “Did you say ‘Why?’?”. Mr. Birling is not used to being spoken to like this with being so highly thought of. And the way the inspector drip feeds the information to the family and keeps them on their toes and anxious. Also he is melodramatic in the way he only shows the picture to one person at a time stops anyone else from seeing stops them from relaxing.
Priestly inserts lots of delays during the course of the play that enables the audience think about what has just happened and what might happen next. This is a very clever device as it keeps the audience anxious and interested in the play. One example of this is the point before we hear Gerald’s confession. This is an effective time for an interval because the audience will be filled with anticipation and excitement of what is to come.
He uses the ends of a dramatic moment effectively. For example, at the end of act 1, a very crucial moment, the inspector returns to the dinning room, looks “steadily and searchingly” at Gerald and Sheila, then simply says one word, “Well?”. It is immediately followed by the lights turning off.
Throughout the play there are many crucial entrances and exits that keep the audience interested. They provide the audience with some visual changes and excitement as the door bangs. The main idea of Priestly keeping some characters out of the room during the interrogations is to keep them free of interruptions.
The first entrance that grips the audience is the introduction with the inspector. This is a new and important character which will grip the attention of the audience. His timing is excellent as he cuts off the end of Birling’s very formal speech about life, and then leaves straight after he finishes his own. And the audience members will find this very intriguing. It is made special by the change of lighting and the shrill sound of the doorbell.
Then Sheila runs out shrieking because she thinks she is the one responsible for Eva Smiths death for getting her sacked from her second job.
But the most interesting exit was made by Eric. In Act 1 Eric tries to leave but is told that he will be needed. But later he does sneak out. The audience will instantly figure that young Eric has something to hide or he wouldn’t have been so eager to leave before being questioned.
The inspector’s entrance has a large significance upon the play. Before hand there is only the dramatic irony to keep the audience entertained but as soon as he enters there is depth added. The audience is affected by the wait; the time it takes for him to enter allows them to speculate about who the inspector may be, they anticipate the Inspectors arrival and like the characters wait for him to finally enter. The delay further dramatizes the inspector's admission.
The inspector takes his time when speaking "carefully" and "weightily", he is not intimidated by Mr Birling and makes him wait for an answer. He replies to answers briefly "yes", "no", "maybe" never giving much away and prompting the others to speak asserting his control over them and the situation.
After Inspector Goole leaves it is apparent that he has given them a lot to think about. They are divided in their reactions to the Inspector, irrevocably the effects of his visit stay with them long after he leaves; however, they react in different ways. The outcome of the evening's events leaves the family separate in their views. The inspector is successful when it comes to teaching Shelia and Eric (coincidentally the youngest members of the family) about responsibility. Mr Birling however appears unaffected by the inspector and remains amoral. Though it gives him a “bit of a scare” he remains concerned only with himself and his “knighthood”.
Gerald and Mrs Birling also learn little from the experience. Though Mrs Birling is moved to tears and Gerald is upset when the inspector is present, when he leaves they show that they have in fact not changed. They revert back to their original attitudes when they are presented with the idea the inspector and the investigation may have been a set up giving them the opportunity to alleviate their guilt. Shelia realizing “it doesn't change anything” either way is still regrets her part in the girls death leaving her open to criticism from other family members. Mrs Birling is “most grateful” believing the situation is resolved while Shelia and Eric remain feeling guilty about what they have done. With the inspectors entry all the tensions that existed in the first scene have been erupted throughout the course of the evening, unearthing each of the characters true personalities and humanitarian morality.
In conclusion, The Birling’s are a representation of several things in the play. Collectively priestly uses them to symbolise the selfish and ignorant traits of humanity, in the position to help others, their self-satisfaction prevents them from doing so. They are distanced and in some ways closed off from the outside world, unaware of the repercussions their actions carry; this could just as well reflect the whole 'upper class' stereotype.
Individually they represent various degrees of ignorance, snobbishness and arrogance. They represent also different attitudes and reactions to guilt, having none, trying to hide from it, accepting it and learning from it. The inspector brings out these reactions and is therefore is sometimes described as a "catalyst" for the evening's events as until the point he enters the scene is very two-dimensional. His entrance sparks off the characters revelations and the plot is moved along. The inspector however is much more then just a ploy.
He is used to help both, the characters and the audience, in the progression of ignorance to knowledge. He is in several ways the theme of the play, representing the morals and principles that priestly believes others should live by. He voices his thoughts and opinions on society, his disgust and even anger for people like the Birling’s. To make these points noticed Priestly uses dramatic touches to dramatize the Inspectors entry, his duration in the play and his departure. These methods are successful in making the inspector stand out. As his words are relatively few and weightily this makes his final speech all the more dramatic, which is important as it outlines the moral of the play.
He acts as the Birlings’ conscience by showing them the affect the individual can have on other people and more importantly the responsibility we have for our neighbours and strangers. Every character has an opinion and belief; however Priestley's beliefs, voiced by the inspector are presented as truth. Inspector Goole is given "all-knowing" supernatural qualities, which are heightened by the dramatic touches, helping to convey they belief as fact and not just an opinion.
The dramatic touches, as well as getting the message of the play across are also useful in steering the play, moving the plot forward and adding to the audiences' interest. For the impact of Priestly message to be convey successfully to the audience, the audience must first take notice and become interested in the play. The dramatic touches employed by priestly help to capture the audience's attention and express his message more clearly, allowing it to be better interpreted
From this play I have learnt a lot about the history of socialism and a lot of arguments for and against it. I have found that I prefer the way of socialism and the community. I can now see that things have changed as more people now a day take responsibility for their actions. I grew up being told by my parents to take responsibility for my actions and have learnt to do so, unlike the children of 1912.
