At the start of the play the lighting is extremely significant as it portrays the atmosphere in the Birling residence. Before Inspector Goole enters the house the lighting used by J.B.Priestley is meant to be pink and intimate. This style of lighting represents the mood in the household as being relaxed and at ease. The colour pink is also associated with happiness, hence the celebration of Shelia and Gerald’s engagement. J.B.Priestley used his lighting right through the family’s half hearted conversations and jokes, till the arrival of the Inspector.
Priestley uses the doorbell to indicate the lights get brighter. This signifies that there is a change in the mood, turning it more serious. The sound of the doorbell signifies the presence of a new character but no one knows who it is which adds a great amount of suspense. J.B.Priestley used the brighter and harder lighting to indicate a change in person who is in control of the conversation. Just before the inspector arrives Birling says “A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”. This remark shows that Arthur Birling is someone who is going to keep himself to himself and doesn’t care about the welfare of others. From this Priestley conveys to the audience that Mr Birling is an extremely selfish man.
J.B.Priestley uses a great amount of irony in a very effective way. The play is set in 1912 but written in 1945, this gives the reader and audience more knowledge than the characters. J.B.Priestley uses irony where Mr Birling is making a speech about strikes ‘last month just because the minors went on strike there’s a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future don’t worry. We’ve passed the worst of it’. However in 1912 an increasing amount of companies went on strike. Birling says that when Sheila and Gerald have children they will be ‘living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these capital versus labour agitations` and how capital versus labour will be a thing of the past. Birling then states that ‘there’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere’. However the great depression occurred just 17 years later, in late 1929. This allows the audience to doubt Mr Birling’s predictions as most of them are incorrect. J.B.Priestley also uses irony through the use of the Titanic as an example. This involves the audience as when the play is read or preformed the audience would be aware, that the Titanic, which Mr Birling thought was unsinkable did in fact sink. Arthur Birling was convinced that the invention of the Titanic was astounding, thinking that it was an emblem of progress and that it was “unsinkable absolutely unsinkable”.
Birling speaks about the prospect of war “Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two, or a few German officers have too much to drink and start talking nonsense, you’ll hear some people say wars inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks!” However the audience know that this is untrue as World War One happened two years later in 1914, and it would shortly be followed by World War Two. This shows the amount of wisdom Mr Birling has as he doesn’t even consider war a possibility. Priestley has done this to draw attention to Mr Birling’s personality and character.
Mr Birling says to Gerald that he believes “ There’s a very good chance of a knight hood – so long as we behave ourselves, don’t get into the police court or start a scandal – eh ?”. This remark is extremely ironic as the scandal Mr Birling doesn’t want to occur is just about to take place in his very house. The audience will soon learn that this scandal involves Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton.
As the Inspector enters the stage directions state that “the Inspector need not be a big man” but should create an “Impression of massiveness solidity and purposefulness”. His plain darkish suit should give him an aura of authority. “He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking to them.” These characteristics would make the audience think that Inspector Goole is someone who has a lot of command and control over people, he would also seem like someone who has a great deal of influence over people round him. Inspector Goole’s speeches are very short and to the point as he doesn’t want to start a conversation with anyone, but this also enables the Inspector to take control of the characters as soon as he starts an inquiry.
J.B.Priestley creates suspense and tension through the character of Inspector Goole, as the Inspector deals with only one member of the Birling household at a time. This leads the audience to suspect and imagine what the other members of the family have done to contribute towards the suicide of Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton.
Gerald Croft’s contribution towards Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton suicide isn’t questioned by Inspector Goole in Act One but instead he is questioned by Sheila. Inspector Goole and Eric have left the dining room leaving Sheila and Gerald alone. But Sheila was already alert that the Inspector was aware of Gerald’s connection to Daisy. At that precise moment the Inspector enters the room and says ‘Well?’ and that ends Act One. The scene involving Shelia and Gerald, adds a huge amount of suspense as not much information is given, but the language and stage directions used by J.B.Priestley inform the audience that there is more to be revealed. The closing statement adds extreme amounts of suspense and tension for the audience as everyone is intrigued to know what will happen next. The ending of Act One draws the audience into the play as they are eager to find out what will be happening in the Birling household.
At the start of Act One, J.B.Priestley uses irony as a powerful way to convey Arthur Birling and his personality. Within Birling’ s speeches he manages to mention many ironic phrases which make him seem arrogant, complacent and selfish. Birling mentions that by 1940 the world will have forgotten all ‘these silly little war scares.’ These are remarkably ironic as the First World War happened and it lasted for four years killing millions of innocent people. This shows to what extent his complacency has gone.
Through the characters of Inspector Goole and Arthur Birling, J.B.Priestley expresses two totally different personalities, thoughts and feelings. The character of Arthur Birling is used to convey the thoughts and feelings that many members of society at that time would have held. He represents someone who is extremely selfish and doesn’t care about the welfare of anyone but himself. He thinks that as he is in the upper class he is more superior and greater than people in the classes below him.
On the other hand Inspector Goole is the total opposite. He is concerned about others safety and welfare. It’s through the character of Inspector Goole that the audience would realise that at the time some peoples thoughts were moving away from the idea that you just look out for yourself. J.B.Priestley has expressed his personal views through the character of Inspector Goole. Priestley wanted to deliver a message that everyone should be aware that their actions affect others, that we live in a society together, and that we have many responsibilities that we should fulfil. J.B.Priestley wanted the audience and readers to recognise these responsibilities and change after viewing the play.
The message J.B.Priestley has portrayed through his play is still seen to be relevant in today’s society. This may be due to him involving the audience in the play through the use of effective dramatic devices such as irony suspense and stage directions. These combined together leaves the audience, at the end of Act One, interested in finding out what each characters’ role was in the death of Eva Smith/ Daisy Renton.
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