In Act One of 'An Inspector Calls' how does J.B. Priestly use devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience, as well as interest and involve them in his play?

The inspector is portrayed as the exact opposite of Mr Birling. The inspector disagrees with all of Mr Birling's views and ideas. When the Inspector rings the door bell Mr Birling is talking about his philosophy of life, the Inspector of course thinks the exact opposite. The inspector ringing the door bell at that exact moment interrupts Mr Birling, almost like the inspector rang the door bell at that time intentionally, in order to stop Mr Birling. Mr Birling immediately stops talking and listens, "We hear the sharp ring of the front door bell, BIRLING, stops to listen". The word 'sharp' symbolises the change that is about to take affect in the Birlings home. The significance of the inspector entering is that interrupting Mr Birling is his complete opposite; this can be reflected as the inspector correcting Mr Birling.

The play is set in 1912; however it was first preformed in 1945. Priestly set the play in 1912 to show how arrogant and confident Mr Birling is. In 1945 the Titanic had already sunk, but as the play was set in 1912, in the play it hadn't yet. Priestly uses this to illustrate Mr Birling's arrogance, as Mr Birling claims that the Titanic will be a success and that it is unsinkable. "Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable." This is where dramatic irony is shown, the audience obviously knows that the Titanic sunk, and therefore Mr. Birling is portrayed as very arrogant and ignorant. The play is set 2 years before world war one, which then was the biggest war and was called the war to end all wars. Priestly uses this fact to again highlight Mr Birling's arrogance, Mr Birling comments about how in their society there is absolutely no way that a war will start. "The Germans don't want war. Here, Priestly again shows Birlings arrogance. He is positive that there is absolutely no chance of war and when his son suggests that there is a chance of war, Birling completely rules it out and claims that he is an educated business man and that Eric should listen and learn from him. By disapproving Birling's ideas, Priestly is also disproving the right wing ideas and therefore it is a way of conveying a left wing message.

Priestly uses many dramatic devices to influence the audience; dramatic irony is one of them. Dramatic irony is where a character has limited knowledge of something in contrast to the audience which understands the subject greatly. Dramatic irony is used early in the play to illustrate Birlings arrogance and ignorance. When Birling comments on why the Titanic will succeed and how their will be no more wars, the audience obviously knows that although it's a very convincing speech, it's is all untrue. Birling is shown as arrogant and ignorant, but Priestly also reflects some fear that Birling might lose his wealth in case of war and therefore it denies war very strongly. Should a war start many of Birlings labour force will go and fight and England can suffer great economical damage. Birling is afraid to admit that, this could happen and therefore denies any chance of war with such confidence.

Birling also uses proleptic irony throughout act one. Proleptic irony is the use of a phrase which is seemingly innocent but gains significance later. Examples of this in act one is first, when Birling says to Eric 'and one day, I hope, when you have a daughter of your own, you'll understand why'. Later in the play we find out that Eric got Eva Smith pregnant and therefore could have had a daughter. Another example is where Birling talks to Gerald about Eric, 'you don't know what some of these boys get up to nowadays'. Later on the audience finds out that both Eric and Gerald have been with Eva Smith.

In terms of genre the play could be described in a few ways. Initially it has a structure of a detective thriller as the inspector comes to investigate a death of a young woman, of which neither the audience nor the characters know anything about. "I'd like some information, if you don't mind, Mr Birling. Two hours ago a young woman died in the infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out, of course." At this point Priestly has built some tension as the audience tries to think how the character might be connected with the death of this girl. As the play progresses it becomes whodunit, as the inspector slowly reveals what each characters connection with that girl is, it becomes a mystery. Whenever the inspector shows the picture of Eva Smith he shows it only to one character privately, so that the audience doesn't know if it is the same girl in each picture, or if each picture is of a different person. The play then becomes focused on morality, as even though the play ends in a cliff hanger with no one knowing who the inspector really is, each character gains some principles and morals to what they have done wrong.

When the play starts the lighting that is used is pink; as it says at the beginning of the play: "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder." The bright pink lighting at the start of the play reflects on how the Birlings see themselves at the beginning, people who have done nothing wrong. The pink lighting can also represent a romantic and that nothing terrible can happen to the Birlings. When the inspector arrives the lighting change, "it should be brighter and harder", as the lights are brighter makes everything more clearly, you can see the face expressions on the characters faces, so in a way it reveals what each character is feeling. The bright light can also reflect on the characters thinking after the inspector had explained what they have done wrong. The inspector makes it very clear to each character what they have done wrong, and therefore the bright and hard light symbolises each characters understanding on what they have done wrong.

The introduction of a new character has a different effect on each character. Mr Birling responds by being very suspicious, "(after a pause, with a touch of impatience) Well, what is it then?" Mr Birling likes to be in control of everything and wants to know everything that is going on. The inspector takes his time and doesn't immediately reveal why he's there, what happened and who of the Birling family he's come to ask questions, this makes Mr Birling very impatient. Although Birling is impatient, he doesn't fail to show confidence and superiority to the inspector, "I was an alderman for years - and Lord Mayor two years ago - and I'm still on the Bench - so I know the Brumley police officers pretty well." Birling tries to tell the inspector here that although the inspector has come to investigate him, Mr Birling is still superior to him, and therefore tries to tell the inspector that if he doesn't act right, Mr Birling will make sure that he suffers the consequences.

Eric's response is much different then Mr Birlings, Eric is seen as shocked and upset, "(who is uneasy, sharply) Here, what do you mean?" Priestly shows Eric's immaturity here, as he acts like a child once he hears that an inspector has come, he speaks nervously, almost assuring everyone that he has done something wrong. Mr Birling had to tell Eric off in order to come him down, "(sharply, staring at him) What's the matter with you?" Eric replies, "(defiantly) Nothing." This again shows Eric's immaturity, as his father has to come him down.

Gerald Croft doesn't seem to care much about the young girl, but more about his special evening spoiled. Gerald tries to avoid confrontation with the inspector and just wants to leave; an example of this is when Gerald says to the inspector; "Look here, sir. Wouldn't you rather I was out of this?" We see that Gerald doesn't really want to be in the room, as he tries to politely leave. Priestly tries to show how Gerald only cares about getting on with the celebration. Gerald is also seen annoyed at the inspector, "(showing annoyance) Any particular reason why I shouldn't see this girl's photograph, inspector?" Gerald is seen annoyed at the inspector for not letting him see the photograph. After spoiling his celebration, the inspector won't even show him the photograph.

However, Gerald's fiancé Sheila reacts in a completely different way to the introduction of the inspector. At first she is curious to know why the inspector is there, "(coming further in) What business? What's happening?" After being told to go back to the drawing room Sheila is still curious to know what is going on. Sheila at first wants to know why the inspector is there but then when she is told, she starts feeling sorry for Eva Smith, "oh - how horrible! Was it an accident?" The inspector brings out a different side of Sheila, one which wasn't seen before; she is seen as a vulnerable girl, who is sympathetic to everyone. Before the inspector arrives she is seen as a rich snob, who thinks that she is superior to lower class people.

Throughout Act One Priestley manipulates the audience; he does this in different methods. The inspector announces that a young girl had just died, "Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out, of course." Priestly uses this method to get the audience to commiserate with the death of that young woman. Another method that Priestly uses to get the audience involved is with dramatic irony. When the Birling family is first introduced they are seen as a happy, respectable, wealthy family. However, this all changes when the inspector enters, the image of a respectable family that the Birlings were seen to be begin to fade away. Priestly also uses progressive revelations and climax to interest the audience and make them wonder what connection did each character have with Eva Smith.

The overall message of 'An Inspector Calls' is social responsibility. The play teaches us that no matter how important and respectable a people see themselves as, they are still responsible for and face the consequences of their own actions. This is still relevant nowadays as people still act this way, and do not take responsibility for their own actions.

17/05/2007

English

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