In act1 of inspector calls how does J.B Priestly use dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience, as well as interests and involves them in his play?

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In act1 of “inspector calls” how does J.B Priestly use dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience, as well as interests and involves them in his play?

The inspector calls is a play which has been written by a socialist writer: J.B Priestly. He demonstrates how socialists can dismiss lower class people, such as working class, as below human and unworthy of their time. The play starts in the Birling dining room; they are all celebrating Sheila and Gerald’s engagement. Mr Birling is especially pleased with himself since Gerald, his daughter’s fiancé, is from a very high class (socially). This will continue Mr Birling hard to work to climb the social ladder, during the play he is considered to be in the middle class and Gerald is from the upper classes. This will boost his social status further. As they are drinking the ‘inspector’ knocks at the door, this disturbs the mood and the lighting and music would change, this gives the atmosphere a sudden change and it makes the audience feel the inspector’s presence. It changes from a very celebrational mood to a harsh and inquisitive mood; the strong white lights would give the feeling of a spot light searching for the real answers and the truth. When the maid walks in and announces “Sir, an inspectors called.” This gives the cue to alter the lights. The inspector walks in and takes a seat, he begins to discuss the whole Eva smith happenings and then goes on to blame each character individually. Throughout this the inspector keeps a cool control over the situation and is deemed to be in total domination of the conversation. Although naturally inspectors would be seen as below the middle class, he seems to be above the Birling family. He proves that status doesn’t make you a better person; this may make the audience uncomfortable possibly because they would be mainly middle – upper class.

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The stage directions are very detailed; they show how he intended to set up the play. “The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, buy not cosy and homelike.” This shows how detailed he was about describing how the furniture should look. This demonstrates how precise Priestly could be when describing how he wanted his play to be performed. When he describes the lighting – “…The lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder.” He shows how the light can be used as an interrogation light, it gets the ...

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