Also, Mr Birling’s selfishness is also shown as although he is happy with the marriage of his daughter Sheila Birling with Gerald croft, his main objective was so he can benefit himself. “We may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together.” He says this during a family feast where the audience can interpret Mr Birling’s true colours.
Inspector Goole has a very important role in the play. He wants to teach the Birlings that it is not always about the money and furthermore wants them to take responsibility for their actions
J.B. Priestley’s main concerns were to show the Birlings and also the audience of the play that even the smallest of actions can have enormous effects. He proves this by showing that after Eva Smith got sacked by Mr Birling she had a job at Milwards where she was settled. Sheila Birling was shopping there and “caught Eva Smith smiling at the assistant.” Sheila was furious so she went to the manager of Milwards and said “if they didn’t get rid of that girl’ I’d never go near that place again…” This was not Eva Smith’s fault and Sheila still got her removed from her job which was a major cause of her committing the suicide. Sheila was so busy thinking about her own life that she did not think about the effect it could have on the poor innocent girl.
The play was set in 1912, Edwardian England. This was a very difficult time for England. It was a period when there were many strikes, food shortages and great political tension. In contrast to that, the play was first performed in 1945, just after World War II, when the country was also in confusion. Priestley implies that in order to move forward and to rebuild the country, people have to work together as a society, instead of reverting back to capitalism. In 1912 Birling was optimist that there would not be another war whereas World War II ended in 1945. Life changed immensely between 1912 and 1945 because: the class distinctions were greatly reduced and women had earned a more valued place in society.
J.B. Priestley uses many different dramatic devices to involve and interest the audience in the play. First of all, he uses dramatic irony. It is used to mock Mr Birling. In Mr Birling's speech at the beginning of the play, he proudly states that "as a hard-headed businessman" he thinks that "there isn't a chance of war." With the play being published after two world wars, Priestley makes the audience think that Birling is a fool. Whereas the Inspector, who states in his final speech that "they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish" indicating that there will be a war, is elevated by the use of dramatic irony. This makes the audience believe the socialist views of the Inspector instead of the 'foolish' views of Mr Birling.
Throughout the play, tension is continuously building up both between the Inspector and the Birlings as well as within the Birling family. An example of this is when Sheila asks about where Gerald was "last summer" and Gerald tries to cover it up. This shows how the underlying secrets within the family create lots of tension. Another example of this is when Arthur Birling tells Gerald about his possible Knighthood, then refuses to tell Eric about it when he enters. Priestley also uses repetition in order to build up tension, even before the Inspector arrives. Mr Birling keeps hinting that they might have done something wrong, he emphasises "so long as we behave ourselves". Priestley also uses uneasy laughter and accusations between members of the Birling family, such as "unless Eric has done something", in order to build up tension. Priestley uses tension as a dramatic device in order to keep the audience interested and anxious to find out more.
Thirdly, Priestley also uses cliff-hangers as a dramatic device to create tension. Such as at the end of the play, when Birling answers the phone to find out that a second Inspector is on his way and that what they thought was just a hoax was in fact true. Ending the play on this cliffhanger makes the audience want to watch more and find out what happens next. It also keeps them thinking about the play and its meaning afterwards.
The lighting used at the beginning is described as "pink and intimate" showing a 'warm' and 'joyful' atmosphere. The pink suggests the love between Gerald and Sheila. However the audience gets the sense that it is just a screen covering up secrets and that they are in fact looking through 'rose-tinted glasses' and that it is not really what it seems. This is confirmed when the Inspector appears and the lighting changes to a "brighter and harder light" where it gives the impression of exposure and the revelation of truth which spoils the mood of their celebratory meal. The bright, hard colours show the solid personality of the inspector.
The use of the doorbell as a sound effect during the play had a major role which also had an effect on the audience as it was unexpected while a family dinner at the Birlings was going on. It gives the audience a sense of curiosity and suspense; you just want someone to quickly open the door to see who it is. The doorbell interrupted their important dinner so it had to be somebody important, and we further come to notice it is someone unexpected when the narrator says, “We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell. Birling stops to listen.” The narrator has emphasised the fact the Mr Birling, does not know who’s at the door and is slightly surprised. “Sharp” suggests the doorbell should be noticed, and it was loud, portraying that a hurricane was about to hit them.
The arrival of the inspector shocks the Birlings as they at this moment did not have a tiny clue of what they have been visited by the police. Edna introduces the inspector which shows that the high classed family does not often mix with other classes. Mr Birling got very nervous and defensive as he says “I don’t see that it’s any concern of yours how I choose to run my business- is it now?” He begins to get defensive and arrogant. He will not take full responsibility for the death of Eva Smith and then once he later replies, “Oh well – put like that, there’s something in what you say. Still, I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?” Mr Birling has finally understood that he had a part in the suicide but will not admit it and still sticks to his pride personality.
The introduction of the inspector left a big shock on Gerald. He started by questioning Gerald about Eva Smith but he had never heard of her. Then the inspector mentioned “I said she changed her name to Daisy Renton”, Gerald realised that he had an affair with her and it could break his marriage if any of the family found out. He replies “What?” showing he has realised what he done, and now starts to become defensive also.
The inspector then turned towards Sheila Birling. Sheila says “Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about this girl – destroying herself so horribly – and I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me. What was she like? Quite young?” She is showing remorse towards her and although she was happy her mood has been spoilt thinking about the poor girl. She then asks about her age as she is thinking about her own age group. The inspector her why she was fired from her next job, which is when Sheila realises what her role was, and runs out of the room crying. When she re-enters, she says “You knew it was me all the time, didn’t you?” The inspector had known all along what her role was and by talking to her in a friendly manner he then made her realise he knew it was her that was responsible.
J.B. Priestley uses many exits within the play to further the plot. As the play is set in one room, the stage directions given are crucial and the plot relies on the entrances and exits within the play. The inspector exits the room to search for Mr Birling which left Sheila and Gerald in the room with time to talk about the shocking news which was revealed i.e. Gerald’s affair with ‘Daisy Renton’ (Eva Smith). We would presume Sheila to be furious finding this out and the inspector left them in the room whereas she remained calm.
J.B. Priestley uses a cliff-hanger is at the end of Act One when Gerald admits to Sheila that he had had an affair with Eva Smith. The Inspector then enters and simply says "Well?" this hooks the audience, as they want to find out what happens next in the play, keeping them on the edge of their seats. Act Two then begins, exactly the same as Act One ended further showing his determination to get the family to confess to have a part in Eva’s death. The line makes the audience desperate to find out what’s going to happen next, and by now they have a clear idea that every family member was involved in the suicide. Priestley decided not to change anything in order to achieve a sense of continuity. Continuity is thus used as a dramatic device to keep the play focused and concentrated on one subject. This also raises the tension and draws in the attention of the audience.
In Act One we notice the fact that much of it is actually irony in retrospect which is when you go back in the past. At the beginning of the play during the meal Sheila Birling says to Gerald Croft “Yes– except for all last summer, when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you.” This added suspense and tension right from the start as Sheila already suspected him of having an affair as he did not go to her the whole summer. Later on, Gerald confesses to having an affair with Eva, and we realise that the thing he was secretive about in summer was his affair.
Priestley emphasises the difference between the upper and lower classes very strongly throughout the play. He uses the Birling family as a representative of the Upper Class and Eva Smith as a representative of the Lower Class. Priestley shows how in 1912, Upper Class citizens, such as the Birlings had no respect for Lower Class citizens. He uses this class divide to convey his message and to show that the rigidity of the class system is incompatible with his views on community and responsibility.
Act One completely changed my views about the Birlings as at first the characters seemed different but then towards the end my views on each character changed drastically. Firstly, Mr Birling. At first, I thought he was a hard-working, responsible and respectful businessman. However, I later realised that I was wrong as he turned out to be arrogant, stubborn and did not socialize with the lower class people and finally did not take responsibility when it came to the death of Eva Smith.
Secondly, I predicted Mrs Birling to be a typical mother during the Edwardian Era i.e. old fashioned and respectful to her husband who had the power within the household. On the other hand, she was cold-hearted and also did not take responsible for Eva Smith’s suicide.
Gerald at first looked like a very loyal and handsome man but was more interested in wealth rather than Sheila. However he loved Sheila very deeply but his loyalty was broken as he had an affair with Eva Smith while he was with Sheila.
Towards the beginning of act one Sheila Birling seemed to be a typical rich girl living of her father’s money and did not care about everyone else as long as she was happy. Later however, after finding out about Eva and seeing Sheila’s reaction, we realise she is extremely caring for others. She is also strong minded as she stands up to her parents and is finally a calm person as she did not show her anger to Gerald when she found out about the affair.
Priestley uses a variety of different methods to interest and involve the audience within the play is by using many different dramatic devices. These were dramatic irony, cliff hangers, tension, short sentences, confession and many more. All these build up suspense for the audience which engages them to carry on until they find out what happens as many different thoughts can pop up. Priestley also used other methods for example sound effects when the inspector rang the doorbell making the Birlings confused and frozen. Furthermore, he uses character entrances and exits which were vital in the play as it was set in the one room. Moreover, minor detail such as the lighting played an important role giving the audience different thoughts within them. Lastly, he shows about the past and the majority of act one was related about the past.
The fact that a meaningful message is represented would indicate that An Inspector Calls, as well as being a murder mystery, in the way that Priestley uncovers the story of the death of Eva Smith, is also a moralistic play. Priestley shows the audience how not to live their lives, using dramatic devices to demonstrate this. He makes the audience contemplate over the fact that they are actually "members of one body" and that they are all "responsible for one another" and has made them realise that socialism is the way forward instead of capitalism. In this way, An Inspector Calls is very relevant today's society where people still do need to work together and help others in need. J.B.Priestley effectively uses many dramatic devices in An Inspector Calls, such as symbolism and timings. He applies them in order to portray his political views, using an upper class, Edwardian family to do so.
