Inspector Calls: Dramatic Device

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Emily Peel

In Act One of An Inspector Calls how does Priestley use dramatic devices to interest and involve the audience in the play, as well as to express his concerns and ideas?

An Inspector Calls appears at first to be a regular detective story.  However, as the play evolves it is clear that the story is a little more than that.  It is also a mysterious, ghost story.  

There are two crucial dates in the play that the audience should be aware of.  J.B.Priestley wrote the play in 1946, a year after the Second World War had ended.  Priestley, however, set the play in 1912, two years prior to the beginning of the First World War.  The play delivers many messages to the audience.  By writing the play in 1946 and setting it 34 years before, Priestley has managed to cover a period of time which includes both World Wars.  The play illustrates to the audience that generations have failed to learn from the mistakes of our recent past.  This is reflected in the older characters of the play.  Dramatic irony is used in Act One.  The audience is aware that Mr Birling’s talks of hopes for peace and wealth are not going to ensue.  An important message delivered to the audience is to be caring and socially aware.  If we learnt from past mistakes, then we would have a better chance of succeeding with prosperity and amity.      

The play is centred around a visit by an Inspector to the Birling family.  The Inspector arrives at the house, hoping to find out the truth of what really happened.  Whilst doing this, he also manages to raise awareness in the house.  He helps the characters to see how their actions can harm other people.  He teaches them a valuable lesson in the process of inquiring them.  

Language is cleverly used throughout the play.  The audience can tell what sort of people the characters are by the way they speak.  Gerald doesn’t say a considerable amount in the play, but when he does speak, one can see that he is a reputable gentleman.  He addresses Mr Birling as “Sir”.  This shows the audience that he has been brought up in a respectable home and he is well mannered.

Eric is also a polite man.  He respects his father, Mr Birling, too.  However, one can tell that Eric does not completely concur with everything his father says.  When replying to his father, he uses he word “but”.  This shows that he does, to some extent agree with father but he is willing to express his own views as well.    

Mrs Birling does not appear much in Act One.  She is in it at the beginning, but leaves before the Inspector arrives.  She doesn’t enter again until Act Two.  In the short time she is there at the beginning, Priestley has emphasised her as the mother figure.  She says to Sheila, “Now, Sheila, don’t tease him”.  This shows that she is telling Sheila off, even though Sheila is now an adult.  The social status is highlighted here.  When Mrs Birling says, “What an expression, Sheila! Really the things you girls pick up these days!” it is clear that she is quite old-fashioned.  She does not like her daughter using any bad language and she doesn’t think it is right for Sheila to be calling her brother names.  This also shows that her children are well disciplined, as clearly, Sheila does not often call Eric nasty names.  

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This helps to express important ideas that bad things can happen to rich, posh people too.  At the start of the play, the language used by the characters makes them seem respectable, polite and well-mannered.  As the play unfolds, the audience begin to see how this contrasts drastically with the families actions towards other people.  The family suddenly do not seem quite so respectful by the end of the play.  

In Act One of the play, Priestley uses a range of dramatic devices in order to interest, and to help to deliver his message, to the audience. ...

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