JB Priestly

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How does Priestly create dramatic tension in An Inspector Calls?

JB Priestley creates immense tension in his 1945 play, ‘An Inspector Calls’, with didactic purposes to question how society deals with individuals and their problems. The growing tension between the characters on stage is reflected in the audience’s awareness of gap between the rich and the poor. Priestley is able to criticize society boldly, as he distances the characters on stage with, tone of speech, and the whereabouts of the characters. This means he can additionally take advantage of society’s regimes and the tension portrayed as he writes the play in 1945.

‘An Inspector Calls’ is set in 1912 at a time when society was strongly capitalist, and class, exceedingly, divided the world. It was written in 1945 at the end of the unspeakable Second World War. As the play is written at this time it allows Priestley to take advantage of creating tension by questioning conservative policies and class distinction. Between these dates Britain was involved in two world wars, which caused major upheaval in the world. Priestley had seen the unpleasant tragedies and was overwhelmed and concerned that the lesson of the war remained unlearned: and did not lead to improvement of the lives of ordinary people, but yet to another war. Due to the fact that Priestley was a socialist, he felt that society should be equal and class barriers should be broken. Priestley creates vivid tension with the use of setting and props, the Inspector, Society’s double standards, speech and dramatic irony. However another way Priestley endures tension is by playing around with a challenging genre.

Firstly in the setting of Act One, wealth is immediately established into the atmosphere of tension in society, indicating that the characters are wealthy by living in a ‘large suburban house’. To the audience this could show an instant sign of snobbery. Many more values are added to show wealth and symbolism of the characters. Part of the stage direction and props is the ‘cigar box’. It states symbolism of power establishing Mr Birling as an authority figure, which sets up tension when the Inspector interrogates him. The inconvenience of the dining table is mentioned and suggests the inflexibility that later shows about the set ways of Mr and Mrs Birling. The table manages to create tension as it is referring to the atmosphere and nature of the family. It reflects the solid unit which is uncomfortable, much like the subtext and unity of the family which later crumbles under the society of inspection. It creates tension by becoming awkward and artificial, just like the family.

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The fireplace has a colossal deal of importance in the play. It can be dramatically seen as a juxtaposed paradox to the holocaust. It represents a flaming inferno and the burning down of society’s barriers. Later on in Act Three the Inspector gives an intense, dramatic and extremely heated speech. He mentions ‘fire and blood and anguish’ which could be referred to the fireplace that is lit throughout the play. It is almost a continuous heartbeat that is heating up the tension and conflict of characters. It is as if the fire is spreading like a disease from one person ...

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