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What issues does Priestly raise in his play “Inspector Calls”? How are those made apparent to the audience? How far do you think he was successful?

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Introduction

Jaiman Parekh What issues does Priestly raise in his play "Inspector Calls"? How are those made apparent to the audience? How far do you think he was successful? An Inspector Calls, a play written by J.B. Priestly in 1945. He set his play in 1912 just before the First World War. It is a story of the visit by an Inspector to an apparently normal family, the Birlings. The Birlings are celebrating their daughter Shelia's engagement to Gerald Croft. Mr. Birling a successful factory owner gets the ball rolling with a speech, which he gives to his son Eric, and Gerald Croft. J.B Priestly makes good use of dramatic irony in this speech because many events took place after 1912, which we the modern audience, know about but Mr. Birling doesn't. Mr. Birling mentioned that the miners came out on a strike and there would be possible labour trouble in the near future. He said that there wouldn't be any more worries about the strikes. But in 1926 we know that there was a General Strike in Britain. He talks about the Titanic being a spectacular ship with every luxury and it is absolutely unsinkable. But as we know in 1912 the Titanic sunk on maiden voyage and 1,513 lives were lost. ...read more.

Middle

Gerald saw her at the Palace Bar. He started to talk to her because a man was harassing her. He took her back to his place and they talked. They met again and Gerald found out that she was completely penniless, half starved and she had nowhere to live. Gerald then gave her an apartment to stay in which his friend trusted him with. Gerald kept on seeing Daisy at this apartment and she became his mistress. Daisy was in love with him but knew herself that this could never happen because they were both from very different classes. But Gerald didn't feel the same way about her as she did for him. Gerald eventually ended the relationship and Daisy knew that this was going to occur sometime or other. I don't think that Gerald had a great part with Daisy committing suicide because Daisy knew that this relationship would not work out. The only bad thing that Gerald was doing was being unfaithful to Sheila, so I don't think that Gerald pushed her in the path of committing suicide. Mrs. Birling is very strict and snob like. Just as her husband she does not care about anybody else but herself. She is part of the 'Brumley Woman's Charity Organisation'. Eva Smith went to this society for help. ...read more.

Conclusion

I liked the way Priestley set the play out all in the same set. I also like the way that in between each act there was a cliffhanger and how it kept the audience waiting for what was going to happen next. I also like the fact that Eva never appeared on stage even though she was the main character. The best part to the play was how Priestley created the Inspector so that the inspector could break down the Birling family and make them guilty for Eva Smith's death. The name given to the inspector that is Goole gives us the feeling that this character is an enigmatic figure. I felt very sorry for Eva Smith. I didn't like the way she was used by the Birling family just so that they could be happy. I did dislike the Birlings. As we can see each one took part in her death, but which one has the most to do with it. Sheila and Eric unlike their parents were guilty for what they did. They wished if they could turn the clocks back. Gerald Croft and Eric helped her and took responsibility for what they have done unlike the others who didn't help when they had the chance. Mr and Mrs Birling helped a young women commit suicide. Overall I don't like Mr and Mrs Birling because of the way they behave. They only think about themselves and not others. I think that this play was a success for Priestley. ...read more.

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