An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls, Coursework I liked and enjoyed the play "An Inspector Calls" because I thought it was interesting and I liked the surprising twist at the end. This play is a play about a spoilt wealthy family just trying to improve their social standards. An inspector comes and interrogates the Birling's and Gerald Croft about a girl, Eva Smith, who committed suicide by drinking a bottle of disinfectant. The inspector slowly gets these people into admitting that they all played a major part in the "hours of agony" P17 that turned Eva Smith "inside out". After the Birling's have been shook up and the truth has all come out. Gerald finds out that the inspector, inspector Goole isn't an inspector at all and that a police inspector's coming round to ask them a few questions about a "girl who just died - on her way to the Infirmary after swallowing some disinfectant". Whilst reading and watching this play I realised that Sheila was the antithesis of Eva Smith, Eva has worked hard all her life to make her life worth living and Sheila was just handed life on a plate. Even when Eva Smith had the chance to destroy the Birling family by saying that Eric was the father she didn't, but Sheila didn't think twice about getting Eva sacked from her job. I think this shows that Sheila was bought up in a class and a family that gets what they want and they do this by abusing
an inspector calls
How in your opinion would a 1945 audience respond to a performance of the play "An Inspector Calls" In this essay I am going to explain about how a 1945 audience would have reacted to a play called the "an inspector calls" set in 1912. My initial point of view to why JB Priestly set his play in 1912 was due to everything that had occurred in the time span from 1912 and 1945 which included both world wars the sinking of the "unsinkable titanic" and the British strikes. The reason for why I find it so important for the play to be set in such a time is because a 1912 audience may think the play is normal and wouldn't understand the whole meaning of what JB Priestly is trying to put forward, although as the play is set after all these disasters, nearly every one in the 1945 audience could relate their personal life to the play due to the majority of people in 1945 having lost somebody close to them due to the World Wars also the audience would be able to differentiate the factors of society and how unfair it was due to social barriers being created. My interpretation for why JB Priestly wrote the play was for him to put forward his ideas on how unfair society was. He wanted more equality for the lower classes so that everyone should not look after him or herself but help each other, resulting in everyone having a decent standard of living. The reaction of a 1945 audience may
An Inspector Calls
In 1945, J.B. Priestley was 51 and felt very strongly about the state of government in England at that moment in time and thought that people were being exploited in England, so he had some very liberal views. He expressed many of these views to the public in the form of a book called, 'An Inspector Calls'. The play 'An Inspector Calls' was written by J.B. Priestley, in 1945 but was set in 1912. The play takes place in the Birling household on one evening after a family celebration. The celebration is of the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft. It is just after dinner when an inspector visits their house investigating the suicide of a young woman. As the play unravels we see that all members of the family are somehow involved in the suicide. For many reasons, an audience may consider this play a detective story and nothing else. It fits with the stereotypical detective story format in a number of ways. Firstly it is generally about conducting an inquiry into the suicide of a young, working-class woman. "Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. She'd been taken there this afternoon because she'd swallowed some strong disinfectant." This sentence also means that the death is announced very close to the beginning of the play, another trademark of detective stories. From the beginning it appears to be a mystery story but ironically we find out that they are
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls. An Inspector calls was written during the year of 1945 by a man named J.B Priestley. An Inspector calls was written for the purpose of entertainment of its audience but also to put across Priestley's valid points and views towards the welfare estate. Priestley was a socialist: someone who believes that product and distribution is controlled by people according to equity and fairness. Priestley uses his play to try and show people that community in 1912 was non-existent and that the world needs to change rather than return to the egotistical society that existed in pre war England. In this play Priestley gets across his message towards his intended audience to help change our political views. Priestley showed us how many people had no care for people of a lower and different stature in comparison to them. Inspector: Two hours ago a young woman died in the local infirmary. She'd been taken there this morning because she swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside of course. .Mr.Birling: (Rather impatiently) Yes, Yes. Horrid Business. But I don't understand why you should come here inspector. He uses the Birling family as an example of the Capitalistic family that was common amongst the higher classes in 1912 who had no cares for other people and he shows that with the power of Socialism, represented by the inspector, the uneasy deceptive
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls By J.B Priestly Introduction Inspector Goole acts as a conscience for all members of the Birling family. His role is to teach the Birlings that every action has its consequences and that thinking about only yourself, without taking anyone else into consideration could result in dramatic consequences, putting the family in a position that they'd rather not be in. Priestly's main concerns that he put across in the play were that people didn't realise that each uncaring action and or statement is backed up with ensuing consequences. Priestley's main point is that people must learn to feel a sense of personal responsibility, not just for their own actions, but also for the way their actions affect others. Whether they like it or not. The play actually goes further than this, though, by pointing out that we all have such responsibilities forced upon us: we do not have any choice about this; it is a duty which we cannot shirk. An Inspector Calls shows how the family each help to destroy a young woman's life - Eva Smith through their selfish and callous attitudes which results in her death. The characters in this play are archetypes representing stereotypes of each section of society on a smaller scale. We are shown the flaws in society allowing the disadvantaged to live alongside the privileged. This play runs parallel to what was happening to society at
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls After discussion with those involved in the production of 'An Inspector Calls', I have decided to offer you the leading female role, that of Sheila Birling. The role is very challenging one and I would like to give you some idea of the play and Sheila Birlings part in it. The play is set in 1912 and explores the theme of social responsibilities. The Birlings are a prosperous middle classed family and when the curtains open they are at dinner where Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft is to be announced. Gerald comes from an even wealthier and socially superior family then the Birlings. The present and optimistic mood is disturbed by the arrival of an Inspector Goole who is investigating the suicide of a young woman Eva Smith. Each of those at the dinner table has had some connection with Eva Smith and the Inspector tries to draw them into realizing their responsibility for her death. The inspector's role begins like a criminal investigation but gradually is how to be a moral investigation. Not every member of the Birling family responds with a sense of guilt, but the younger ones do. But Priestly's message is powerfully made, the message is that our life's are bound up with the life of others and we can not be selfish without paying a heavy price. Much of the focus of the play is on the way in which Sheila changes from a spoiled and selfish young woman
An inspector calls
An Inspector Calls Coursework The play 'An Inspector Calls' was written by J.B Priestley, a well known author who write many books this being his most successful and most popular. It is set spring 1912 when the First World War was about to start and written in 1945 as the Second World War finished. Then it was first performed in 1946 and has been running in theatres ever since. I am going to answer the question, In Act 1 of 'An Inspector Calls', how does J.B Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns about English society to the audience while maintaining their interest in the play? A clear dramatic device would be the set; the Birlings use expensive props like the very modern furniture which would be for show and not for comfort at all. The dining room is full of expensive dining, there are champagne glasses on the table, this is showing there is a celebration they are removed by Edna the maid and replaced by port and cigars these being also expensive, showing the upper class of the Birlings. The way they are dressed also shows the class of the Birlings, They're not wearing diner jackets but wing collars and Sheila and Sybil are wearing smart, comfortable dresses. This implies that the Birlings are trying to show their money and how classy they are. Gerald is attractive, self confident and classy he has this
An Inspector Calls.
An Inspector Calls An Inspector Calls, by J.B. Priestly, is the story of the visit by an Inspector to an apparently normal family, the Birlings. They are celebrating Sheila Birling's engagement to Gerald Croft, who is also present, when the Inspector arrives telling them of the suicide of a young girl called Eva Smith. At first they deny any knowledge of the girl, but as the play goes on the Inspector manages to show that they all helped kill her. Mr Birling had her dismissed from his factory for demanding a small increase in wages; Sheila ordered her to be dismissed from her job in a shop simply because of her pride; Gerald Croft kept her as his mistress before leaving her suddenly; Eric Birling (Mr & Mrs Birling's son) also had an affair with the girl and stole money to keep her living; and Mrs Birling used her influence to deny help to Eva Smith when she needed it most, driving her to suicide. After the Inspector's visit we can see which of the characters have learned their lesson from what the Inspector has said and which are steadfastly clinging to their old beliefs. The differing attitudes between the older and younger characters are shown by their conversations following the Inspector's departure. It is Birling's speech in Act 1 that sets the scene for the action in the play. Birling is confidently talking to Eric and Gerald about what he thinks about the future. He
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls 'An Inspector Calls' is a play set in the mystery/ detective thriller genre; which contains dramatic irony and comedy. It is set in 1912 as we tell from words like 'squiffy' being used, however it was written by J.B Priestley in 1945. As he lived through both wars he could see how different each class was and what had actually happened in the time the play was set. J.B Priestley uses the characters to express his views on the issue of social responsibility, morality and about class divisions. Priestley tries to get across several themes in the play such as responsibility, love, jealousy, mystery/secrecy and sinning money/capitalism, however the main focus of my essay will be exploring 'responsibility' and how one person has an effect on someone else. At the beginning of the play Mr Birling gives his view of responsibility in a long speech. Mr Birling's definition of responsibility is immediately followed by the arrival of the Inspector. The Inspector gives his explanation of responsibility which is in contrast to Mr Birlings. This shows that life and responsibilities for Mr Birling (upper class) are different and easier than the life of the inspector (middle/lower class). The play opens with a scene of great luxury: a wealthy family is celebrating an engagement in a very lavish fashion. The lighting at the start of the play gives us a mood to start
An inspector calls
JB preistley uses very accuratley detailed stage directions in the opening of the play, to set the scene, for instance he describes the furniture as being "good and solid", he is also very exact about the position of the furniture, for example he suggests that the dining room table should be moved upwards after act one, to make the audience curious to know what happened after the curtain was lowered at the end of act one. He also says that the general effect should be "substantial and comfortable and old fashioned, but not cozy and homelike". this shows that the Birlings are rich enough to afford comfortable furniture but the are only superficially happy and united. Preistley also uses dramatic irony to ridicule Birlings speeches on the titanic "unsinkable, totally unsinkable" this produces a differetn meaning of the audience than of the immediate listeners. this could also be seen as a metaphor of Birlings own family and prestigous position, which he apparently sees as "unsinkable". Timing is another, critical dramatic device used by Preistley, for instance the entrance of the inspector is at a time when Birling is giving a rather pompuous, self inflated speech on how "a man has to look after himself and his own". This is in contrast with the inspector speech towards the end of the play "we are members of one body, we are responsible for each other". This
