Throughout the play, J.B Priestly uses pieces of dramatic irony; this is used to make the audience feel privileged and engaged in the play. Romantic music is played in the first scene, which creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere. The beginning of the play leads the audience to expect a romance or comedy because the family seems to have a happy, trouble-free life.
This play is a morality play, and this becomes clear as the inspector questions each member of the family. Different characters in the play represent some of the seven deadly sins of pride, sloth, gluttony, envy, covetousness, lust and anger.
During the first scene, Mr. Birling makes a speech about the prospect of war and his outlook on the future. He says about the Titanic, ‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable,’ and that ‘there isn’t a chance of war.’ The audience would know that the Titanic had sank and that the Second World War took place, this is why the comments that Arthur made were very ironic and shows that he is narrow minded and has a very bad sense of judgment.
The arrival of the inspector is a key moment in the play as it helps the audience learn more about the attitudes and personalities of each of the characters. Inspector Goole disturbs the mood of the dinner party and the atmosphere in the room changes from relaxed to uneasy and nervous. The family appears to look down on the inspector because he is a police officer, but their respectability gradually begins to evaporate as their secrets unfold. Mr. Birling informs inspector Goole of his acquaintance with the local constabulary, ‘I was an alderman for years – and lord mayor two years ago - and I am still on the bench - so I know the Brumley police officers pretty well,’ but this does not intimidate the inspector in the least. In this part of the play the mood and tone contrasts with the opening because of the introduction of the inspector, the opening saw a happy family enjoying a meal together, but now his questioning has caused tension and anxiety. Another example of dramatic irony is at the beginning of Act 3 when Mrs. Birling says’ you don’t get drunk’, the audience knows that Eric has been secretly drinking alcohol for a long time without his parents knowing about it.
Sheila Birling’s character and relationships are affected greatly by the questioning of the inspector. When Sheila first meets the inspector, she isn't sure what is going on, but appears worried when she asks ‘What business? What’s happening?’ When Sheila does find out what business the inspector has at the house, she shows genuine concern saying, ‘Oh-how horrible!’
Another character that is affected by the inspector is Arthur Birling. He is arrogant and careless, driven by power and greed, and is a typical upper class male of the times. He shows little regard for other peoples’ feelings and has no respect for those who are lower than him in society – people such as Eva Smith. Even after being told that he had helped to kill a young girl, he showed few signs of remorse or guilt and seemed to blame the girl for her own circumstances.
An Inspector calls was written as a morality play disguised as a detective thriller. The inspector gives a short speech before he leaves and tries to make them think of what they had done to this poor innocent girl and that how each and every one of them drove her to her own suicide. Priestly uses this speech and the play to display his and many others political views of the times, the inspector says, ‘if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire blood and anguish,’ this is inspector Goole’s way of saying if you do not learn your lesson and change your ways then you will go to hell. J.B Priestly succeeds in conveying his message to the audience, which is that not all people are as innocent as they seem and a respectable front can be very deceptive.
