An Inspector Calls.

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Rajvir Grewal                Inspector calls.

An Inspector Calls.

        This play ‘An Inspector Calls,’ was written by J.B Priestly in 1945. John Boynton Priestly was a socialist, he thought that whether or not we understood that we live in a community, we have responsibility to look after others and not see any difference between classes. To portray his thoughts he wrote "An Inspector Calls" so that we would understand there is no difference between the upper and lower class and that we share the community. At the time the play was written World War 2 had just finished and reconstruction was starting to take place in Britain. The play ‘An Inspector Calls’ was based around the time of 1912, when Britain was portrayed as a mighty empire. At the time when this play was set there was a big division between the rich and the poor. The rich had a life of luxury and a better upbringing, whereas the poor had to live in appalling conditions and fight for survival. This play portrays a vital message that we should all live in a world were we can help ‘we are responsible for each other,’ and this is shown by an inspector investigating the suicide of a lower class woman.  

At the beginning of Act one, J.B Priestly has situated the family around the table. Priestley uses this image to symbolize the family united around the table. This shows the dramatic contrast because at the beginning of the play the family is united but at the end of the play they are all divided in class.

The Birling residence is described as a ‘fairly large suburban house,’ with ‘good solid furniture,’ creating the impression that the Birlings are middle-class family. We are informed that the ‘general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable but not cosy and homelike.’ The furniture in the Birling’s living room can be described as very aristocratic and this reflects the Birling’s lifestyle and suggests that the Birlings home is not homely or warm. This un-homelike atmosphere suggests to the audience that the members of the Birling family do not share a close relationship with one another.

At the start of the play, the audience is introduced to the members of the Birling family (including Gerald Croft) whom ‘are seated at the table.’ The champagne glasses, evening dresses worn by the women and the tails and white ties worn by the men imply that a celebration is taking place. This celebration is taking place because Sheila Birling is getting engaged to Gerald Croft.  

Arthur Birling, ‘the prosperous manufacturer’ is portrayed as ‘a heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties with fairly easy manners but rather provincial in his speech.’ He is the first character to speak as the play opens, ‘Giving us the port, Edna?’ Birling is perhaps speaking in commanding tone, creating the impression that he is the dominant character and speaker. This shows how Arthur Birling and his family lead a comfortable life with many luxuries. This is already showing the life of a prosperous middle class family and how there life styles are.

The whole play ‘An Inspector Calls,’ is set in the Birlings living room where the tension builds up and is never released as the characters leave the room but the audience does not. Throughout the play, J.B.Priestly adds to the dramatic effect as Eva Smith is a mystery. She never appears on stage and the audience never gets to see her picture, as inspector Goole only shows it to Gerald, Sheila and Mr. and Mrs. Birling separately. The play is centered on the two years which caused Eva Smith distress and caused the build up to her death. There are no subplots to the play ‘An Inspector calls,’ it is solely centered on how the Birling family made this poor and defenseless working class lady commit suicide. This gives ‘An Inspector Calls,’ a certain quality that means the audiences are never sidetracked from the main storyline and issue of responsibility.              

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We learn a great deal about the Birling family before the inspector arrives. Arthur Birling is shown to impress Gerald by providing him with the same quality drink he is given by his own father. Birling may also be subconsciously suggesting that he shares similarities with Gerald’s father and therefore would make a worthy father-in-law therefore, the audience can relate Arthur Birling as being arrogant, and this is further reinforced when Birling proclaims that Gerald is ’the kind son-in-law I always wanted… though Crofts Limited are both older and bigger than Birling and Company…now you’ve bought us together, and perhaps ...

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