Now moving onto the lighting used in the play. At the start of the play the lighting is pink, dim and intimate suggesting that the Birling’s are a closely knit family and are supportive of one another. This is shown in the stage directions when it says, ‘the lighting should be pink and intimate’. The truth is almost the opposite, as shown when the inspector enters and the lighting becomes a lot brighter and harder. This tells us that the Inspector is a serious person and that he makes a big impression as he enters the Birling household.
On another occasion, the lighting dramatically changes on stage when Inspector Goole moves to a light to show Sheila the photograph of the deceased girl, Eva Smith. The Inspector moving to a bright light suggests the idea of interrogation, singling out someone or shedding light on the event. This is shown in the stage directions when it quotes ‘he moves nearer a light-perhaps a standard lamp – and she crosses to him’.
Next comes retrospective irony. JB Priestley uses this to great effect in act one of ‘An Inspector Calls’. Retrospective irony is when an event has happened and we find out the reason for it happening later on. An example of retrospective irony is the common occurrence of Eric’s sudden outbursts. We later find out that Eric has a drinking problem. One occurrence of this is when Mr.Birling is making his big speech on war and the economy and Eric ‘suddenly interrupts saying ‘oh – I remember’. This is one of Eric’s many outbursts in the scene.
Another instance of this specific type of irony is when Eric makes the comment ‘I remember –’. This adds dramatic tension as the audience wonders what Eric was going onto speak about. At this moment the Inspector is speaking to the Birlings about the suicide of Eva Smith. Eric’s outburst suggests that he has something to say about the girl and then thinks better of it. The audience only realise that he knew the girl long after this happens.
Sheila’s comment ‘half playful, half serious’ is talking about the time when Gerald was gone all summer. We realise after that Gerald also has connections with the girl. We find out that Gerald looked after the girl all last summer (when he was away from Sheila). This is another example of retrospective irony.
Moving on, dramatic irony is used by JB Priestley as another dramatic device to further express his idea of the upper class. The most significant place where this is used is when Mr Birling makes his speech early in the scene. This speech shows Mr Birlings and for that matter the Birling family’s idea of society and the community. Birlings speaks on the Titanic, 'the Titanic, she sails next week, forty six thousand eight hundred tons - forty six thousand eight hundred tons. New York in five days time and every luxury and unsinkable'. He also speaks of World War One, 'I say there isn't a chance of war'. Both of these are statements obviously wrong to the audience and Birling is made to look a fool. Relating back to my opening paragraph these statements show the importance of the difference between when the play was set and when the play was written. With the benefit of hindsight Mr.Birling would not have said such things about the Titanic and World War One. ‘Hindsight’ is another dramatic device used by JB Priestley to great effect.
This speech and Mr.Birling’s comments in general reveal a lot about his character, very quickly. His ideas of social equality, the community and helping others show that he is self-centred, selfish and ultimately not a very pleasant man to be around (unless of course you would happen to be a member of the Birling family).
Another dramatic device JB Priestley uses are sound effects. The most notable time this is used is when the mysterious Inspector Goole rings the doorbell. It is described as a ‘sharp ring’ of the doorbell. This ‘sharp ring’ could be used by JB Priestley to give the audience an insight into the Inspectors personality before he even says a word. Another way this ring of the doorbell creates dramatic effect is the way the tension in the Birling household changes. At first it is relaxed as they are celebrating Sheila’s engagement but as the doorbell rings the family seem tenser as they are not expecting anybody.
Another way Priestley uses dramatic devices is through character entrances and exits on stage. For example Priestley gives us an idea of what type of man the Inspector is before he has said a word. The Inspector is described as ‘not a big man but creates an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.’ This tells the audience that the Inspector is an important man and most probably a serious one too.
When the Inspector shows Sheila the photograph of the deceased girl she exits with ‘a little cry’. This shows that she knew the girl and may have hurt her, mentally or physically and most importantly, unlike the rest of the Birling family, shows remorse for her actions.
Another dramatic device used by Priestley is the Inspectors photograph or photographs of the young girl. The Inspector only shows the Birling family the photograph of the dead young woman one at a time; this could mean that he shows different members of the family different photos just to teach them a lesson in looking after others and thinking about the implications of their actions.
In conclusion, J.B. Priestly uses dramatic devices in a very close relation to his concerns about the state of society. Throughout the play dramatic devices are used a lot. When a certain dramatic device is used, it will have a close connection with a concern of Priestley’s views on society. Each quote made will in some way lead back to Priestley's perception of the type and personality of character that he is portraying. The impact that Priestley creates is incredibly influential and makes the audience fully appreciate the vast difference between the rich and the poor. I believe that Priestley had an aim to make his audience understand more the vast gap between the rich and the poor. He wanted those on the poor side to continue sharing, continue helping, taking responsibility and telling the truth, but he didn’t want them to lay down and accept the punishment that the rich were giving them. And, obviously he wanted the play to give the richer section of the population an insight into what could easily happen if personalities and views were not changed. J.B. Priestley almost certainly changed the way that people looked at social inequality and his play will have changed the state of society.
Conor Brennan
