How does Priestley create drama and convey his concerns in 'An Inspector Calls'?

Authors Avatar

Jadine Banks.

An Inspector Calls.

How does Priestley create drama and convey his concerns in ‘An Inspector Calls’?

 

‘An Inspector Calls’ was written by J B Priestley in 1945. He was a Socialist and believed we should all look out for each other, that everybody should be equal. Much of his writing was ground-breaking and controversial. He included a lot of new ideas about possible parallel universes and strong political messages. Priestley was in the First World War, he joined the infantry. It was said that War itself changed a lot of his views on controversial issues and his political beliefs. A lot of his concerns are written in ‘An Inspector Calls’ and he wanted these to be known by the audience.

Priestley was very concerned about social inequality in Britain. ‘An Inspector Calls’ was deliberately set in 1912 but he actually wrote it in 1945. He did this because the date represented an era when all was very different from the time he was writing. In 1912, there were strong distinctions between upper and lower classes. The ruling classes saw no need to change the status quo. Women were obedient to men. All a well off women could do was get married; a poor woman was seen as cheap labour, like Eva Smith. By 1945, this had all changed. Class distinctions had been reduced greatly as a result of two world wars. Women had earned a more valued place in society and now there was a great desire for social change. These things were a big thing in the play and Priestley wanted all these views to be known. He shows the audience how much of a difference there is between those days and the world we live in now.

He conveys a lot of his concerns and creates drama in ‘An Inspector Calls’. Priestley conveys a lot of his concerns; one is that his sympathy for the plight of girls like Eva Smith is evident. It is part of his deeply felt, genuine concern for humanity, not just the expression of a political opinion. Dramatic devices are used to build drama like Lighting, Props, Emotions on the characters faces, Stage Directions, words and actions of the characters, Dramatic Irony and the Setting of the Play. All these things create drama and help to keep the play interesting.

At the beginning of the play we find the Birling family sitting down finishing their dinner. It is obvious that the home is of a successful and prosperous man. We are told by the Stage Directions that the “general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable”. From the Stage Directions at the start of the play we find out a bit about the characters and the family as a whole.

The Birling family home is really summed up when it is described in the Stage Directions as “substantial”, “heavily comfortable” and “not cosy and homelike”. Everything is not as it seems and things seem a bit too home-like and fake. It’s like the home has been made to seem really cosy but it’s just a cover-up and it’s just for show. It’s not really cosy and in fact it’s the complete opposite. Priestley’s telling us that surface appearances are very important and maybe this will tell us about the characters who are exactly like the home they live in.

The First Character we find out a bit about is Mr Arthur Birling, who is described as rather “portentous” and he makes a smug, self-satisfied speech to the family to toast Sheila and Gerald’s engagement. This tells us a lot about Mr Birling already. We are next told about Mrs Sybil Birling, his wife. We are told she is a cold, austere woman and that she has come from a more superior social position than her husband, who we are told is a little unpolished in his speech. This gives us the idea he didn’t always used to be well off and wealthy and Mrs Birling is obviously more superior in class as she has always been. We are then told a little about the other three younger characters: Sheila, Eric and Gerald. The Birling Family are a little too optimistic and the saying, ‘the glass is either half full or half empty’ reflects them when in the Stage Directions it says, ‘They now have all their glasses filled,’ this tells us a lot about the lives of the Birlings and how they view their lives. They think they have nothing more to be accomplished and are successful in every region. They have money, a nice home, their daughter is marrying a wealthy man, a partner to become. So drama and tension start as we want to know, if their lives are so perfect what can be improved and has something happened to change this?

When the play opens the mood seems to be relaxed, friendly, happy and trouble-free. The Family is celebrating, however in the first few lines of the play there does seem to be a bit of tension and everything seems a bit fake, too homely and family-like. We immediately see Mr Birling’s domineering nature and social climbing. It is clear that Arthur Birling and Sybil are not from the same social class when they are at the dinner and his wife corrects him when he tends to lack in his social graces.

Priestley has built up the tension before the Inspector arrives and has created a sense of false security in the relaxed home of the Birlings. He has occasionally introduced some tension, which creates a lot of drama and suspense. Although the Play begins in a happy mood, stress and trouble start to creep in. You want to know why there is this tension between some of the characters and in the play. There is evidence of cracks and tension beneath the surface. There are cracks in Sheila and Gerald’s relationship, after the meal Sheila says to Gerald “Yes – except for all last summer, when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you,” Gerald Replies “And I’ve told you -  I was awfully busy at the works all that time,” finally Sheila says, “Yes, that’s what you say,” so we note a bit of tension there and its obvious that he’s lying about where he was, neither us nor Sheila believe him, so we want to know where he actually was and this creates a lot of drama and suspense throughout the play.

Another example of tension is when Eric, Gerald and Mr Birling are talking and Eric says, “Well, don’t do any. We’ll drink their health and have done with it,” Mr Birling replies, “No, we won’t. It’s one of the happiest nights of my life. And one day, I hope, Eric, when you’ve a daughter of your own, you’ll understand why,” Eric responds, “Yes, I know, - but still – “ Arthur finally says, “Just let me finish, Eric. You’ve a lot to learn yet,” There is a lot of tension in the air between these two and there’s a possible rift between father and son. Our Sympathies lie with Eric as Mr Birling is far too pompous and arrogant; he believes everything he says is right. He’s always trying to show how good he is, like he says, “Just a Knighthood, of course,” “You see, I was Lord Mayor here two years ago when royalty visited us(…)” He needs to show that he is upper class and high up to everybody he comes across that he can show off to. Mr Birling is exceedingly happy for his daughter and Gerald, but for the right reasons? He is aware of the possible outcomes and business advantages it may bring for him, the union of two families: the Birlings and the Crofts.

Join now!

At the start of the play Priestley’s Stage Descriptions describe the room as having a ‘pink, intimate glow’. These words tell us that the mood in the room and the relationships within the family are warm and happy. If we look at it as it seems, the Family are all happy and close to each other. They all know each other well and there are no grudges held. It all seems very warm and intimate. It’s a cosy atmosphere, they’re a nice family. It seems a little Rose-tinted; they are seeing things in too optimistic a light.

When the Inspector ...

This is a preview of the whole essay