One way in which Priestley uses time as a dramatic device is by setting the play in 1912, long before either of the world wars, but performing it in 1947. This device leaves the audience with the advantage of looking back. We see this when Mr Birling describes the Titanic as “absolutely unsinkable”, this quote highlights Mr Birling’s foolishness, as the audience know that the Titanic sunk on its maiden voyage. This device creates dramatic irony between the audience and Mr Birling. Priestley has given a good description of upper middle class men in the very first act of the play, making sure the audience can relate to Mr Birling as representing the average middle class man.
Mr Birling’s stupidity is further displayed when he states, “there isn’t a chance of war”. This accentuates further dramatic irony, considering that the audience from 1947 have the wisdom of hindsight and can see that 1914 and 1939 brought two wars. The audience thus humiliates Mr Birling, as he portrays himself as a “hard-headed business man” but is only proven wrong.
Priestley next challenges Mr Birling’s belief in individualism. The audience discover these views when Mr Birling expresses to Gerald that, “a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”. The inspector’s arrival cuts Mr Birling’s speech short.
Placing the inspector’s arrival here is a dramatic device, which challenges Mr Birling’s view on society. As the play proceeds, the audience appreciate the important timing of the inspector’s arrival and creates dramatic irony. This is due to the inspector teaching Gerald Croft and the Birlings that we have collective responsibility for everyone- a contradictory view to Mr Birling’s.
Priestley uses time as a device to expose the hypocrisy of the upper classes in Edwardian Britain. Up until Mrs Birling’s confession, the inspector relates the events leading up to Eva’s death in chronological order. In spite of that, Priestley chooses to reveal Mrs Birling’s involvement before Eric’s.
Throughout Mrs Birling’s confession, her prejudices are displayed through the inspector’s skilful interrogation. She expresses her views on the fate of the father of Eva’s baby, oblivious that this man is in fact her son. Her prejudice is displayed when she remarks that “the father should be responsible” and that he should “marry her”. However previously in the play, Mrs Birling had already revealed her prejudice towards girls of a lower class, yet she is now innocently suggesting her son marry a girl from a lower class. By this time, the audience realize that Mrs Birling is condemning her only son; this creates dramatic irony, as the audience know more than the characters. This is also amusing for the audience as the inspector remarks: “make an example of the young man, eh? Public confession of responsibility-um?” showing his support with Mrs Birling’s view on the treatment of the father of Eva’s baby. Hence, Priestley displays the hypocrisy of the upper class and Mrs Birling’s dual standards; her belief that what applies to the upper classes and most importantly her family and her reputation, may not apply to another. The break down in chronological order of the Birling’s confessions gave Priestley the opportunity to do just this.
Throughout ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley stops time at important points in the play. Priestley achieves this standstill in time by placing acts in the middle of sentences-prior to important confessions and exposures. This dramatic device gives the audience an opportunity to reflect on the previous events and appreciate Priestley’s ingenious devices applied.
The Inspector is a contrast to the Birlings as he seems to favour community responsibilities rather than individual ones. The Birlings represent the richer people in society that do not care for the lower classes, for example Mr Birling sacked the girl Eva Smith for striking for a higher salary, but the demand was minuscule. They are set so far away from the community that they did not even realise that Eva Smith had died, let alone how the helped to kill her, they find this out only when the Inspector brings it to their attention.
Responsibility is one of the plays two key themes, and the inspector is Priestley’s mouthpiece for putting across his own views of this as a socialist. In his final speech, he is speaking to the audience, as well as the characters on stage. His words are a warning to the audience of 1947, not to repeat the selfish mistakes that led to the “fire, blood and anguish” of the two world wars.
Throughout ‘An Inspector Calls’ the older Birling’s represent those who have failed to learn from their mistakes. The audience appreciate this after the inspector’s departure, when Mr Birling remarks, “most of this is bound to come out. There’ll be a public scandell.” This shows us that Mr Birling’s main concerns remain to be his social status and respectability within the community, despite the inspector’s visit.
However, Sheila and Eric represent the younger generation who still have a chance to learn and change. This is portrayed when Sheila and Eric lecture their parents about not learning their lesson: “You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all…the girl’s still dead isn’t she?”
In my opinion, the inspector in some respects is just the characters conscience in order to make them change their minds about life. I believe the characters in the play do have some hope and the inspector is there to help them, but only the characters themselves can decide if they want to be helped.
In conclusion, this play is a comment on the society of the Edwardian age, as well as being a play about relationships on the whole. Priestley sets out to show the failings of that society and pass on the message that we have to confront out mistakes and learn from them.
