Before the Inspector enters the room Priestley uses dramatic irony through Mr Birling's speech. “... I say there isn't a chance of war” and “Titanic... and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” while at the time of writing, the audience knew that in fact, two world wars happen and the Titanic famously sunk on its maiden voyage. This gives the idea that Mr Birling believes he knows what's going to happen whereas in fact, the exact opposite is true. Just before the Inspector enters the room, he rings the doorbell with a “sharp ring” and this is the point where the pleasant, happy atmosphere is changed as the audience and character can sense that it is a turning point in the play. This links to the telephone used at the end of the play with a sharp ring that marks a sharp turning point again from a relieved and pleased atmosphere to one of worry and self-doubt. Both times this device is used it also shocks and surprises the audience who are not expecting the sudden change.
The Inspector arrives immediately after Mr. Birling tells Gerald and Eric that “a man has to look after himself and his own”. This timing suggests that the Inspector is going to challenge this view and it is how he will do it that interests the audience. The Inspector creates an impression of massiveness, solidarity and purposefulness which makes the audience believe that he is always correct and you couldn't argue with him. For example, the use of “all in good time” suggests that the Inspector is taking charge of the conversation and directing it where he wants it to go. The Inspector makes you feel that what he says is correct and that he knows a lot more than he is releasing; for example, Gerald asks if there is a reason he can not see the photograph and the Inspector answers “(coolly, looking hard at him) There might be.”. This is how Priestley wants us to feel about the Inspector as the character is voicing Priestley's own opinion and conveys the message of the play.
The Inspector uses a photograph to show certain characters what the girl looks like. However, he only shows one person at a time and some characters never see the photo. This allows the Inspector to follow “one line of enquiry at a time” and also keeps the audience focused on one event at a time. Therefore, Priestley (through the Inspector) can control the direction of the scene This means Priestley can convey his message through the Inspector clearly and without allowing other plot lines to affect the audiences thoughts.
At the end of the act, the Inspector mentions “Daisy Renton” and Gerald's unconscious reaction gives away that he is connected to the girl in some way although he then denies all knowledge by stating “I don't come into this suicide business”. The audience is aware that the Inspector knows that Gerald has been involved with this girl but instead of stating this as a fact, the Inspector allows the character to draw his own conclusions from his actions. Gerald's reaction leaves the act on a cliffhanger and the audience is left wondering how he has known the girl, thus keeping them interested in the plot of the play.
In conclusion, Priestley conveys the messages of social responsibility and morality very well to the audience of the time as they would be able to relate to the Birlings and how they might have felt. The dramatic techniques are vital to the play in conveying the messages to the audience, especially the fact that the audience knows about both World War 1 & 2 whereas Mr Birling feels they were not going to happen. I feel that the messages of the play are still relevant now and do take a place in modern society where the rich and poor tend never to get involved with each other. The audience leave wondering about their own responsibility in society and how their actions affect other people much like the Birlings' actions affected Daisy Renton.
By David Bruce