inspector calls

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Amber Swallow             10s/sa            English Miss Woods             

Task: Explore how Priestly presents us with contrasting views of responsibility and guilt through his characters and the use of dramatic devices in ‘An Inspector Calls’

J.B Priestly presents his play ‘An Inspector Calls’ with contrasting views of responsibility and guilt within the Birling family and the Inspector. He utilizes a variety of dramatic devices throughout the play to create tension between the characters. One of the many dramatic devices he applies is when the Birling family are interrupted by an inspector while having a celebration.

Inspector Goole is a firm socialist, he strongly believes wealth should be shared equally between all people, for example Eva Smith. He sticks up for the poorer classes rights to freedom of life. I suggest Priestly communicates his views through the character of the Inspector as he has fixed feelings about fairness and equality of everyone. He states ‘With privileges comes responsibility’ showing the understanding of those who are well to do should take responsibility for those who are less fortunate.

The Inspector is a powerful character in this play. He intimidates the Birling family and makes them seem dense. “He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking.” He looks sternly in to their eyes before interrogating them. This makes the characters feel insecure and agitated, giving the impression of being responsible or guilty of something. Goole is very confident and can come across naive. He speaks like he knows everything about the Birling family and tries to drain the truth out of them. This shows the inspector has a function within the Birling household, he is there to make the family realise they need to take responsibility for their actions. He shows a contrasting view of responsibility to what the family believe. They don’t consider taking responsibility as must.  Goole displays no emotion and is calm throughout the whole play. When Mrs Birling says “you seem to have made a great impression on this child” He replies “coolly” and also “the inspector will take offence” He responds “cutting in calmly” Where as Mr Birling becomes very distraught towards the inspector and wants to receive a reaction from him. He sharply informs the Inspector “I Don’t like that tone” I imply Birling doesn’t think responsibility is something that he should require within him.

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But Shelia is diverse she is very distressed. Her character develops into disturbance when the inspector reveals the news about Eva’s death. She illustrates remorse towards Eva, by projecting responsibility and becoming saddened. Shelia is one of the few characters in this play who takes responsibility for her actions.  She realises they have to change their attitude in life and tries to convince her parents, but doesn’t succeed. “The point is, you don’t seem to of learnt anything”  “it doesn’t much matter who it was who made us confess” (flaring up) “between us we drove that girl to commit suicide”

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