inspector calls

Course work

The play inspector calls was written by j.b priestly in 1945 even though it was set in 1912, this is interesting because it was after World War 2. it was set in 1912 because priestly wanted to show us how we could of prevented the first two wars this makes us fell that why didn’t we prevent it.

It was first performed in Russia this is important because in the Russian revolution is where workers were revolting against capitalists this is relevant to the play because the inspector has very socialist views and Eva smith had been demanding higher wages but never got them.

The play is about upper class families, social responsibility and responsibility for your actions. The play is set out in three acts and in the Birling dining room this gives us a sense of confusion and claustrophobia

Inspector Goole is the inspector in charge of the Eva smith suicide case. His name sounds like ghoul which is an evil demon that eats flesh. Metaphorically a person who is obsessed with death this is significant because it suggest that inspector Goole is interested in dead people this makes us feel that he is a scary character.

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The inspector represents the idea of social responsibility and how we should all be treated equally and what we do affects others “ the time will come if men will not learn that lesson they will be thought it in blood fire and anguish”. Blood represents hell and fire while anguish represents war and violence. Priestly is trying to tell us all the ways we could’ve prevented the first two wars it puts the question in our head that why didn’t we care for others

Mr birling on the other hand represents selfishness the quote “a man has ...

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Mr birling on the other hand represents selfishness the quote “a man has to make his own way and look after himself” suggests that Mr birling does not care about others another self centred quote is “ a man has to look after himself and his business” these tow self centred quotes makes us realise how selfish mr birling is. It also shows us upper class people have no awareness of lower class people.

The two characters inspector Goole and mr birling are completely different the inspector represents social responsibility and the consequences of not having social responsibility on the other hand mr birlings views are self centred “ still I cant accept any responsibility” this makes us realise that the inspector is a nice person whereas mr birling is selfish.

The inspector also make us realise that there was a social divide between working class girls such as Eva smith “ I refused of course” this makes us realise that mr birling thought of her as cheap labour. He also makes us realise that upper class women such as Sheila have an easy life “a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited”. This make us feel sorry for Sheila and other working class women who have to endure this social divide.

There are number of ways which the inspector sets out the mood of the play. Such as the way he is introduced he arrives during a happy moment of the birling family to give shocking news. This makes us realise that he has changed the mood of the play from happy to sad.

He creates mystery and confusion by integrating on one person at a time. He also controls the birling family when Gerald asks the reason why he can’t see the photograph the inspector say “there might be” this suggests to us that the inspector has full control. He also keeps the attention focused on Eva smith when the inspector says “I think you remember now”. This suggests that he wants to keep focused on Eva smith.

The inspector causes conflict between characters for example when mr birling asked Eric “you dammed fool why didn’t you come to me when you found yourself in this mess”. Eric’s reply to this is “you’re not the kind of chap a man could turn to when he’s in trouble”. This suggests that the inspector’s arrival has caused conflict between family members and he has exposed problems within the family that were already there. He also makes them feel ashamed of themselves when Sheila says “he inspected us” suggest that he has made them reveal the truth it also makes us realise that they should be ashamed of themselves.

He also makes them look up to their past when he asks Eric “are you in control when you drink” this suggests that he is asking when he got Eva smith pregnant did he do it purposely. This makes us realise that the inspector has the talent to make people confess and that Eric can’t control himself when he’s drunk.

He encourages the audience to reflect on the theme of the play which is responsibility. Priestly wrote the play in 1945 and set it in 1912 priestly wanted to show us that people were the same in 1912 and in 1945 another reason is he wants us to benefit from the dramatic irony. This makes us think that we should be more responsible in the future.

He changes the views of the characters by making us realise that they are not respectable they are selfish people. Also that mr birling thinks that money solves everything “ inspector id give thousands” this suggest that he thinks money can solve everything it also makes u realise how arrogant he is

At the end of the play we learn an important lesson and that is to treat people with respect, money doesn’t solve everything and the class system is a bunch oh hooey