Priestley fought in the first world war, narrowly escaping death. In 1912 aristocratic society didn't believe in or truly understand the hard-life. They were always relaxed and in control. From 1911-18 the rich were doing nothing to help the country. They just watched whilst people like Priestley risked their lives for their country. They made other people do the hard work and Priestley having been through it, wanted to broadcast to the public that life was unfair for even slightly lower classed people.
Both 1912 and 1945 are related because 1912 was just before the first world war and 1945 was when the second world war ended. Between the two years was a time of conflict; when there wasn’t war there was tension. 1945 more or less spelt the end of it.
In direct relation to this, Priestley felt compelled to use a lot of dramatic irony at the start of the play. The audience is influenced by this because they were placed in a similar position as the characters. They would hear a clue yet not realise the irony, until later in the play when the details of such situations are revealed. It is as though the audience is being taken onto a rollercoaster ride along with the characters. An example, which truly highlights the use of irony is when Sheila is speaking to Gerald:
"Yes- except for all last summer when you never came near me, and I wondered what had happened to you"
We later find out that Gerald spent that summer with Eva Smith the girl that committed suicide.
Dramatic irony is also used to create a feeling of surprise and suspense. It also gives the audience more of an attachment with the play and characters; as if they were sensing and realising things like the events were actually happening to them.
At the start of the play the lighting is pink and intimate, to mark a romantic type contented theme. However, as soon as the inspector enters, the lighting is much brighter and harder. This represents the seriousness of having an Inspector around. The inspector insists on getting an answer one way or another. As he enters, the Inspector gives an impression of 'solidity and purposefulness,' which is why the light is powerful. As the Inspector seems dominant, Priestley is justified in wanting the stark bright lighting to actually emphasise the vibe that the Inspector is giving out. It gives life to the atmosphere that the characters would feel in a visible way (as the audience can't truly feel what the characters are feeling).
Another effective device employed by Priestley is the sharp ring of a front door bell. As soon as the audience hears the ring, they are left in suspense, wondering who it could be. The vigorous ring of the bell indicates to the audience that something dramatic is about to happen.
The introduction of the Inspector has somewhat of an effect on almost all of the characters. Mr Birling becomes very anxious and impatient as soon as he finds out that Inspector Goole had not come for a warrant. All of the family were in a celebratory mood to begin with, yet soon enough all of them became quite nervous. Gerald and Eric start to feel agitated and annoyed; when Goole doesn't allow them to see the photo of Eva Smith.
Goole also has an effective way of drawing in the person he's questioning. By doing this the Inspector involves the Birlings more at their own account, as they want to find out more for their own satisfaction. He also has a cunning eye for detail. Here's an example of drawing in the person being questioned:
"No. she wanted to end her life. She felt she couldn’t go any longer." This was just the type of thing the Inspector would do. It left the person currently being catechized wanting answers from the Inspector himself/instead.
Basically when Inspector Goole established himself with the Birlings, their attitudes became less 'know it all' and switched to more poor minded people. They realised that they were doing fallacious things and so began to listen and acknowledge as if they were learning from scratch. Soon forgotten was their laid back approach; as if they hadn't a care in the world. Instead the Inspector rose in status and assumed control of the situation.
Character exits are used quite frequently in Act One. The main one being when Sheila ran off, after having seen and recognised the photo of Eva Smith, followed by Mr Birling. This furthers the plot by drawing everything out and changing the focus of the enquiry onto another character. Only to later return to that of the exiting character. By doing so, the question of 'who to blame' enhances a greater story and has twists which again further the plot. The audience also wonders if the people that have exited have a purpose and are planning to try adjust their stories as to the true course of events.
The effect of Act One is utter disbelief. The characters who had once believed they were innocent kept getting caught out.
The first thing the audience might do, is to look to the other characters who haven't as yet been caught out, and begin to suspect their involvement as well. At this point this audience may become anxious to find out what happens. They could possibly be experiencing the same thought process and emotions as some of the characters.
Priestley uses a lot of methods and dramatic devises to involve the audience. The inspector's way of always getting the truth out of someone really encourages the audiences interest on every time he changes his line of enquiry.
'An Inspector Calls' is hugely successful because of the way it is written to affect a number of people differently. Various people could react differently. The play allows them to reflect and then react to 'An Inspector Calls' in their own way. That is, without the play dictating what the audience should feel. You get to make the decision as to who should shoulder the blame of this young woman's death.
I think the messages from this play are to help each other or work together to achieve desirable goals.
The theme is still relevant today because we still have wars, we will always make mistakes and we will often rush too quickly, into forming certain points of view. Most morals will be relevant until the day were regimented class structures don't exist. Priestley's messages have certainly reached me.
To be honest, first I believed the Birlings were a grateful, hard working family. However, the Inspector soon changed my point of view. Once I had found out everything, I believed that this was a family who simply cared for no-one but themselves and did whatever suited their mood. The younger members of the family had been influenced, but they at least showed remorse when they realised their shameful involvement. This made me look towards the examples that had been set by Mr and Mrs Birling. They had taught their children to respect them, but had probably never mentioned anything about their behaviour towards everyday 'normal' people.
My opinion of the Birlings completely changed. The moral I have taken from the play is to never judge a book by it's cover.
Husam Mohamed
10LC
Teacher: Ms Kennedy