This essay will show the way that the author, J.B Priestley, used dramatic devices within 'An Inspector Calls' to convey his concerns and ideas to the public.

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An essay on 'An Inspector Calls'

This essay will show the way that the author, J.B Priestley, used dramatic devices within 'An Inspector Calls' to convey his concerns and ideas to the public. The essay also highlight and examine the dramatic devices Priestley includes to interest and involve the audience in his play.

     The character of the inspector wanted to make it clear to the Birlings that there was another harsh world outside their rich, comfortable and secure way of living. The inspector tried to entice the Birlings into realising that some people do not have the same opportunities as they had known and needed a helping hand. The Inspector did his best to place the Birlings into the shoes of some of the more disadvantaged people. His goal in the play was to make them see and understand life in the 'real' world.

Priestley's main concerns were with higher classed people and their ignorance to the pleas of the poor. He didn't like the emotions of women like Eva Smith being played around with by wealthier people. The impression given throughout 'An Inspector Calls,' is that Priestley seemed to believe in close communities and equal opportunities.

'An Inspector Calls,' was set in 1912, yet was written and first performed in 1945.

The period of 1912 was when Priestley stated he gained much of his experience. From this epoch he took in enough to perfect his writing skills. We also know that the year 1912 is somehow significant because Priestly draws upon a number of dramatic devices within his play (these devices must be for this year because that is when the play is set). They did not believe that war would break out and many believed that the titanic was unsinkable. It was an era in which people were blind towards the important events. People were happy to be living in the dark.

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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 ...

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