What clues in Act 1 tell you that there is trouble ahead for the Birling family?

by 200444gardenschooledumy (student)

J.B Priestley's morality play, set in 1912, analyses the moral crimes committed by the Birling family and Gerald Croft against a worker, Eva Smith. In Act 1, inspecting closely, it is evident there is trouble ahead for the Birlings from many actions from the characters, mostly Arthur Birling through irony.

Birling, clearly in Act 1 says, “Why a friend of mine went over this new lined this week- the Titanic - she sails next week… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” Priestley’s adoration for dramatic irony is clearly shown as we all know that the Titanic sinks by hitting an iceberg. This symbolizes the jeopardy of capitalistic stubbornness that Birling shows and his ideas and notions will ultimately crumble under the Inspector’s inquiry.

Again dramatic irony bites when Gerald laugh and says, “You seem to be a well behaved family-” which Mr Birling replies with, “We think we are-” Knowing that the Birlings have been anything but nice considering their unjust full actions towards Eva Smith, will soon be exposed. They're too comfortable and their secrets of their refusal to bother will be uncovered by the Inspector. However, the connection between Gerald and Birling grow as the book progresses and we finally realise that his similar capitalist views hasn't been affected or even slightly altered by the end of Act 3, leaving him unchanged.

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One of the most memorable moment in Act 1 is when Mr Birling boasts about his attempt to get a knighthood and that he's in the Honour’s List. He says, “...there is a fair chance that I might find my way into the Honour's List. just a knighthood of course.. So long as we behave ourselves, don't get into the police court or start a scandal...” This is also ironic as what he feared comes true when Eric confess to his involvement with Eva and Gerald’s affair. He is too comfortable and therefore this is the calm before the ...

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Moreover, it is no coincidence that the bell rang precisely while Mr Birling was in the middle of making a speech promoting capitalism and his idealistic views on society. While he says,” but take my word for it youngsters - and I've learnt in the good hard school of experience - that a man has to mind his own - ” He is cut off by the ringing of the bell which marks the arrival of the i

Inspector which also means that his notion of capitalism will be questioned as well as put down by Inspector Goole. This, too, means that they have committed a crime for an Inspector to visit them as they were desperately trying to stay out of trouble.

He feels that since he has the most experience, his views are correct and as a result he calls them ‘youngsters’. He believed, compared to the idealistic views of the rest (Sheila and Eric) his are right. The arrival of the Inspector brings the plot change and marks the arrival of someone to oppose Birling and voices J.B Priestley’s own opinions which believes in communal responsibility.

Lastly, at the end of Act 1, Sheila become nervous which shows that she finally understands that the Inspector knows more than he's letting on and later in the play helps her look at her relationship with Gerald in a more realistic way as a new light has been shone down on it. She says, “Of Course he knows. And I hate to think of how much he knows that we don't know yet.” This too shows that the trouble for the family is just beginning and there is much more investigating in the future in hopes of the Birlings seeing their failed responsibilities for someone else.

In conclusion, the trouble for the Birlings have just started in Act one and will further progress through the play until the very end where we are met with a shocking twist in the plot but there are many examples of trouble in Act 1 using irony which illustrates how their comfort will be shattered.