The play ‘An Inspector Calls’, was written in 1945 by writer J.B Priestley. Its story revolves around a middle-class family called the Birlings, whom are celebrating the engagement of their daughter, Sheila. However, the play undergoes a subtle shift in mood and tone as an inspector lets them know that they have taken part in the suicide of a young lady called Eva Smith. Priestley chose to develop each character in the play in such a way that they all bring a lesson into the drama. Perhaps one…
In the play “Inspector Calls” Sheila is a truthful and honest person and changes from the beginning and throughout the play. “Millward’s, I’ll go there,” this acknowledges that Sheila had been to Millwards. This shows us that “Recognises with a little cry” this confirms that Sheila knew Eva. When Sheila started to cry, it was very obvious that Sheila had done something wrong to Eva. The Inspector makes Sheila spill everything out and tell the truth. Sheila is the second one to admit to her…
current political standpoint and reconsider the labour party for power. In contrast to this, is the Inspector who is clearly a socialist. The Inspector reminds us of our responsibilities for each other: 'All intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.' By making the Inspector say this, Priestley shows how sensible the socialist ideal is. He makes people…
John B Priestley’s play, “An Inspector Calls’ was written after the Second World War during the Victorian and Edwardian period. During this period was when division between the behaviour of the older and younger generations could be clearly recognised. The older generation consist of Mr and Mrs Birling whom throughout the play fail to admit that they had any part in the death of Eva, as their reputation is the only thing that concerns them. Conversely the younger generation, Sheila and Eric feel…
An inspector calls: a critical evaluation By Wiktor Wojdyla In this evaluation I will be looking at two contrasting characters in “An inspector calls” and how J.B. Priestly uses that to make us feel sympathetic for them. An inspector calls is a play written in 1945 by J.B. Priestly. It is set at the begging of the 20th century (1900-1915) and has themes surrounding responsibility, class, age and gender differences. There also different types of contrasting characters such as Eric and Sybil…
responsibility for his actions as his self-important behaviour makes helps to convince himself that he has done nothing wrong this can be shown in his wife when Mrs Birling states “I think she had only herself to blame.” by stating this she reiterates to the Inspector that she feels she has no involvement in the death, by stating 'only herself to blame' in relevance to Eva's death is very cruel and self-centred, as she is clearly trying to revert the blame back to…
“An Inspector Calls”, is a play written by JB Priestley in 1945. It is a thought-provoking play that explores the issues of accepting responsibility. The play is centered on a wealthy family in the upper class, who refuse to accept their involvement in Eva Smiths death. Using the Inspector as a mouthpiece, Priestley is able to discredit the capitalist views of the audience and Mr. Birling. Through the characters of Mr. and Mrs. Birling, Priestley shows how the class that a person belongs to or…
Analyse the character of Inspector Goole. Focus on his role in the play, his stage presence and how he is used by Priestly to convey his socialist message. An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 by J.B Priestley. In the 1930s, Priestley became very concerned about the effects of social inequality in Britain. The play was set in 1912. Priestley deliberately set the play in 1912 because the date represented an era very different from the era he was writing in. Inequality was common in 1912;…
Priestly comments” [the] lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives [...] brighter and harder.” The writer asserts that the family dinner party has had a dramatic change because the lighting goes from pink which symbolises the love between Gerald Croft and Sheila Birling (the daughter of Arthur birling.) The writer may have done that to make a completely different atmosphere when the inspector arrives. The change of lighting effects the atmosphere because it brings a…
Some people view the Inspector as a messenger of God or a Prophet, almost like Jesus; he is warning us that we should change or danger will approach us. Other people might say that since Priestley was not a Christian then why should refer to a holy moral, the Inspector might be viewed as Priestley’s spokesman, who acts as Priestley’s mind or voice expressing his politics. The last speech of the Inspector is the message Priestley is trying to put through, he says…