J.B.Priestley’s play, An Inspector Calls :: English Literature

AN INPSECTOR CALLSThe six long years of anguish and fear had ended and the hatful ofBritain were just recovering from the effects of World War Two. J.BPriestly a writer, who at the time was fifty one, was deeply involvedwith the war being a member of the infantry, and only just escapeddeath on a number of occasions. After his experiences by means ofout thehorrific war, Priestly picked back up on his career which startedbefore all of the battling and turned his attentions to writing plays.His first play after the war was known to be An Inspector Calls,which was eventually published in the same year. The story involvesthat of antithetical opinions and actions, and of regrets.The rich and celebrated Birling family are spending a happy eveningtogether celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft a marriage that will result in the merging of two successful localbusinesses. Yet, just when everything seems to be going so well, theyreceive a strike visit from an Inspector Goole who is investigatingthe suicide of a young girl. He questions each one of the familymembers and future family members in turn about the suicide of EvaSmith, and as the play unravels it becomes evident that each member ofthe family has been intertwined with her life.J.B Priestly uses his play An Inspector Calls as a way of gettingacross his socio-political views. He believed that people ofdifferent classes were being treated completely oppositely anddemanded that something should be done. One of the key ways heemphasises points thorough the whole play is by the dramatictechniques he uses. In the course of An Inspector Calls the Birlingfamily and Gerald Croft change from a state of great self-satisfactionto a state of extreme self-doubt. The play is in real time - inother words, the story lasts exactly as long as the play is on thestage. So, what happens in a comparatively short time to create such(prenominal) adramatic contrast? How is the drama maintained and the audienceinvo lved?Probably the main and most obvious dramatic technique that J.BPriestly uses is through the characters. The characters act as J.BPriestleys thoughts and actions, and his emotions are unveiledthroughout the play via them.As one of the most important and main characters in the play, MrBirling is apply in many ways as a dramatic device. The fact he caresonly about himself and his family and not about anyone else in theworld. We know this to be true, as just before the inspector arrives