An Inspector Calls - Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left

In the play 'An Inspector Calls', many contrasts and paradox's are present and at the centre of them all is the character known as Inspector Goole. However, the inspector is not any ordinary inspector. I believe that the inspector is used as a device by Priestley to explore the wider themes of the play and to depict other characters true personalities. This essay will explore some of the techniques Priestley presents the inspector in An Inspector Calls.

Comparison of The Attitudes Of Arthur Birling And Sheila Birling From An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley

Difference in Reactions of Sheila Birling and Her Father in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

command at the end of Act I and the start of Act 2, and the end of Act

In the play An Inspector Calls, J.B. Priestley introduces Sheila as “a pretty girl in her early twenties, very pleased with life and rather excited.” The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Birling, this seemingly naÏve young woman quickly develops to take a whole new political stance to her family’s conservatism. Her contributions to conversations were minimal at the start of the play, and her behaviour came across as juvenile instantly. We see her attitude change throughout the play though, as when faced with a serious issue, she becomes much more clear-headed and mature. Admittedly, Sheila does run off - demonstrating her childlike responses - upon first hearing of Eva Smith’s suicide, however, when she returns she has the most righteous morals of

How does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the course of the play An Inspector Calls? How do you think this change reflects some of Priestley’s ideas?

The Effect of the Inspector's Visit on Sheila Birling in J.B Priestly's An Inspector Calls

"Why are you saying this to me? That's not what you want to say. That's not what you did."

“I’m sorry Mommy, I promise I won’t do it again. Please forgive me.” this was all I could say. I had no excuse for my actions.

“Stop apologising to me, you don’t need to, sweety” she consoles me with her soft, mesmerising voice.

The play ‘An Inspector Calls’ was written in 1945, by J.B. Priestley, yet set in 1912. At this time, society was mainly capitalist with industry and agriculture owned privately. Wealth is not evenly shared and there is a distinct divide between upper and lower class people. The play is set around a wealthy, upper-middle class family, headed by Arthur Birling a factory owner. In the beginning of the play, we see the family celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald, the son of Lord and Lady Croft. This is well supported by Mr Birling who sees this marriage as a business deal, a time where his company and the Crofts would be able to merge, benefiting the Birling’s greatly. However, we see a drastic mood change when Inspector Goole arrives, bringing news of the suicide of Eva Smith.

An Inspector Calls was written in 1945 the year the second world war ended but set shortly before the first world war in 1912 because he wanted to show the class divide before the war and the arrogance that the upper class or upper middle in Mr Birling’s case had and to try to stop us from going down that path again like the Inspector did with Eric and Sheila. Priestley uses the play to show others his socialist views and how he wants everyone to work together and look out for one another. Priestley opens the play in the Birling’s dining room “dessert plates and champagne glasses, ect.., and then replacing them with decanter of port, cigar box and cigarettes” many of the things on the table such as the champagne glasses and the port shows that the Birling’s must have been wealthy as they wouldn’t have been able to afford it all without being rich.

“Well I hope that you’ve learned your lesson and that you won’t do it anymore” the cop said.

“One of my friends daughters was like you except she wasn't so lucky.....anyway I hope you have learned a valuable lesson from all of this and won't do it again.”

this is his role in the events of the play. This, and the fact that