The Dramatic Importance of the Inspector in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

Sheila's Character Developement throughout the course of An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestley In this essay I am going to be describing how the character of Sheila develops throughout "An Inspector Calls" by J.B Priestley. Priestley was an English writer, who was born in Bradford. He served in the infantry during world war one, then afterwards attended Cambridge University. As a newspaper essayist and journalist, he wrote on a variety of subjects, then the publication of "The Good Companions" in 1929 led to his establishment as a writer.

A morality play is a medieval play designed to teach the audience right from wrong. JB Priestley uses An Inspector call to convey a moral message, which is that you should not judge people on their class i.e. lower working class/higher class. He also expands the views of socialism within the message; this is all made very clear by the use of dramatic devices. Although it is a morality play it is not in the traditional format. Priestley makes it very clear in what he wants the audience to think is moral and immoral. The play also conveys a strong political message. The play encourages the idea of socialism, a society in which responsibility and community are essential, also a place where the community all work together and are responsible

see that this is true by looking at his speech and at the manner in

How does JB Priestley present the older and younger generations differently throughout the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ (45 mins)

The play "An Inspector Calls" was written by J.B Priestley in 1945, when the British people were recovering from over six years of constant warfare and danger. As a result of two world wars, class distinctions were greatly reduced and women had achieved a much higher place in society. It was due to this and a great desire for social change that Labour's Clement Attlee won a landslide victory over the conservative Winston Churchill. He nationalized the gas steel and electrical industries, established the NHS and introduced the Welfare State. The play was set in Brumley, a fictional industrial city, in 1912.The playwright believed passionately in the left wing perspective and his message is overtly political. He uses techniques such as

In his play, An Inspector Calls, JB Priestley explores numerous ideas of responsibility. Priestley utilizes the setting of the play (1912) when socio-economic disparity between the upper and working class was high, and juxtaposes it with the social context of when the play was performed (1945), when aspects of socialism were growing rapidly in Britain. This creates dramatic irony and reflects the view of audiences first attending the play. He achieves this by using the mysterious nature of Inspector Goole, who pressures the upper-class Birling family to admit responsibility for the death of Eva Smith (a working class woman), to embody socialist Britain; exploiting the affluent and pompous Mr Birling to represent the unwillingness of Capitalism

1945 and that is when World War Two had just ended also this is when

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

Throughout the play ‘An Inspector Calls’, J.B. Priestley attempts to present his views on Britain’s society in 1945. Priestley creates the character the Inspector Goole to display his own criticism on the society and show how people should deal with their social responsibility. The Inspector is a distinct and discrete character. He can act in such blunt and direct manner regardless of his social position, because his identity is unknown. Additionally, unlike any other characters, the Inspector is not directly linked with the death of Eva Smith. This means he is not required to take any responsibility, but allowed to denounce others without feeling ashamed of himself. Priestley has not created any specific characteristic for the Inspector Goole

"What about this girl?" Her role is to be the girl that needs to know

In Act One of 'An Inspector Calls' how does J.B. Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience, as well as interest and involve them in his play?

Birling strongly believes that “a man has to make his own way – has to

This is more of a genuine remark of liking to Gerald than it is a

has now been removed. To him, now that she is no longer a threat to

For instance, it is as if he is waiting for everyone to confess to his