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What Techniques Does Priestley's Use Of Suspense In An Inspector Calls

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The Inspector's Role As A Dramatic Device in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley 'An Inspector Calls' begins with the Birlings and Gerald Croft celebrating when they are interrupted by a call from an Inspector. The Inspector tells them about a girl who has committed suicide earlier on that evening. In turn, he questions the Birlings and Gerald for playing a part in her death. After the Inspector leaves the Birlings find out he was not a real Inspector and receive a phone call about a young girl who has just died. The Inspector's identity is never found out in the play. I think Priestly has left his identity open because it is not his identity that matter but his views, which is what Priestly was …show more content…

Not knowing the Inspector's identity also creates mystery. The Inspector also uses suspense to create tension. For example, at the end of Act 1 he ends with the word 'Well' and at the beginning of Act 2, he is said to 'remain at the door for a few seconds looking at Sheila and Gerald'. This creates suspense within the audience and keeps them guessing about what will happen next. The Inspector also presents Priestley's central views. Priestley was a socialist, other wise know as a 'cranks' which is what Mr Birling saw the Inspector as. Priestley believed in equal rights and unity between people. Because the rich people were the ones making the Laws, Priestley believed that the rich would stay rich and the poor would stay poor because they had no one representing them. He wrote this play to get across his views through the Inspector to the rich people of that time as it would be them who could afford to see the play. The Inspector also shows Priestley's views in the speech he makes before he leaves the Birling household. The Inspector says 'We are all responsible for one another' (unity between people). The Inspector moves the story forward through his questioning. He does this through changing the mood, telling Eva Smith's story, involving time passing, changes in scenery and showing different events.

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