English - Inspector Calls

Language
1. Dramatic Pauses.
  1. End of Acto One - Inspector says to Sheila and Gerald "Well?"
  2. Priestley has done this to create a dramatic cliff hanger at the end of the act.
  3. There would be an intermission after the act ended and the audience would be buzzing with questions, waiting for the next act to start.
2. Repetition
  1. Priestley used repetiotion to add a sense of realism and character to his dialogue as in eal life, people often repeat themselves. Eirc Says "He could. He could have..."
  2. This shows that Eric is a little uncertain of himself, as he hesitates and then continues, whilst repeating himself.
  3. The playwright can't rely on lengthy descriptions about the characters actions and appearance so the repetition helps get across Eric's character in a subtle way.
3. Gaps and Interruptions
  1. He uses interruptions to add to the drama. A panicked Mr B quickly interrupts his daughter '(cutting in)Just a minute, Sheila...'
  2. The interruption shows that Birling is too afraid that his daughter is going to get them into trouble by saying too much.
  3. This makes the audience perhaps dislike Birling even more. He is shows to be a man who will try to avoid taking responsibility
4. Stage Directions
  1. He helps actors with their delivery of lines. E.g. When Birling loses patience '(rather impatiently) yes, yes...'
  2. This ensures that the tone of the scene is kept as Priestley intended to get his message across.
  3. The effect is to show the arrogance of Birling, and how he is trying to hurry the Inspector along. Stage directions can be used for a wide range of different purposes.
Structure
1. Cliff Hangers
  1. Inspector appears - "Well?"
  2. Sheila is growing hysterical and realises that the inspector knows all and the audience will be struck by the dramatic change in her.
  3. The inspector slowly opening the door as he returns is very dramatic, the look he gives them also adds to the tension.
  4. The act ends on a question - the audience are desperate to know the answer.
2. Plot twist ending
  1. Birling: That was the police. A girl has just died - on her way to the Infirmary - after swallowing some disinfectant. And a police inspector is on his way here - to ask some - questions.
    1. The Birlings and Gerald are stunned, especially Mr and Mrs B and Gerald who thought they were in the clear.
      1. Audience shocked and left with lots of unanswered questions.
  2. Phonecall
  3. Also reflects Priestley's interest in theories about time, including the idea that individuals re-enter their lives after death and live it all over again.
    1. They can make changes to their previous actions, and begin a new cycle where they do not repeat same mistakes as they did in the past.
      1. We see this in the structure of the play as the cycle of events is about to start all over again, with an investigation into the suicide of a young girl after the phonecall.
        Sheila and Eric have learned from their mistakes and could escape the cycle, whereas the others have not,
Characters
1. The Inspector
  1. Used as a direct character by Priestley to get his viewpoint across on the political systems of the world and his socialist views.
  2. Repeats lines previously used by others like Mr Birling to add irony and make them realise that their actions are wrong.
  3. 'Public men, Mr Birling, have privileges as well as responsibilities'.
2. Sheila
  1. Priestley uses Sheila to show the audience how it is possible to realise that you could be at fault for something.
    1. Show that she takes responsibility for her actions even though others were also to blame.
    2. Feels bad for the girl and "Only" has herself "to blame".
      1. "If I didn't have her fired"
  2. She changes her thoughts and ways by the end of the play.
    1. Showing the difference between younger and older generation.
3. Eric
  1. Changes throughout the course of the play, like Sheila.
    1. Difference between older and younger generations.
  2. Takes responsibility for his involvement and thinks that he's to blame
  3. Attempts to make Mrs B feel bad "You killed our baby?"
    1. Mrs B dismisses this as she can't take responsibility.
4. Mr B
  1. Only cares about his business.
  2. Priestley uses Mr B to show the audience what not to be like.
    1. Makes them dis-believe him with the irony of "titanic is unsinkable"
  3. Thinks he only has to "look after your own" so has nothing to do with it and can't be to blame.
    1. Refuses to take any responsibility and thinks he has no involvement.
5. Mrs B
  1. Her support group wouldn't help Eva.
  2. Portrayed as a snob and very aware of the differences between social classes. "Girls of that class"
  3. Has the least respect for the Inspector and tries to intimidate him to force him to leave then lies to him claiming she doesn't recognise the photograph.
  4. Treats Eric and Sheila still as "children" and patronises them.
  5. Tries to deny everything and take no responsibility,
6. Gerald
  1. More bothered about business like Mr B.
  2. Says he has genuine feelings for 'Daisy Renton'
    1. Howver tries to come up with as much evidence as possible to prove that the Inspector is fake to get him of the hook.
  3. Throws his energies into "protecting" himself rather than "changing" himself unlike Sheila.
  4. Tries to pretend that nothing ever happened "What about the ring?"
  5. Hasn't gained any new sense of social responsibility.
Plot
1. Inspector Goole investigates Eva Smith's death.
  1. Mr Birling had sacked Eva because she wanted a pay rise.
    1. Sheila feels responsible for the death because she got her fired from the department store because she was jealous.
      1. Gerald confesses to having an affair with Eva.
        Mrs B and her support group refused to help Eva when she was pregnant.
        Eric was the father of Eva's unborn baby and tries to get his mother to take some blame and responsibility
        Gerald finds out Inspector Goole is an imposter and the elders act like nothing has happened and want to return to normal, whereas Eric and Sheila still feel like they are to blame and worry about the matter.
        The police phone at the end to investigate a death where a woman has drank cleaning disenfectant and killed herself so the Birling's and Gerald begin to worry as they're not out of the clear and worry about business in their capitalist views.

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English - Inspector Calls

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	Created by Nathan Murphy almost 8 years ago