‘AN INSPECTOR CALLS’- REVISION PACK CONTEXT To understand the context of the play‚ it’s helpful to know a little about J B Priestley’s life and his political views during the early 20th century - a time of great global change. He wrote An Inspector Calls after the Second World War and like much of his work contains controversial‚ politically charged messages. Keen to pioneer a new ’morality’ in politics‚ Priestley’s chief concerns involved social inequality in Britain and the need for nuclear disarmament
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particularly rare occasions‚ a few commit crimes that are totally legal. Gerald’s quote is not exactly challenged at the time of the play that he makes the quote‚ but as the play goes on‚ nagging doubts start challenging the allegation. The whole of the Birling family‚ though however far-fetched‚ have seemingly contributed to the suicide of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton. J.R Priestly tries to lead the reader into believing this phenomenon by inventing a character named as Inspector Goole. Even the Inspector’s name
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When he learns of all this he exclaims ’You damned fool - why didn’t you come to me when you found yourself in this mess?’ Eric’s reply indicates that Mr Birling was never close to his son ’Because you’re not the kind of chap a man could turn to when he’s in trouble’. Such a response indicates that things aren’t going to improve much after the play ends he represents a very unattractive sort of person
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all the women are portrayed as delicate characters- particularly Sheila who the men feel needs protecting from all manner of things like the information that a girl has committed suicide. Set in 1912‚ the woman in the play would have been seen as possessions to their husband and did not work or have careers due to the patriarchal society. However‚ it would have been acceptable for women to be involved in charity work like Mrs Birling was. Other than that‚ women would have been simply seen as wives
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name is Goole who interrupts the engagement party of Gerald and Sheila because a woman named Eva Smith has died. In the end‚ he reveals all the characters have something to do with Eva’s death. However‚ only Sheila and Eric‚ the younger characters‚ feel responsible by the end. In the play‚ “An inspector calls”‚ Priestley promotes the need of responsibility in society through Sheila and Eric’s evolution as characters‚ Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald’s attempt to deny their guilt‚ and the political allegory
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possible. Timing and planning. Do both please (plan points‚ find quotes‚ consider paragraphing for all longer tasks) Summary Act 1- The Birlings have just finished a dinner celebrating Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft‚ (the son of one of Arthur Birling’s business rivals). Arthur Birling makes a speech giving his views on the world and then Gerald‚ Birling and Eric have a chat about current affairs. Their evening is interrupted by the Inspector‚ who tells them that a young woman (Eva Smith)
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and also enabling him to use several of Birling’s speeches at the beginning to establish him as a pompous and arrogant character. Dramatic irony is used by Priestley from the start of Act One. At the start of the play‚ we are introduced to Arthur Birling as a "heavy-looking‚ rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." He is proud of his achievements‚ and misses no opportunity to remind others of his exploits‚ such as the chance of being knighted. Arthur’s family
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the characters Mr and Mrs Birling to represent capitalists they are middle class and only out for themselves. They bid for higher prices and pay their labourers little so they make as much profit as possible. Gerald is of a higher middle class and is much younger‚ he has some empathy for the lower class but is still very much a capitalist. His parents Lady and Lord Croft are of a higher status than the Birlings but they share the same socialistic views. Both Eric and Sheila have a lot of empathy for
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class structure. Mrs. Birling represents majority of wealth and powered woman of upper class. When Mrs. Birling encountered Eva Smith‚ she said she is ‘girls of that class’ and she thinks they will become a theft to steal money and food. Her use of the phrase ‘that class’ shows that she is making distance from those people in lower class. Mrs. Birling thinks that upper class people like her shouldn’t live or get close to those working class people like Eva Smith. Mrs. Birling is creating a justification
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apparent through the character of Arthur Birling‚ his ignorant and selfish personality has evidently been very much shaped by the money and success which he has attained through his role as the town mayor. However although Arthur Birling’s earlier life are not mentioned in the play it is evident to the audience that Mr.Birling is not a member of the higher class because of his family‚ but solely by his work and the money he has received. This is shown as Mr Birling finds himself being corrected by his
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