Examples Of Dramatic Irony In An Inspector Calls

One of the several themes that Priestley has introduced to the play is ‘Time,’ and this theme not only interlinks with some others like ‘Age and Youth’ and ‘Social Responsibility,’ but also introduces a very important drama technique into the play for the audience called the dramatic irony.

In Act One, Mr. Birling, as a representative of the older generation of the play and the head of the family, is talking to the others about the progress humanity is making and mentions the liner, Titanic saying it is “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” The word ‘absolutely’ in this context shows just how confident in his words Mr. Birling is, without understanding that it will all change. As the play is set back in 1912, but is performed much later in 1946, after the audience knows, and finds it ironic that Mr. Birling, thinking he is an old, wise man says such nonsense, as time will show.This is the first example of dramatic irony, which in this play happens mostly because of the difference in time periods of when the play was set and

He says it, despite the miners’ strike he claims happened recently, which goes against the ‘prosperity’ that he is promising his family. Yet, the audience knows that the time will show that it only will continue going downwards from that point. This shows how even though the time keeps moving, we need to look back at the happenings of the past. It is also another example of the dramatic irony. The audience finds the things Arthur Birling says ironic with how inaccurate they are and almost controversial because the events, for example, the war and the Wall Street Crash, have caused catastrophes and were likely to affect the audience. Consequently, it would make the audience feel very aware but also not happy with the character of Mr.