How Does Priestley Present The Theme Of Power In An Inspector Calls
How does Priestley use language and structure to present the theme of power in “An Inspector Calls”?
JB Priestley’s “An Inspector Calls” uses numerous literary and structural techniques to convey the theme of power within London in 1912, when the play is set (shortly before the end of the Edwardian era). During this period, capitalism within Britain led to the division of the upper class and the working class. Throughout the play, the struggle for ‘Power’ can be represented through the characters of Arthur and Sybil Birling, who represent the capitalist beliefs, while the inspector who represents the socialist members of society and tries to challenge the Birling family's selfish attitudes and shows them how their actions have contributed
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For example, in Act One, it was revealed that she was employed at Birling & Co. and was one of several workers who have gone on strike to demand a pay raise. However, when Mr Birling became aware of this, he “refused, of course” and fired Eva. This demonstrates how Eva had little economic power, as he could dictate her wages, her working conditions, and ultimately her employment under his company. This left Eva with even less power and fewer ways to support herself financially. She was unable to negotiate for better wages or job security, despite having “a lot to say”. This suggests that Eva fought hard to create a better life for herself, but met rejection through Arthur Birling, who held firm beliefs in his actions, and was unwilling to take responsibility for his actions and instead tried to shift the blame onto others. This demonstrates Birling's unwillingness to acknowledge his actions and the negative impact it had on Eva's life. Additionally, in Act Two, Mrs Birling refers to Eva as "just a girl" and refuses to help her when she comes before the Women's Charity Organization for assistance. This shows how Eva has little social power, as she is viewed as a lesser individual and is unable to receive support from those in positions of authority, even in organisations set to help others. This reinforces the idea that those with more power and privilege in society are often able to exploit and mistreat those with less power, leaving them
Mr Birling Quotes
541 Words | 3 PagesIn J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," Mr Birling is portrayed as a wealthy businessman and a prominent member of the community. He is the head of a family that represents the upper class of Edwardian society, and his views and opinions reflect the prevailing attitudes of his time. Mr Birling's views on gender are typical of the patriarchal and conservative attitudes of his time. He believes that women should be submissive and should not have a say in political or economic matters.
How Is Mr Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls
1785 Words | 8 PagesAn inspector calls, written by J.B Priestly, is a play based on a suicide of a young woman Mr birling was the most to blame as he started the chain of misfortunate events of Eva Smith’s life which eventually lead to her suicide. Mr Birling is an exalted as well as being a wealthy capitalist, he is also portrayed as being a rather portentous man. Moreover, Priestly presents him as a middle-class citizen and extremely proud of his company Birling and co While boastingly claiming that he has “a couple of hundred workers under” him “which keep changing.” Due to his higher status to Eva Smith he views the working class as cheap labour rather than humans.
How Does Priestley Present Gerald In An Inspector Calls
994 Words | 4 PagesHow does Priestley Present Gerald in An Inspector Calls In his didactic play ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents Gerald, and the upper class as a whole, to be extremely callous and unwilling to accept the opportunity for redemption. He explores themes and ideologies such as patriarchy in order to excoriate those for living protected in an ‘ivory tower’ of wealth, luxury and, most significantly, denial. The methods used by Priestley to do all of this encourages the audience in a contemporary society to look at themselves with an inverted eye and strive for equality.
How Does Priestley Present Mccarthyism In An Inspector Calls
1401 Words | 6 PagesAs a result of the Birlings'' for all intents and purposes capitalist viewpoint, Priestley clearly actually shows the disparity between the for all intents and purposes upper and definitely lower classes in An Inspector Calls, which basically leads to Eva Smith\'s very tragic suicide as a result of the Birlings\' kind of capitalist viewpoint on life in a subtle way. There specifically is no doubt that Priestley focused on the patriarchal nature of sort of British society at the time, doing so to emphasise the need for change to basically take place in Britain, especially for families like the Birlings, who mostly are represented by Priestley\'s work, which basically is quite significant. At the start of the play Priestley actually highlights
J. B Priestley's Use Of The Inspector In The Crucible
1359 Words | 6 PagesThrough the character of the Inspector, Priestley advocates for the lower class and their welfare; a change in society’s attitude,
Gender Roles In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
609 Words | 3 Pages‘Inspector calls’ was made in 1944 but set in 1912. As during that, time men were seen to be deemed superior to women, as they would work and represent the family since their last name came from the man. This is shown in the play when Mrs. Birling says to Sheila, her daughter, “when you’re married you’ll realise that men with important jobs to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time on the business”. Priestly writes Mrs. Birling to represent the ‘traditional wife’ although Sheila can be seen as a modern woman as she is the next generation after Mrs. Birling. This suggest that they have different values and ideologies, and how some are better than others, due to the new generation being able to learn from the older generations mistakes.
The Role Of Lighting In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls
928 Words | 4 PagesJ.B Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1945, the last year of World War 2 but sets it in 1912 a time of inequality where upper and lower class was distinguished and treated differently within society and where a big gap existed among poor and rich people. The play introduces us to the theme of social inequality and social responsibility displaying the fact that trade unions were very weak, workers had few rights, wages were very low and many other injustices where made specially towards women; they were treated very differently then men and they were looked on as less important in society. Lighting is changed at the arrival of the Inspector "The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder" this displays a contrast between scenes and atmosphere. It also shows the change in mood; suggesting a cheerful environment and a very joyfully and delight mood, everybody feeling thrilled for Shelia 's engagement and celebrating united as a family. But it changes to "brighter and harder" at the arrival of the Inspector and
Sheila As A Dynamic Character Of Eva In An Inspector Calls
1636 Words | 7 Pagesn ‘An Inspector Calls’, J.B Priestley uses the lack of moral and social responsibility in the Birling family to highlight the contrast between an upper-class family in 1912, the time where the play was set, and an upper class family in 1945, when it was first performed. Society had further developed since 1912 with the upper class and lower class now having a much more equal say in general due to England becoming a socialist country. J.B Priestley was born and grew up into a middle-class family in 1894 and the play would have most likely been written from Priestley’s personal struggles in the 1910s with the upper class’s capitalist mindset. Priestley was an advocate of socialism, and his views are presented towards the end of the play through
How Is Mr Birling Presented In An Inspector Calls
757 Words | 4 PagesHow is Mrs birling presented in An inspector calls In an inspector call, Mrs Birling is presented in a way that makes her unlikeable. She is shown to be rude and condescending as well as arrogant. She can be seen as condescending as she often corrects her family members, especially at the begging of the first act, she is very concerned with keeping up appearances and making sure that her family behaves properly.
How Does Priestley Present The Inspector In An Inspector Calls
1316 Words | 6 PagesAn Inspector Calls Explore how Priestley presents the character of the Inspector in this text. Priestley presents the Inspector as working class through the Inspector’s use of language. This can be seen on page 184 (Act One), where the Inspector says, ‘...never did anybody no harm.’ The Inspector’s use of a double negative implies he had a bad quality of education, something which was common among working class families in the early 20th century.
Theme Of Social Responsibility In An Inspector Calls
1867 Words | 8 PagesPriestley wrote “An Inspector Calls” in 1945, when two dominant superpowers, representing the conflicting ideologies of capitalism and socialism, emerged victorious at the end of the Second World War. The play focuses on the conflict of interest between capitalism and socialism: social responsibility. Birling is symbolic of self-interested capitalism, an ideology that completely rejects all forms of social responsibility: ‘a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own’. Inspector Goole is a mouthpiece for Priestley's authorial voice, insisting that social responsibilities be acknowledged: ‘We are responsible for each other’. Priestley portrays the capitalist, Birling, as the foolish antagonist of the play and the socialist,
How Does Priestley Present Social Class In An Inspector Calls
3596 Words | 15 PagesThe inspector questions Priestley’s character's social and political views and exhibits to us how the upper class acted at this time. This is done by giving us characters who are very different from each other, the younger generation which contrast the older generation. Priestley uses this contrast to allude to how there is a shift towards socialism within the younger generation.
Morality And Double Standards In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls
504 Words | 3 PagesIn the play An Inspector Calls written by J.B Priestley, the use of morality and double standards gives us an insight into the society of the early 1900s; which remains relevant in social stratification, cultural and deviance aspects. Through the story of Arthur Birling, Mrs. Sybil Birling and their children Eric and Sheila. The upper-class family, with untouchable reputation, enjoy of an intimate party soiree in honour of Sheila's engagement to Gerald Croft. Son of a well-known business man, Sir George Croft from Crofts Limited. When Inspector Goole pays a mood-changing visit, resulting in the systematic manipulation of the presumably respectable characters.
How Does Priestley Present Eric In An Inspector Calls
1494 Words | 6 PagesPriestley presents Eric in an ambiguous manner in An Inspector Calls. Priestley’s portrayal of Eric contrasts his portrayal of Mr Birling through form, language and structure. Eric realises that there is no meritocracy in 1912 society and capitalism exists predominantly to exploit workers and create money for members of the upper class such as his parents. I think that he is seen as a representative of a socialist society, a victim of alcoholism, immature and an individual who lacks but also accepts collective social responsibility. Priestley’s effective change in Eric’s character over the course of the play ensures the audience’s opinion change also.
Use Of Dramatic Irony In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
1072 Words | 5 PagesJ.B. Priestley wrote An Inspector Calls in 1945, which had a powerful moral message at its core: responsibility. In the play, a privileged family is implicated in the suicide of a young girl, Eva Smith. As Priestley presents this theme of responsibility, he uses a variety of dramatic techniques including characterisation, setting and stage directions, dramatic irony and climax. A key purpose of this essay is to explore the various drama techniques Priestley uses to convey his views on responsibility to the audience; something that is still relevant today as it was in 1945 dramatic irony p Through the portrayal of Mr. Birling and the use of dramatic irony, Priestley keeps highlighting the significance of this issue of responsibility. Gerald
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