Hyperbole In An Inspector Calls
J.B. Priestly's play, 'An Inspector Calls' explores the theme of responsibility using effective use of characterisation and dramatic structure. The play revolves around the upper-class Birling family and their involvement in the suicide of a young working-class woman. Through their actions, Priestly demonstrates that everybody has a responsibility to look out for each other and that we must consider the consequences of our actions.
The play is set in 1912, just before the events of the first world war, in a small industrial town named Brumley. It opens with a dinner party in the Birling household. The laid-back atmosphere of the party is disturbed by the arrival of a police inspector who informs them of the death of a young woman who had intentionally
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The hyperbole 'asking for the earth' implies that Birling believes they ask for unreasonable pay rises and instead should be thankful for their current wage. Priestley demonstrates to his audience that his attitude is unsympathetic and cruel. The phrase 'these people' is insensitive and rude, dehumanising and equating the workers to expendable factory machines. It indicates that Birling believes the lower classes are insignificant and unworthy of equal treatment from the wealthier upper class. Priestly tries to show that this attitude is wrong and that people should be caring and responsible for helping each other, regardless of whether someone is rich or …show more content…
Sheila is also materialistic. Sheila places great importance on the ring. It symbolises her engagement with a man of high class, which raises her status in society. Sheila says, 'Now I really feel engaged', proving that she requires material proof to identify her love. The ring conveys both materialism and social class rather than the notion of true love. She refers to her mother as 'mummy', highlighting her immature, unaware, childlike attitude. As the play progresses, she formally calls Mrs Birling her 'mother'. Sheila does not feel as intimate with her mother and has lost respect for her due to her behaviour. Sheila's change in language stems from her increasing
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 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 Is Gerald Presented In An Inspector Calls
605 Words | 3 PagesAn Inspector Calls written by J. B. Priestly was first published in 1945. It is a play which has a strong focus on the themes of social responsibility, age, gender, and class. Priestly uses these themes to remind us that not being aware of our actions can sometimes lead to other receiving them as consequences. He wants us to be responsible for both the welfare and behaviours of ourselves but also of others. In the play, we find that some characters tend to be more immersed in either themselves or money/business and this leads them to being a lot less of an admirable character than the ones who are willing to recognise and acknowledge their mistakes.
Symbolism In An Inspector Calls
542 Words | 3 PagesIn the play «An Inspector calls » the author J. B. Presley demonstrates us an upper class family of 1912 which lives in a large suburban house, belonging to a rich manufacturer. The house is in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands. This play is about a rich family with two kids, one of them is Eric. And there is something that we will discover about him through the book. First thing which is said about Eric is: “ Eric is in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive » straight away we realize that there is something not right about him.
The Role Of Social Class In An Inspector Calls By J. B. Priestley
380 Words | 2 PagesIn J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls," the theme of social class plays a significant role in the interactions and conflicts between the characters. The play, set in 1912 England, portrays the Birling family, a wealthy upper-class family, and Inspector Goole, who represents the working class and serves as a moral compass for the story. The Birling family, particularly Mr. Birling, represents the capitalist upper class of the time, who prioritized their own wealth and status over the well-being of others. In the play, Mr. Birling states, "A man has to make his own way – has to look after himself" (Act 1, Scene 2), emphasizing the importance of looking out for oneself and disregarding the consequences of his actions on the lower class.
Use Of Mr Birling In An Inspector Calls
1695 Words | 7 PagesPeople also wanted change and were getting sick of capitalist ways and Priestley wanted to make the most of these changes and put them to use in his play. ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a crime thriller play; however, the play structure fits into
Significance Of Money In An Inspector Calls
1286 Words | 6 PagesDiscuss the significance of money in An Inspector Calls. You must consider language, form and structure in your answer. In the play ‘An Inspector calls’ J.B. Priestley utilises the significance of money and its effects on varying classes by emphasising how money can corrupt and distort societies priorities and sense of moral character in order to prove money is the root of society's problems. His characterisation of the Birlings and how they affected Eva Smith highlights the detrimental effects of class inequality.
How Does Priestley Present Injustice In An Inspector Calls
1425 Words | 6 PagesIn An Inspector calls, Priestley uses The Inspector to present injustice in society through his questioning of the Birling family and Gerald Croft. The Inspector gradually uncovers the selfish and unjust acts which the family enacts upon the lower classes through their abuse of their power and status over people, not showing the slightest bit of care for their wellbeing, barely treating their workers as individual beings with their own lives and emotions, just caring about the money they are making for them, and treating the lower class in general as lower beings in general, not being worth the time to understand or sympathise with. The Inspector exposes the acts of injustice by the upper class towards the lower classes through his questioning
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
Tension In An Inspector Calls
1294 Words | 6 PagesEva Smith, a young low class girl, committed suicide due to the cruel and distressing events in her life that were viciously triggered by members of two high class families. When this was discovered, Inspector Goole was sent to their house in fictional Brumley to ask them questions. He interrupts the family’s jovial celebratory dinner, creating unexpected tension. Through his persuasive tactics and forceful personality, the inspector managed to get them all to confess. J.B. Priestley’s play “An inspector calls,” is the dramatist plea for a better future in which individuals acknowledge their responsibility to society by using Inspector Goole, who is portrayed as a particularly powerful character, to spread his socialist thoughts.
Inspector Goole In An Inspector Calls
1356 Words | 6 PagesInspector calls coursework: Question: How does priestly present the Inspector Goole and what effect does he have on the characters and the audience? In the play “An Inspector calls”, the character of Inspector Goole is represented in various ways throughout the play, for instance he is portrayed as God-like, as a messenger sent from god to convey the important message of how everyone in society should be treated equally regardless of their social status or wealth. Treating people differently just because of how much wealth they acquire creates a social barrier between people, which causes segregation to occur between the upper class, middle class and the lower class. In addition to that, it creates a sense of isolation or negligence for some people who are not as wealthy or financially stable as other, which would make them feel like they are treated unfairly in society.
Exposure And Poppies Comparison
931 Words | 4 PagesPriestley's play "An Inspector Calls" is a complex one, and opinions differ on whether or not he is a hypocrite. Some argue that he is inconsistent in his behavior and actions, while others believe that his actions are justified by his overarching mission to expose the hypocrisy of the Birling family. In this essay, we will explore the evidence for and against the idea that Inspector Goole is a hypocrite. On the one hand, there are several instances in the play where Inspector Goole's actions could be seen as hypocritical.
Essay On Sheila's Change In An Inspector Calls
1041 Words | 5 PagesThe stage directions describe her as a “pretty girl” rather than a woman which could be due to her unmarried status but implies that she is child-like and immature as a person. This unsophisticated image of Sheila is shown
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.
Inspector Goole Character Analysis
1642 Words | 7 PagesPriestly attempts to exemplify in Mr Birling’s character into the type of mentality that majority of upper class capitalist business men had in the early 1900s in England. It is extremely ironic that the Inspector rings the bell of the house just as Mr Birling is telling Eric and Gerald that people must look out solely for their own interests ("a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own - and - “ act 1): throughout his interrogation, the Inspector champions the very opposite idea - that "we are all responsible for each other.” The Inspectors view on community as a whole is considered a very socialist view. Notably, Priestly was socialist after all and used the play as a more socially acceptable way of stating his opinion on social responsibility, politics and labour rights. The
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