to be exploring the role and function of the inspector in “An Inspector Calls“. I am going to break down his role in the play, explore his effects on the other characters and analyse his stage presence and also show his intention in coming to the Birling household. I am also going to express whether I think, in the play, the inspector is supposed to be a real person or something other. When exploring the effects that the inspector has on the other characters I will describe the characters personalities
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‘cosmic time-lord’ or have compared him to ‘The ghost of Christmas Yet to Come’ from Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’. At the beginning of the play, time is used to undermine Arthur Birling, as he makes a series of misplaced predictions about the future. This dramatic irony serves not only to belittle Birling, but to criticise the idea of capitalism, which he represents. The first audience to watch the play in 1946 would be well aware of his miscalculation when he states that the Titanic, a ship
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heavy-handed sermonizing. Arthur Birling and his family are celebrating their daughter Sheila’s engagement to Gerald Croft. This will also merge two corporate competitors, resulting in higher profits. Priestley relies on the audience’s knowledge of recent events to color Birling’s optimism with irony as he extols the wonders of the Titanic, which is about to set sail into a world that will avoid war. These ironies also foreshadow the impending disaster about to strike the Birlings when Inspector Goole unexpectedly
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the title of the play. Priestly wishes to convey the importance of the Inspector before the play has begun. The Inspector arrives in the middle of Birling’s speech in the first Act. He informs the Birlings that a girl called Eva Smith has committed suicide. He says Eva’s diary names members of the Birling family. ‘A girl has died in the infirmary’. Suddenly the whole story changes, from it being a joyful celebration of an engagement into an interrogation. This shows his importance because he has changed
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remains confident, sturdy and composed, while people around him crumble and fall to pieces. His ‘solidity’ is proven by the fact he remains on task despite numerous attempts from Birling to digress from the points he is making. The Inspector is told to appear ‘purposeful’; this is shown where he explains to Birling that Birlings way of thinking “Every man must only look out for himself,” is not the case, and all warps of society are interlinked. The view is best illustrated in the Inspectors final speech
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unfounded? As Act 1 of An Inspector Calls continues we see that Arthur Birling seems to be a confident and powerful man who is clearly anxious to be seen as a successful businessman and the head of his family. He is apparently very pleased with the way life is turning out for him and the other Birlings. Priestley sets the play in 1912 but it was first performed in 1945. He quite deliberately proceeds to make Mr Birling speak, in these first scenes of An Inspector Calls of events which the audience
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Sheila and Eric important in the play? The characters of Sheila and Eric are important in the play as; Priestley introduces them to be coming from a trouble-free, spoiled and wealthy family background where there are no problems, although later we find out that this is not the case. Firstly, they are important since, they represent the younger generation who are open to change and equality. They are open to new ideas as well as, improvements. The evidence for this is found in act1 when, Eric and Sheila
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Gerald Croft works at his father's company, Crofts Limited, which is both older and larger than Mr Birling’s company Birling & Co. He is about to marry Sheila Mr Birling’s daughter. Lord Croft and Lady Croft are Gerald’s parents, are above the Birlings socially, and it looks as if his mother criticises his engagement to Sheila. Priestly depicts Gerald as "an attractive chap about thirty ... very much the easy well-bred young-man-about-town." He In Priestley’s view Gerald represents the selfish attitudes
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document... Introduction Describe the importance of Sheila's role in the play.-Michael Rowell At the beginning Sheila was not one of the main characters as Birling takes centre stage. Setting on the play seemed revolved around the characters. The older furniture in the living room matched the aging and upper class type that is Birling. During the play Sheila is the only concerned and totally serious character to the situation. There are some well linked scenes in the play setting a mood for Sheila
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happy about the fact they consider themselves above the majority of people they are obviously wary about the fact there are people more important than they are. ‘It’s a pity Sir George and – er – Lady Croft.’ The way this happens shows that Mr. Birling believes in social importance that’s why he’s trying to be careful with what he says as their son is with them, and any slip up could affect him. Then in privacy he brings this up with Gerald ‘I have an idea that your mother - Lady Croft… feels
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