The beginning of the extract, the characters are left "staring, subdued and wondering" which shows a sense of mystery and confusion within the family. They have been left in complete shock because of the event that has just occured. In the stage directions it says that, "Sheila is still quietly crying." This builds up the drama more and proves to us that the situation has really affected her. We can see this throughout the extract. She dislikes her father's comments. The stage directions
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An inspector calls notes * Written in 1945 set in 1912 * An inspector calls is one of J.B.P’s most popular plays * He believed people should be treated equally * In this play we see the awful behaviour of a rich middle class family * How this has lead to the death of Eva smith * They exploit the vulnerable girl * Play begins with an engagement party for Shelia and Gerald * Only the berlins are there. * Eric portrayed as quite childish * Mr B finds talking
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and so the inspectors message in his final speech would have been particularly resonant the people watching at the time. He completely changes how the Birling’s (and Gerard) act and feel throughout the entire book. This puts him at the centre throughout the play even when he is left he still influences people in that he is all they talk about and just when they seem to have decided to forget about him (when they have decided it is all a wind up) they are reminded of him by the phone call which ends
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An Inspector Calls - Key Scene/Turning Point/ Theme A major theme in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ by J. B. Priestley is that of responsibility. The author’s message in the play is that society is interdependent and that we are each responsible for the welfare of all its members. He develops this theme through the experiences of the family of a wealthy, influential and ambitious industrialist, Arthur Birling. To understand the significance of the key scene and its relationship to the theme
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I am going 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
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entirely changed by the Inspector. Sheila becomes rebellious towards her parents (she didn’t take the ring back from Gerald). Along with, the relationship between brother and sister which seems the strongest of all, especially when all other family unity seems to have broken, at first they seemed to argue and hate each other; however, they do have a lot in common as they both care about others of lower classes. Sheila and Eric have nothing to fear from the visit of the 'real' inspector because they have
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a "heavy-looking, rather portentous man in his middle fifties but rather provincial in his speech." • He has worked his way up in the world and is proud of his achievements. He boasts about having been Mayor and tries (and fails) to impress the Inspector with his local standing and his influential friends. • However, he is aware of people who are his social superiors, which is why he shows off about the port to Gerald, "it's exactly the same port your father gets."He is proud that he is likely
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J.B. Priestly presents Arthur Birling as a self-obsessed, work oriented “hard-headed business man” in Act 1. The stage directions describe him as a “heavy-looking, rather portentous man” giving an impression that he looks rather threatening. He is very traditional and speaks formally, even around his family. He has worked hard to raise himself up the social ladder and is proud to think that he’s going to be knighted. Even at his daughter’s engagement party, Birling’s head is still wrapped around
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“…upsetting the child like that”). Her parents are very patronising towards her. However, it could be argued that the fact that Sheila acts like a child is a consequence for her being treated like one. This explains why upon the entrance of the Inspector, she begins to act her age because he is the only one who doesn’t treat her like a child. In Act Two we see, perhaps for
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Taking the play from a socialist perspective inevitably it focuses on issues of social class. Class is a large factor, indirectly, in the events of the play and Eva Smith’s death. Mrs. Birling, Priestley notes, is her husband’s social superior, just as Gerald will be Sheila’s social superior if they do get married. Priestley also subtly notes that Gerald’s mother, Lady Croft, disapproves of Gerald’s marrying Sheila for precisely this reason. Finally, everyone’s treatment of Eva might be put down
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