Jo McIntosh 9517 Highcliffe School: 55215

In Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’ how does JB Priestley use

dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the
members of the audience, as well as interest and involve
them in his play?

The concerns and messages that JB Priestley puts forth in

the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ are the inequalities in society
and how he seeks to promote socialist ideas. Priestley
juxtaposes socialism and capitalism, Mr. Birling is symbolic
of the views of capitalism and the Inspector is the
mouthpiece of Priestley and his socialist viewpoint.
Collective responsibility is another concern shared with the
audience – ‘we are all members of one body’.

The play is set in 1912, although it was 1945 when the play
was first performed. This is important as Priestley writes in
retrospect, her uses the Edwardian era to show us the
unfairness of an unequal or unbalanced society.

Priestley uses dramatic devices in a number of ways to

convey his concerns. Firstly, he uses dramatic irony such as
when Birling says ‘I say there isn’t a chance of war… the
Titanic… and unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable… facts like
that.’ With the Second World War and the fact Titanic did
sink, the audience have this knowledge, so think Birling a
fool. The dramatic irony, used by Priestley, mocks Birling and
promotes the Inspectors views instead of Birling’s. Birling
also says ‘The world’s developing so fast that it’ll make war
impossible’ – a hugely ironic statement in view of the
technical nature of modern warfare.

Priestley’s use of lighting adds atmosphere to the whole

play, such as, at the beginning, it is ‘Pink and intimate’ in the
room where the Birlings are eating, as if they are surrounded
by their own aura of happiness. Yet when the Inspector
arrives, the lighting becomes ‘a bright and harder light’ as if
the Inspector’s presence is already exposing the Birlings to
reality. The ringing of the doorbell is significant as it takes
away the Birlings from their perfect evening into the harsh

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Jo McIntosh 9517 Highcliffe School: 55215

realities they shy away from. It is also significant that the

Inspector rings the doorbell just as Birling is making his
speech about ‘community and all that nonsense’ – this could
be suggestive of socialisms need to disrupt or challenge
existing orders.
The stage directions at the opening of the play show the
Birlings as respected, wealthy, comfortable Capitalists
‘champagne glasses’ etc. Yet there is a sense of formality
and distance between them – ‘not cosy and homelike’. This
distance could already suggest hidden secrets each
character is exposed to throughout the play.

Priestley juxtaposes the opposing views of the Inspector and

Birling – ‘we are all members of one body’ against ‘a man
has to make his own way’. The Inspector shows that
socialism is true/honest and he avoids euphemisms yet uses
graphic imagery – ‘burnt her insides out’. The Inspector
comes across as Omniscient and a God-like figure. He is
considered a threat – ‘blood and fire and anguish’ and
possible a ghostly figure – ‘Goole’ – ghoul? He incites the
audience to recognize and understand the depth of his
message – ‘we are all members of one body’.

Some people believe the Birlings are symbolic of the 7

deadly sins. Birling might represent greed/pride; Gerald
symbolizes lust as Sheila symbolizes envy. Sybil could
represent wrath and Eric, sloth/lust. Yet both Sheila and Eric
express remorse for Eva Smith’s death, which could
symbolize hope for the future.

Another dramatic device Priestley uses is the tension he

creates when underlying secrets amongst the Birlings are
revealed. For example, when the Inspector mentions that
‘she stopped being Eva Smith, looking for a job, and became
Daisy Renton,’ Gerald replies with ‘Where did you get the
idea that I did know her?’ As the audience already trusts and
believes the Inspector, they feel the tension created by
Priestley and wonder what link Gerald has with this girl too.

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Jo McIntosh 9517 Highcliffe School: 55215

The timings of the play are dramatic too, such as the

moment that the Inspector arrives just after Birlings speech
on Capitalism and ‘the younger generation’. The fact that
the Inspector changes the views of Sheila and Eric (‘the
younger generation’) shows his effects on people. Both
Sheila and Eric are the only ones that feel responsible for
Eva Smith’s death, signifying effects on ‘the younger
generation’. The final re-entrance of the Inspector at the end
of Act One, he says ‘well?’ which shows that socialism
demands answers.
The methods used to interest and involve the audience, plus
the fact that much of Act One is actually ironic in retrospect,
is due to the dramatic irony Priestley creates.

The way characters exits are used to further the plot is

significant as this leave the Inspector free to interrogate the
individual Birlings. For example, when Arthur Birling leaves
the room where the Inspector is free to question Gerald and
when Gerald leaves, then returns in Act Three.

As soon as the Inspector arrives and starts to interrogate the

Birlings, our opinions on them change. From a privileged,
rich, wealthy and respected family to a foolish one, they are
exposed to the damage they have cause and the people
they’ve affected.

I believe the message of the play is the need for socialism

and that everyone is responsible for each other. The
Inspector signifies the message of the play and the Birlings
represent the people that believe in Capitalism and ‘every
man for himself’. I believe this message is still relevant today
as it tells everyone that you can’t go through life on your
own without responsibility.

The dramatic irony used in the play teaches us not to be

certain about anything and that there are still possibilities.
The lighting exposes the audience, as well as the Birling’s, to
the harsh realities they are oblivious too. The stage
directions teach us that appearances don’t show us the true

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Jo McIntosh 9517 Highcliffe School: 55215

people we are e.g. the Birlings and their secrets the

Inspector reveals. Community and collective responsibility
are central in the play and Priestley shows this, along with
his concerns, ideas and messages, by using dramatic
devices.

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