ipl-logo

Conflict In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

506 Words3 Pages

How does J.B. Priestley present conflict in the play “An Inspector Calls”? An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestley is a play composed of three acts that is centred on the suicide of Eva Smith and the “chain of events” that lead to the unfortunate incident. Priestley’s heroine Sheila is presented as a Socialist. Consequently, her relationship with her parents fluctuates as she embraced the need for social justice. In the beginning of the play Priestley portrayed Sheila as the perfect daughter ready to be whisked away in the engagement that would allow the Birling’s to procure a higher status. In particular Birling suggests to “look forward to a time when the (friendly rivals) Crofts and Birling’s are no longer competing.” The oxymoron suggests Sheila’s relationship with Gerald is the key to acquiring social mobility. However, by the third act Sheila no longer aims to impress Gerald. Instead Sheila (bitterly) announce: “You …show more content…

Moreover, the conflict between the Inspector and Birling is magnified through several use of dramatic irony. To exemplify; in the beginning Priestley introduced Birling as a “hard-headed business man”. The alliteration amplifies Birling’s desire for prosperity. Thus, creates a positive impression on the contemporary audience. However, as the play progresses Birling’s continuous lack of credibility impacts the audience negatively. Birling; clearly disliked by the playwright, is not only portrayed as self-important but a person with no sense of decorum which is not only repugnant to Priestley but also to the audience. Additionally, Birling is left “damned exasperated” by the conclusion of the play. The expletive emphasises the ramifications of the Inspector in Birling’s ego. Perhaps, this conflict between the Inspector (the surrogate author) and Birling is a result of the powerful opposing views between: capitalism and

Show More
Related

The Bass And Sheila Mant Summary

290 Words | 2 Pages

In short story, The Bass, The River, and Sheila Mant, author W.D. Whetherell characterizes Sheila Mant to be a lazy, self centered, and rude teenager. Fisrtly, the reader finds out that in a low stakes game of softball Sheila does not like having a lot responsibilities. The narrator confronts her and tells her to move to a different spot but gets a response from Sheila saying “‘ I don’t like the responsibility of having a base’’(9). This shows how Sheila does not like having to be responsible for her faults in the game, so it is something that a reader would notice about her character and think that she is not responsible or just lazy. The next encounter with Sheila is a big turning point in the story for the reader to learn about Sheila’s

Read More

Conflicting Loyalties In The Oresteia

1287 Words | 6 Pages

While the events taking place throughout the play are outlandish, but the actions aroused by the conflicting loyalties are comprehendible. The audience can still analyze the character’s actions and thoughts and recognize that they are genuine and understandable human encounters. From this, a sense of humanity—that we all have certain concerns and duties and we must respond to them

Read More

How Does The Inspector Take Responsibility In The Crucible

370 Words | 2 Pages

In the inspector calls the inspector shown as a all knowing main charcter. His purpose within the play is to make the Birling family take responsibility for there foul actions they took towards eve smith/daisy renton Priestly uses the quote "each of you helped kill her"this imply that the inspector wanted them to accept there and share there responsibility for each action the Birlings faimily did. Alternatively it also shows that due to the class of Birlings it took the inspectors appearance for them to realise there Responsibility as before they were very adimate that they would not take responsibility"i cant take any responsibility"In summery it shows how much the inspector wants them to see the wrong they have done and accept it. Looking specifically

Read More

The Judge Pyncheon Character Analysis

975 Words | 4 Pages

The suggestion that the Judge’s life contains “splendid rubbish [...] to cover up and paralyze a more active and subtle conscience” displays the duality of the characterization which the narrator creates. The juxtaposition of “splendid” and “rubbish” serve to expose the Judge’s deteriorating morals, while crafting the surface of respectability. This subtle use of contrasting opinions aids to establish the narrator’s sarcastic tone, simultaneously displaying the judge’s desired character and then undermining that character with suggestions of his true nature. The choice of the word “rubbish” especially highlights the sarcastic tone, equating the sequence of Judge Pyncheon’s life to that of trash, worthy of nothing. This carefully placed, critical diction reveals the true feelings of the narrator, bolstering his sarcasm.

Read More

The Birling Family In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

414 Words | 2 Pages

In 1912, the difference between upper and lower class was very distinctive and noticeable to everyone in that society. The upper class were sophisticated, traditionally intelligent and had recognisable titles for other classes to identify them and to give themselves pride ,although the lower class usually worked cheap labour and struggled greatly to have a decent quality of life. In An Inspector Calls, the Birling family represent a typical upper class family but they are still aware of Gerald’s families status above them and Priestley represents the character of Arthur Birling to be very mindful of this and his ambition is portrayed in many ways throughout the play. Arthur Birling addresses the lower class as “these people” when talking about the issues with Eva Smith, this represents his capitalist views as he does not believe that a man like himself, a “hard-headed businessman”, should be looking after the poorer members of society.

Read More

Gender Stereotypes In An Inspector Calls Essay

1410 Words | 6 Pages

Priestly depicts gender stereotypes to emphasise gender in a capitalistic, misogynistic and patriarchal society, in his play 'An Inspector Calls'. Priestly portrays women as emotional, commodified, materialistic and irresponsible to highlight the way that a misogynistic capitalist society operates. In a similar manner, Priestly presents men as arrogant, ambitious, dominant, and strong. By doing this Priestly aims to critique capitalism and the underlying implications and undercurrent of problems which capitalism brings to provoke a reaction in the audience to promote socialism. Priestly presents women as weak, emotional and irresponsible throughout the entire play by using Sheila to show the 'pink and intimate' safety bubble and facade which her family lives in.

Read More

Morality And Double Standards In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

504 Words | 3 Pages

In 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.

Read More

The Role Of Lighting In J. B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

928 Words | 4 Pages

J.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

Read More

How Does Priestley Use Juxtaposition In An Inspector Calls

1622 Words | 7 Pages

An Inspector Calls, also known as the ‘well-made’ play, is a dramatisation of the Modern English society. Set during an ‘evening in spring: 1912’ and produced on ‘1st of October: 1946’ (after the outbreak of the Second World War), the play relies heavily on the audience's knowledge to disclose the dramatic irony. This smart use of different set time exposes Mr Birling’s words as he mentions the Titanic will successfully sail in a world where war is eluded, which makes him sound doubtful about what's to come. Priestley in general believed in social justice, growing up amongst socialist, he was aware of the harsh economic realities and was committed to assisting the poor, offered a knighthood and peerage however declined to accepting them demonstrates his solid convictions. Through An

Read More

Essay On Sheila's Change In An Inspector Calls

1041 Words | 5 Pages

In An Inspector Calls the character Sheila changes and matures significantly throughout the play. Priestly aims to encourage and persuade the 1912 audience to consider the negative power of capitalists and that socialism is a better way forward. Sheila contributes to Priestly’s moral message about socialism and capitalism by emphasising the possibility for change which is up to the younger generation. At the start of the play, Sheila is portrayed as a spoiled daughter who has been taught to be submissive to her parents.

Read More

Macbeth: Integrity

1155 Words | 5 Pages

Macbeth Study Guide This response will analyze and evaluate the thematic messages regarding integrity that Shakespeare constructs through his use of literary devices and stylistic features. This essay will address the play Macbeth and the aspects regarding integrity such as representations or changes, character constructions along with their perspectives, and social/cultural beliefs and their expectations. In addition to this, the ways ideas, attitudes and values underpin the play will be discussed, the perspectives and representations of concepts, identities, times and places will also be examined through the use of aesthetic features in the play.

Read More

The Bass The River And Sheila Mant Character Analysis

708 Words | 3 Pages

In The Bass the River and Sheila Mant, W.D. Wetherell uses character development of Sheila and internal conflict of the narrator in order to show that the choices you make to please others are not as good as the choices you make to help yourself. In the beginning, the narrator explains character development to describe Sheila and why she is so desirable. The narrator likes Sheila so much because she is a little bit older than him and that makes it harder to be with her, which drives the narrator more and more. The narrator is describing Sheila, in the beginning of the story to show how interested he is with her.

Read More

Gender And Gender Stereotypes In Shakespeare's Macbeth

1514 Words | 7 Pages

Shakespeare’s tragedy, Macbeth, focuses on the tumultuous events that surround a regicide. Despite being the shortest of Shakespeare’s plays, in his critical study of the play A. C. Bradley concludes that due to its vehement nature the audience is left with an impression “not of brevity but of speed” . The principal female character of Lady Macbeth is arguably one of his most contentious. Consumed with intense passion, ambition and greed she challenges the subservient role of the traditional Elizabethan woman. She has disturbed, horrified and intrigued both contemporary and modern audiences alike through her powerful diction.

Read More

Similarities Between Lady Macbeth And An Inspector Calls

1469 Words | 6 Pages

In this essay I will be comparing two female characters from different texts and different time periods. We will be looking in depth at Lady Macbeth from Shakespeare 's play 'Macbeth ', and Sheila from J.B. Priestley 's 'An Inspector Calls '. We will be looking at their roles in their respective plays, and how their characters develop over time. It is clear that both ladies are in strong relationships, but how they act within these relationships is vastly different.

Read More

The Roles In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

933 Words | 4 Pages

'An Inspector Calls ' written by J.B. Priestley in 1945, revolves around an investigation into a working-class girl who committed suicide due to the Capitalist nature of society. In this play Priestley uses each character to represent an important message to deliver to the audience, mostly about the theme of responsibility. Priestley uses the young Sheila Birling, a carefree lady, to drive the play forward. Her importance shows the audience the need for a social change where gender equality is concerned and it highlights differences in attitude among the generations. In addition, it seems that Sheila becomes a 'Second Inspector ' towards the end of the play in order to reinforce Priestley 's message.

Read More

More about Conflict In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

Related Topics

Open Document