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Dramatic Irony In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

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The dramatic masterpiece ‘An Inspector Calls’ is arguably a mouthpiece to express the playwrights political views. Priestley uses many techniques to hyperbolise the older generations selfishness and the younger generations empathy as well as their acceptance of all views. Mr birling states “The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war” Priestly uses dramatic irony to portray Mr birling as delusional as we know there are 2 world wars after this play was set. Alternatively, this could mean that Mr birling is trying to reassure himself for the inevitable that is coming and hopefully thinking by saying this over and over will make the war not occur. This dramatic irony is further shown when Mr birling states “The titanic is absolutely unsinkable” It is certain that the Titanic was going to sink and this is symbolic to the Birling's family and society metaphorically sinking. Furthermore when …show more content…

Was it an accident?' this is a direct connotation to Priestley socialist views and from this we can see that Priestley used Shelia as a mouthpiece to promote his socialist views and we can see the difference between the thoughts of the older and the younger. Furthermore Sheila was the first to accept responsibility for Eva Smith's death and take some blame when she said 'I know I’m to blame and I’m desperately sorry' this shows that the so called naïve are even more responsible and mature than the older generation. Moreover we see that she doesn’t believe about the barrier between the upper classes and the working classes she says 'I’ll never, never do it again.' this quote connotes that she has respect even for the working class and even was apologetic about it a girl of her class. When she says 'But that won’t bring Eva Smith back to life, will it?' this shows that Eva Smith is the most important than anything and that she doesn’t want to hear what people would do or wouldn’t do if Eva was still

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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

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