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How Does Priestley Create Tension In An Inspector Calls

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Mark my GCSE English Literature Coursework out of 30, give me any feedback needed in terms of many aspects like clarity and grammmar: In the play An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley, the character of Eric Birling, Mr. Birling's son, is presented as a complex and significant figure. Set in 1912, before the tragedies of the Titanic and both World Wars, the play explores the social views of individuals and themes in a time period that differed vastly from the 1946 context in which it was written and performed. The playwright, a socialist, was critical of capitalism, and the Birlings, an affluent capitalist family, serve as a representation of the wealthy elite in society. The Inspector, a socialist spokesperson, is present to critique capitalism …show more content…

Priestley examines Eric Birling's transition from an implacable and conceited child to a mature and rising socialist in his timeless, symbolic sermon about social conscience. The audience may find it easiest to relate to his metamorphosis because he initially blames society for his errors before progressively realizing his societal obligation. Through Eric's character, Priestley highlights the potential for the younger generation to break free from the negative aspects of their inherited social structures and take responsibility for establishing a society that is more fair and just. Priestley's portrayal of Eric Birling offers insight into the social issues prevalent in the early 20th century, such as gender limitations, class divides, and the struggle for individual identity. By presenting a character like Eric, who is both flawed and sympathetic, Priestley encourages the audience to think critically about their own values and beliefs. The character's moral growth serves as a reminder that change is possible, and that personal accountability is a crucial component of societal progress. Overall, Eric's journey in An Inspector Calls is one of self-discovery and moral development. While the play offers a critique of capitalism and the upper class, it also offers hope for the future through characters like Eric who are willing to take responsibility for their actions and strive for a better society. The audience may feel a sense of sympathy and understanding towards Eric, recognizing the struggles he faces as a young man trying to navigate a rapidly changing world. Priestley's message is clear; personal responsibility and moral growth are the keys to creating a more just and equitable society, the future is full of

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Priestley implies that higher social class makes people greedy, through creating Mr Birling as a symbol of pomposity of capitalists in Edwardian society. He is constantly insecure in his own position and comes from the nouveau riche, making him socially inferior to the Crofts. Priestly illustrates how even Mr Birling experiences class prejudice despite being middle-upper class which provokes him to work harder and explains why he cares so much about being a ‘practical man of business’ and expanding his business to earn more money to decrease his insecurity. This is displayed when he says ‘There’ll be a public scandal... and who here will suffer for that more than I will’ indicating how significant money and his business is to him that he cares for his reputation before anything else. The desire of being associated amongst a higher class is the crucial reason for Mr Birling’s perspective on life, he is constantly striving to make more and more money to be able to live happily.

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Throughout the course of the year, as a class, we have discussed countless works from a variety of authors, artists, directors and speakers. One overarching theme from these works is the ability that a character can have to redefine social standards and have the courage to break societal norms. In society, it is incredibly hard to take a different stance than your peers and choose an alternative to the ordinary. The contrasting forces between good and evil in the world is the cause for exceptional people who are able to break social norms, however, not always in a positive manner. In the novel To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, the film Schindler’s List directed by Steven Spielberg, and the short story “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut,

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An Inspector Calls ‘An Inspector Calls’ is a play written Just after the second world war by the playwright J.B Priestly, The Play is set in 1912 with a working class family in brumley when an inspector shows up during a family celebration but it does not turn out the best. The Character of Mr Arthur Birling is meant to be a ‘Responsible’ man but after he has given his fair share of advice to Gerald and Eric we quickly learn that he is rather more selfish than responsible during his speech he says “A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course... The cranks talking as if we were all mixed up together” prior to this the Birling Family were celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald

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In An Inspector calls, Priestley uses The Inspector to present injustice in society through his questioning of the Birling family and Gerald Croft. The Inspector gradually uncovers the selfish and unjust acts which the family enacts upon the lower classes through their abuse of their power and status over people, not showing the slightest bit of care for their wellbeing, barely treating their workers as individual beings with their own lives and emotions, just caring about the money they are making for them, and treating the lower class in general as lower beings in general, not being worth the time to understand or sympathise with. The Inspector exposes the acts of injustice by the upper class towards the lower classes through his questioning

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How does Priestley Present Gerald in An Inspector Calls In his didactic play ‘An Inspector Calls’, Priestley presents Gerald, and the upper class as a whole, to be extremely callous and unwilling to accept the opportunity for redemption. He explores themes and ideologies such as patriarchy in order to excoriate those for living protected in an ‘ivory tower’ of wealth, luxury and, most significantly, denial. The methods used by Priestley to do all of this encourages the audience in a contemporary society to look at themselves with an inverted eye and strive for equality.

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An Inspector Calls written by J. B. Priestly was first published in 1945. It is a play which has a strong focus on the themes of social responsibility, age, gender, and class. Priestly uses these themes to remind us that not being aware of our actions can sometimes lead to other receiving them as consequences. He wants us to be responsible for both the welfare and behaviours of ourselves but also of others. In the play, we find that some characters tend to be more immersed in either themselves or money/business and this leads them to being a lot less of an admirable character than the ones who are willing to recognise and acknowledge their mistakes.

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This makes us respect Eric and value his honesty, despite the crimes he has committed. Priestley also reflects that Eric “wasn’t in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport.” Despite his honesty, Eric frequently hesitates before telling the truth which shows that he is confused and still might not have realised that lying will dig him deeper into the already deep hole. In Eric’s defence, we might blame his parents, because they are snobbish and only care about reputation.

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In conclusion, despite the impression given by society, even people who belong to lower social sets and hoodlum communities are capable of heroic actions, loyalty, honor and valor. Even the most dispassionate of individuals such as Tim Shepard and Dallas winston have the potential to place others before them and offer loyalty to ones around, despite being identified as criminals and juvenile delinquents, as well as Ponyboy who does not hesitate to stand up in the defense of even his most unruly friends. S.E. Hinton takes the readers through a journey that carves the path from imprudence and naivety to wisdom and better judgement towards those among the lawless, and shows that not everyone classified under a social indignity will fulfill their

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This shows what Mr Birling is like as a whole however, he fails to show any remorse towards the less fortunate as it is not his responsibility. Overall Priestly encourages the reader to dislike Mr Birling and to disagree with his idiotic ideas,he also could be using him as a symbol of how corrupt capitalist men act during this period in history.

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Eric Birling's character in "An Inspector Calls" holds significant importance within the context of the play. He serves as a vehicle for the exploration of themes such as personal responsibility, social class, and moral awakening. Through his actions and dialogue, Eric contributes to the overall message of the play and offers insights into the flaws and hypocrisies of the Birling family and society at large. One key aspect of Eric's character is his struggle with personal responsibility. Early in the play, it becomes apparent that Eric has been leading a dissolute lifestyle, as shown by his excessive drinking habits.

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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.

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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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In “An Inspector Calls,” Priestley presents Mr Birling as a selfish, arrogant, proponent of capitalism who is consistently inconsiderate to other people’s feelings in favour of business or money. This is especially present when regarding the lower class. The play is set pre-World War One, in 1912, before the world went into a time full of social change and unrest. During this time, new politics emerged, including the rise of the Labour Party. This might show Mr Birling’s age and stubbornness as his beliefs can be seen as outdated and ignoring the changing times.

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At first, the Inspector is presented as an outsider, challenging the authority the Birlings hold dear and breaking through their facades. Prior to his entry to the Birlings’ house, the lighting in the play was stated to be “pink and

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