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How Does Priestley Use Juxtaposition In An Inspector Calls

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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 …show more content…

If there's nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt”. Furthermore The Inspector creates at once an impression of ‘massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’. Through this, we can see the new delivery of the social justice. Priestley's intention of this is for the high class to realise and take responsibility of their own actions. The Inspector also has a courageous character, he dominates Mr. and Mrs.Birling who are used to controlling others and being obeyed. ‘Don't stammer and yammer at me again, man. I’m losing all patience with you people’- this comes as a shock to both the Birlings and the 1950’s audience: which the majority would be capitalists. This propose Priestly is utilizing the Inspector to show individuals that he couldn't care less about the social position that the Birlings hold, “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” and furthermore weaves a message to treat others with a similar warmth despite of their

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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

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Particularly, the speaker profiles Mr. Odger as a man engaged in “the useful profession of shoemaker” who “knocked in vain at the door that opens but to golden keys.” Here he obliquely patronizes Mr. Odger through the implication that the lower class should adhere to the bounds of their existing social status. Thus, the narrator retains a parochial view of the poor: any attempt on their behalf to transcend social hierarchy is a ludicrous notion. Following the narrator’s escape from the crowd into a hansom cab, he describes himself witnessing the affair as if “from a box at a play.” Notably, box seats are reserved for the opulent who can afford the luxury of sitting above the general audience.

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1410 Words | 6 Pages

The repition of "I am a hard headed man of business" shows his arrogance and his capitalistic and emotionless mentality. "I say there isn't a chance of war" show his stubborn and arrogance. Priestly uses this dramatic irony to persuade the audience to side against Birling as they will think that he is foolish, unsympathetic and untrustworthy. As of portraying their stubborn and heard headed personality was not enough, Priestly makes it sure that the audience is able to clearly see mentality and coldness that capitalism brings to a human by making men emotionless and unsympathetic. "Well, we've several hundred young women there, y'know, and they keep changing.

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800 Words | 4 Pages

“An Inspector Calls” is a play written by the social commentator, J.B. Priestley, speculating the morality of the class system back in 1945 and dramatizes it by setting it in 1912, just before the First World War. Priestly focuses on one family and their involvement in the death of a young girl, to outline the importance of social responsibility and flaws of the upper class. The Birling family is introduced in the first act as the curtain opens. We are told that the head of the family is Arthur Birling who is a manufacturer.

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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.

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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

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234 Words | 1 Pages

Inspector Goole is a mouthpiece for Priestley in the didactic play An Inspector Calls, as Priestley frequently interweaves Socialist messages in the Inspector’s dialogue. In the final act of the play, the Inspector warns the Birling family “We are members of one body”. We are responsible for each other.” Here, the use of the metaphor “members of one body” conveys the message that our lives are in a way intertwined with one another, emphasising the need to demonstrate a sense of compassion and consideration for others in society; this could have religious connotations as the body symbolises the “Body of Christ”. Hence, Priestley chooses to incorporate religious imagery to persuade the contemporary audience, who were mostly of Christian belief,

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The play An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestley takes place in fictional Brumley, 1912; where the Birlings, a remarkably wealthy family who are at the top of the social class, are having a celebratory dinner due to the engagement of their daughter, Sheila. This is when a mysterious man, known as Inspector Goole, expressed certain power over the family as he accused them of being involved in a young girl’s suicide, this adding drama and tension to the scene. Through the language, structure and staging, Priestley uses the entrance of the Inspector to demonstrate his power over the different characters. As the Inspector Goole arrives, he manifests the power over the Family using very dominating language towards them.

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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.

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109 Words | 1 Pages

From this quote, it is evident that priestly wants people to change their attitude towards each other, especially those of a lower social class. At the beginning of the quote the Inspector claims there are “millions and millions and millions” of people like Eva Smith. In this short quotation, Priestly has used repetition to emphasise the word millions. From the use of repetition, we, the audience in 2017, can infer that Priestly wanted whoever was to play Inspector Goole, no matter when the play was being performed, to emphasise the point that there are so many people like Eva Smith.

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500 Words | 2 Pages

Arthur's Birling himself as a 'hard-headed practical man of buisness'. How does Priestley present this and other views of Arthur Birling in An Inspector Calls? Arthur Birling is a successful buisness man and throughout the play Mr Birling represents his capitalist views and how he believes it's 'every man for himself'. Priestley presents Mr Birling as a symbol of capitalist.

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344 Words | 2 Pages

Priestly effectively presents his ideas about social class in 'An Inspector Calls' through the portrayal of the Birling family, the character of Eva Smith, the role of the Inspector,. Through these elements, Priestley delivers a critique of class divisions in British society, urging readers to question their own association when it comes to inequality and advocates for collective responsibility and social change. Priestly uses the Birling family to embody the upper class and its attitudes towards the working class, Mr. Birling, a wealthy businessman, portrays the complacency and egocentric nature prevalent among the upper class. He dismisses the concerns of the working class, proclaiming, "A man has to make his own way—has to look after himself."

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331 Words | 2 Pages

In Act 1 of ‘Inspector Calls, Priestley utilises juxtaposition to present Sheila Birling as an empathetic character who subverts the expectations of the bourgeoisie in Edwardian England. This can be seen when Sheila’s response juxtaposes with Birling’s “These girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people”. It is clearly evident to the audience that Sheila goes against Birling capitalist ideology; this highlights that Sheila is willing to change her ways and shows empathy by regretting her decision, unlike Birling because of his obstinate and hubristic attitude. While Mr Birling is a symbol of capitalist ignorance of the bourgeoisie, Sheila is a symbol of hope and change as the new generation who recognises the humanity of the proletariat. by recognising

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1316 Words | 6 Pages

An Inspector Calls Explore how Priestley presents the character of the Inspector in this text. Priestley presents the Inspector as working class through the Inspector’s use of language. This can be seen on page 184 (Act One), where the Inspector says, ‘...never did anybody no harm.’ The Inspector’s use of a double negative implies he had a bad quality of education, something which was common among working class families in the early 20th century.

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Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey is a Bildungsroman, a coming of age story that focuses on the psychological development of the protagonist, Catherine Morland. This essay will analyse the language and narrative techniques of the extract, and discuss how it suggests vicissitudes in Catherine’s personal perspectives and relationships. In addition, it will discuss the ‘domestic gothic’ and abuse ubiquitous in ordinary situations. Furthermore, it will argue how Austen’s rhetorical techniques work to encourage reader interest as well as exercising perception when distinguishing between appearance and reality. Finally, it will conclude by briefly discussing the significance of the extract within the novel’s wider themes.

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