ipl-logo

Hyperbole In An Inspector Calls

1522 Words7 Pages

J.B. Priestly's play, 'An Inspector Calls' explores the theme of responsibility using effective use of characterisation and dramatic structure. The play revolves around the upper-class Birling family and their involvement in the suicide of a young working-class woman. Through their actions, Priestly demonstrates that everybody has a responsibility to look out for each other and that we must consider the consequences of our actions.

The play is set in 1912, just before the events of the first world war, in a small industrial town named Brumley. It opens with a dinner party in the Birling household. The laid-back atmosphere of the party is disturbed by the arrival of a police inspector who informs them of the death of a young woman who had intentionally …show more content…

The hyperbole 'asking for the earth' implies that Birling believes they ask for unreasonable pay rises and instead should be thankful for their current wage. Priestley demonstrates to his audience that his attitude is unsympathetic and cruel. The phrase 'these people' is insensitive and rude, dehumanising and equating the workers to expendable factory machines. It indicates that Birling believes the lower classes are insignificant and unworthy of equal treatment from the wealthier upper class. Priestly tries to show that this attitude is wrong and that people should be caring and responsible for helping each other, regardless of whether someone is rich or …show more content…

Sheila is also materialistic. Sheila places great importance on the ring. It symbolises her engagement with a man of high class, which raises her status in society. Sheila says, 'Now I really feel engaged', proving that she requires material proof to identify her love. The ring conveys both materialism and social class rather than the notion of true love. She refers to her mother as 'mummy', highlighting her immature, unaware, childlike attitude. As the play progresses, she formally calls Mrs Birling her 'mother'. Sheila does not feel as intimate with her mother and has lost respect for her due to her behaviour. Sheila's change in language stems from her increasing

Show More
Related

How Does Priestley Present Injustice In An Inspector Calls

1425 Words | 6 Pages

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

Read More

Exposure And Poppies Comparison

931 Words | 4 Pages

Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls" is a complex one, and opinions differ on whether or not he is a hypocrite. Some argue that he is inconsistent in his behavior and actions, while others believe that his actions are justified by his overarching mission to expose the hypocrisy of the Birling family. In this essay, we will explore the evidence for and against the idea that Inspector Goole is a hypocrite. On the one hand, there are several instances in the play where Inspector Goole's actions could be seen as hypocritical.

Read More

How Is Gerald Presented In An Inspector Calls

605 Words | 3 Pages

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.

Read More

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

752 Words | 4 Pages

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.

Read More

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

504 Words | 3 Pages

This image remains when she confesses “I went to the manager at Milwards and I told him that if they didn't get rid of that girl, I’d never go near the place again…” showing how conscious of her power, and filled with jealousy and rage, feels the need to act out like a spoiled kid to get what she wants. However this changes when the reader realizes, how unlike her parents, Sheila accepts the consequences of her acts. This is highlighted when she acknowledges to the Inspector “No, not really. It was my own fault...

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

Symbolism In An Inspector Calls

542 Words | 3 Pages

In the play «An Inspector calls » the author J. B. Presley demonstrates us an upper class family of 1912 which lives in a large suburban house, belonging to a rich manufacturer. The house is in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands. This play is about a rich family with two kids, one of them is Eric. And there is something that we will discover about him through the book. First thing which is said about Eric is: “ Eric is in his early twenties, not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive » straight away we realize that there is something not right about him.

Read More

How Does Priestley Use Power In An Inspector Calls

1398 Words | 6 Pages

“An Inspector Calls”, is a play written by JB Priestley in 1945. It is a thought-provoking play that explores the issues of accepting responsibility. The play centers on a wealthy family in the upper class, who refuse to accept their involvement in Eva Smiths death. Using the Inspector as a mouthpiece, Priestley is able to discredit the capitalist views of the audience and Mr. Birling.

Read More

How Is Sheila Presented In An Inspector Calls

1046 Words | 5 Pages

Priestley wrote his polemical morality play ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1946 shortly after the end of WW2. As a socialist Priestley was concerned that the rigid class system of Edwardian Britain would continue to limit and restrict women’s rights. tends for the play to assist people in their understanding of social responsibility. The didactic play takes place in Brumley, a microcosm of Edwardian Britain, and centres on the actions of the wealthy middle-class Birlings and Mr Croft and how their actions impact a working-class girl called Eva Smith. Throughout the play the audience see the transformation of Sheila’s character through which Priestley explores his underlying message of social responsibility.

Read More

Essay On Sheila's Change In An Inspector Calls

1041 Words | 5 Pages

Here, there is a visible separation between the old and young characters because the old, Mr and Mrs Birling are still sticking to their arrogant and capitalistic views, however, the young, Sheila and Eric understands they have been immoral. Priestly had purposefully done this to highlight how corrupt capitalistic views were. As Priestly was a socialist he wanted to spread a message portrayed by the Inspector and the younger

Read More

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

1316 Words | 6 Pages

Mr.Birling is suddenly interrupted when Inspector Goole arrives to interrogate the Birlings about the suicide of a working-class women called Eva Smith; whose death was led by a series of events. The Birling’s are consumed with lies, lack of responsibility and the certain manipulation /powerfulness of the Inspector. The Inspector is used by J.B Priestley to communicate that our actions affect each other, and throughout this play Priestley portrays the Inspector’s character as dominant and superior: “Because what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven her to suicide. A chain of events” pg 14.

Read More

Themes And Issues In J. B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls

270 Words | 2 Pages

“An Inspector Calls” is a play written by the socialist writer J.B.Priestley that explores a various range of contemporary themes and issues, including social responsibility. As an anti-capitalist, Priestley was very concerned about the raising issue of social inequality and through this play, he sought to spread the message that it is the duty of every single member of the society to look after one another since we all belong to one main body. The play was written and performed in 1946, before WW1, but it was deliberately set in 1912, after WW2, to represent and reproduce a completely different era from the present one that eventually caused a series of chain events that triggered some of the most devastating and famous human catastrophes

Read More

Inspector Goole In An Inspector Calls

1356 Words | 6 Pages

Inspector calls coursework: Question: How does priestly present the Inspector Goole and what effect does he have on the characters and the audience? In the play “An Inspector calls”, the character of Inspector Goole is represented in various ways throughout the play, for instance he is portrayed as God-like, as a messenger sent from god to convey the important message of how everyone in society should be treated equally regardless of their social status or wealth. Treating people differently just because of how much wealth they acquire creates a social barrier between people, which causes segregation to occur between the upper class, middle class and the lower class. In addition to that, it creates a sense of isolation or negligence for some people who are not as wealthy or financially stable as other, which would make them feel like they are treated unfairly in society.

Read More

Tension In An Inspector Calls

1294 Words | 6 Pages

Eva Smith, a young low class girl, committed suicide due to the cruel and distressing events in her life that were viciously triggered by members of two high class families. When this was discovered, Inspector Goole was sent to their house in fictional Brumley to ask them questions. He interrupts the family’s jovial celebratory dinner, creating unexpected tension. Through his persuasive tactics and forceful personality, the inspector managed to get them all to confess. J.B. Priestley’s play “An inspector calls,” is the dramatist plea for a better future in which individuals acknowledge their responsibility to society by using Inspector Goole, who is portrayed as a particularly powerful character, to spread his socialist thoughts.

Read More

Inspector Goole Character Analysis

1642 Words | 7 Pages

Priestly attempts to exemplify in Mr Birling’s character into the type of mentality that majority of upper class capitalist business men had in the early 1900s in England. It is extremely ironic that the Inspector rings the bell of the house just as Mr Birling is telling Eric and Gerald that people must look out solely for their own interests ("a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own - and - “ act 1): throughout his interrogation, the Inspector champions the very opposite idea - that "we are all responsible for each other.” The Inspectors view on community as a whole is considered a very socialist view. Notably, Priestly was socialist after all and used the play as a more socially acceptable way of stating his opinion on social responsibility, politics and labour rights. The

Read More

More about Hyperbole In An Inspector Calls

Related Topics

Open Document