ipl-logo

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

933 Words4 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. a
The importance of Sheila is to illustrate the Social Divide in 1912, between the upper-class and the lower-class. The fact that Mr. Birling, who owns "Birling and Company," is a well-known and successful businessman, would suggest that Sheila would like to secure a wealthy husband (Gerald Croft, next heir to the Croft Industries) in order to …show more content…

Lastly, Priestley uses Sheila as a ‘Second Inspector’ in the play. As the start of Act 2, Sheila becomes more curious about the buried secrets in her 'perfect ' family and starts to see how each member of the family is coping with the death of Eva Smith. Her attitude changes from being sarcastic to more assertive, dominating and responsible. In her role as a "Second Inspector", she is often reinforcing Priestley 's beliefs about feminism and socialism. Sheila 's character creates a greater suspense in the play; as she interrogates each member of the family. She knows that Inspector Goole has supernatural techniques, as he knows how each member of the family plays a part. "He 's giving us the rope, to hang ourselves", she is using a metaphor to explain how the Inspector is guiding the members of the family to confess their mistakes. As well as that, she is one of the few characters that accepts part of the blame

Show More
Related
792 Words | 4 Pages

In act 2, Mrs. Birling is inspected as she refused her responsibility to give Eva the charity she needed as a result of being pregnant at the hand of her son. Mrs. Birling claims the inspector "look for the father of the child as it is his responsibility". As the audience are aware of the situation yet Sybil Birling is not the dramatic irony is allowed to play out as Mrs. Birling further pushes away her responsibility. She regrets her recommendations of who the inspector should really correct after knowing her son (Eric) is the father responsible. This regret after knowing the truth shows she was not true to what she said and only made these suggestions because she is a capitalist who will say anything to not be held

Read More
466 Words | 2 Pages

Title: The Birling family is like a pack of wild animals without a leader. Eva Smith committed suicide after Brumley women organisation wouldn't help her in 1912 the birlings influenced her. Sybil Birling and Gerald Croft are the worst offenders because they do and say things. It is undeniable that Sybil is the least guilty because she was angry that a lower class person used her family name while asking for help. Gerald is the most guilty because he cheated on Sheila and lied to Eva Smith.

Read More
462 Words | 2 Pages

Proctor knows that Abigail has accused his wife to try and get her killed so that Abigail can be with Proctor. The text states, “She thinks to dance on my wife's grave!” Abigail is deceiving the court by telling them that Goody Proctor is a witch and the court believes her since Abigail is believed to be a victim of witchcraft. As the play continues to Mary Warren is trying to tell the court that Abigail has been lying. To avoid getting in trouble Abigail uses her influence and lies that Mary sent spirits to attack her.

Read More
917 Words | 4 Pages

Now she is all worry and apprehension and propriety” (8). Her standard of betrayal begins at the start of the drama when she is dancing with numerous other girls from town, including Reverend Parris’ daughter, in

Read More
442 Words | 2 Pages

She is known to be a peasant in the town. These girls seem to blame all the peasant or slaves in the village who are helpless. John Proctor seems to see

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

She once said "She hates me uncle, she must, for I would not be her slave. It 's a bitter woman, a lying, cold, sniveling woman, and I will not work for such a woman!" (Miller, Act 1, 12). Consequently, she feared discovery of her transgressions, dancing in the woods, wishing Goody Proctor dead, and drinking the blood. Elizabeth Proctor wanted to regain Proctors love and respect.

Read More
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
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
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
477 Words | 2 Pages

My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir-"(Act 3, pg110). Proctors guilt was overpowering him, but he finally told the truth for the best. Proctor displays the characteristic of guilt throughout the novel, but transforms himself into a better person by the

Read More
1041 Words | 5 Pages

The stage directions describe her as a “pretty girl” rather than a woman which could be due to her unmarried status but implies that she is child-like and immature as a person. This unsophisticated image of Sheila is shown

Read More
881 Words | 4 Pages

Suddenly she realizes the power and the panic she causes in others, along with the attention. Miller shows us as readers that she uses her intelligence and ability to manipulate people in this society where everyone else is so frightened of her. What they don't know is what she is truly seeking for. What she wants is John Proctor to be her husband. Miller portrays her as a complex thinker, she devises a plan to accomplish her desire.

Read More
747 Words | 3 Pages

One of the several themes that Priestley has introduced to the play is ‘Time,’ and this theme not only interlinks with some others like ‘Age and Youth’ and ‘Social Responsibility,’ but also introduces a very important drama technique into the play for the audience called the dramatic irony. In Act One, Mr. Birling, as a representative of the older generation of the play and the head of the family, is talking to the others about the progress humanity is making and mentions the liner, Titanic saying it is “unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.” The word ‘absolutely’ in this context shows just how confident in his words Mr. Birling is, without understanding that it will all change. As the play is set back in 1912, but is performed much later in 1946, after the audience knows, and finds it ironic that Mr. Birling, thinking he is an old, wise man says such nonsense, as time will show.

Read More
2917 Words | 12 Pages

In the dark pathways of the human brain lies a mystery that both intrigues and terrifies us: the psychology of serial killers. These mysterious, evil monsters covered in darkness capture the curiosity of everyone with their complicated inner workings. Every case, from the precisely planned killings of Ted Bundy to the mysterious motivations of Ed Gein, reveals a new level of psychological depth that needs to be explored. What keeps these individuals from committing such horrible crimes over and over again? Is it a combination of childhood abuse, neglect, trauma, or a dark desire for dominance and control?

Read More
1001 Words | 5 Pages

Nevertheless, while using the play’s setting to first project the notion that men are superior to women in the society, the actual murder investigations depicted by the play goes to underline that indeed women are not inferior to men. Therefore, while placing the women’s intelligence over that of men, Trifles challenges the typical male-dominated detective story by deviating from the norm of men being superior, women only being good for the kitchen, and women paying attention to unimportant things like a jar of preserves busted. Although the men in the play, Trifles, are depicted most determined to resolve the murder by combing throughout the entire house to discover the clues related to the murder and the motive of the murder, women are keener in observing the small spaces they have been allowed to access. In the

Read More

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

Related Topics

Open Document