English Literature – An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley
(there are certainly some mistakes)

In act one of « an inspector calls » how does JB Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience, as well as interest and involve them in the play ?

J B Priestley was a socialist and was interested in politic. He believed that we all have shared interests. Besides, he defended the welfare state and the consequences of social inequality in Britain. We can notice that the play is set in 1912 but he wrote it in 1940. It is done to show the evolution of the mentality in 28 years.

Firstly, JB Priestley shows the older generation embodied by Mr and Mrs Birling who only thinks about themselves. Secondly, the new generation embodied by Sheila and Eric who has a will to assert her acts, more take care of the others. That is why, I think JB Priestley tries to explain in « An inspector calls » that we are responsible for other people and that our acts have consequences. He manages to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience by using dramatic devices.In this essay I am going to show you these dramatic devices that he uses in act one.

The first one is the setting of place and time. It perfectly reflects the family. We have the idea of a « heavily confortable house » but not a warm place. The Birling appear to be an upper-class family and social-well being. Moreover, we discover at the same time the informations by the « real time ». It created tension and suspens.

The second one is the lighting. There are two principal lights. At the beginning of act one, the light is « pink and intimate » (cosy, warm and comfortable) representing the idea of celebration : indeed they are celebrating and enjoying the engagement of Sheila and Gerald. It stays like that until that the inspector Goole arrives. At this moment, the light becomes « brighter and harder ». It caracterises the changement of atmosphere. Page 178