“In Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’ how does Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns? - page 1
Keywords: Act One; Dramatic devices and How it is conveyed to the audience
By Shin on 13/06/2008
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6
“In Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls’ how does Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns to the members of the audience, as well as interest and involve in the play?”
In Act One of ‘An Inspector Calls,’ Priestley uses dramatic devices to convey his concerns to the members of the audience, as well as interest and involve in the play. The play was written in 1945 and set in 1912. These dates are important because 1945 was the end of the Second World War and 1912 was the year that marked the sinking of the Titanic. The audience watching early performance know these events because it happened around their time.
The plot of ‘An Inspector Calls’ is about an unknown inspector who arrives at a time where a particular family -the Birlings was celebrating a special occasion. However, the Inspector accuses and interrogates each member of the family, believing that the family members had a hand in a girl’s suicide, Eva Smith, who died swallowing a strong disinfectant on her way to the Infirmary. The Inspector tries to teach the Birlings a lesson about the fact that everyone no matter what class they are, needs to look after everyone else.
Priestley tries to show the members of the audience that something bad that is about to take place can be avoided if you and the people involved can do something about it whether it is to do with moneymaking businesses; relationships; affairs or one's own selfishness.
Priestley was extremely concerned with society's lack of responsibility -he felt that people of the day should follow a society which shares its businesses; profits; shares; and property amongst everyone and he detests the idea of having a society full of rich, selfish businessmen who own all businesses amongst themselves such as Arthur Birling.
Priestley was also concerned about the fact that everyone should live in peace - not to create fights and wars; too many spoiled and selfish teenagers; the treatment of workers and the lower classes - having to work day and night and not being able to provide themselves with what they deserves.
Priestley uses dramatics devices such as Dramatic irony which shocks the audience; the lighting which interests the audience; the doorbell which makes the audience feel wary; dramatic tensions which makes the audience fear; Stage directions which tenses the audience; and Entrance & Exits which creates cliff-hangers for
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