English Coursework On An Inspector Calls - Analyse The Charac

The play was written in the 30’s, set in 1912 and first performed in 1945.

In this play, I think that the Inspector has a very big role, however, the Inspector has much more effect on the children, I say this because as soon as the Inspector walks into the scene at any time during the play, all the other characters stop and listen to what he has to say. He creates an impression of massiveness and solidity. I can imagine him speaking very seriously and looking very hard at the person he addresses. I can tell this by Priestly stage directions

The Inspectors visit had a very large effect on all the characters he says things that make them question the values they base their lives on which they take for granted. Like their class and their wealth. For example, when he questioned Sheila he first of all made her feel terrible by telling her she was the cause of Eva Smith loosing her job, and second he said that she was able to do this because she was a wealthy high classed woman.

There is intense drama here as the audience realises with Sheila that Eric is to blame. Here, the stage directions say much as they show that Sheila is astonished by the way her mother is demanding this boy be treated, so she interrupts by telling her mother to stop.

“(With sudden alarm) “Mother - stop - stop!”

Here, it show that Eric can’t handle the fact that he’s done something wrong so the only thing he feels he can turn to is alcohol. Also, the stage directions show that Eric is miserable when he asks for the drink and this shows that the only time he drinks is when he’s unhappy. This part of the play also shows how in control the Inspector is; because Eric asks if he can have a drink and his own father says no, but the Inspector interrupts and gives him permission to do so.

As you can tell, he is acting rather coldly towards Mrs Birling because he is implying that older people can’t be changed she and her husband remain unchanged as we see many times throughout the play.

Some topics in this essay:
Eva Smith, Birling Inspector, Birling Coolly, Inspector Birling, JB Priestly, Eric Eric, Sheila Eric, John Smiths”, Smith’s/Daisy Renton’s, Inspector Eric, stage directions, eva smith, inspector effect, stage directions suggest, directions suggest, inspector leaves, beginning play, “he walks, effect characters, walks straight, tell upset, “he walks straight,