... fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit of the period. He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking to them." He is the Inspector who comes to question the family about Eva Smith's death, and is a complex character. In some ways he ... the other members who don't appear to learn anything from the Inspector's visit. Throughout the play the Inspector gives time and opportunity to learn the moral lesson, but the family (apart from Eva and Eric) appear to have learnt nothing, and the Inspector leaves withou...

• Word Count: 2403
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... can all induce anti-social behaviour. As JB Priestley wrote the play in 1945, after the end of world war two, and set it in 1912, two years before the start of world war one, it is almost certain that he was trying to educate the people watching the play in a sense that they should learn from the ... We don't live alone. We are responsible for each other." And he concludes with "And I tell you that the time will come when, if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night." The speech would have been spoken in a serious way and with a com...

• Word Count: 1261
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... responsibility, taking responsibility for your own actions. That actions people take can be wrong and lead to bad things happening. The play is written and set just before World War 1 in an upper class family. At the beginning of the play Mr Birling is having a celebration engagement party for his daughter Sheila who ... folks in the Balkins". But we (the audience) know that there is going to be a war. Throughout his speech there is one phase that he keeps saying before everything he says "as a hard - headed businessman- At this point he leaves the room and ventures on to the balcony wit...

• Word Count: 1442
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... 's, being capitalists, doesn't make you wonder how all of the members of the family were able to affect one girl, in a million. Eva Smith had a job, an income and a life before Mr Birling fired her from her everyday job because, "She had a lot to say, more than the rest."" (Act 1). This portrays Mr Birling's pride and his views of his employees ... them had a part in her death and with the Inspector being there, telling them this, they are able to think about actions having consequences. "If men do not learn their lesson, they will be taught by fire and blood and anguish. Good night."" (...

• Word Count: 1827
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... factory for demanding a small increase in wages; Sheila ordered her to be dismissed from her job in a shop simply because of her pride; Gerald Croft kept her as his mistress before leaving her suddenly; Eric Birling (Mr & Mrs Birling's son) also had an affair with the girl and stole money to keep her living; and Mrs Birling used her influence to ... plot. The end of the play leaves you guessing about the inspector because he was not a real inspector and whether or not he was even real person. There is a moral lesson about community, and An Inspector Calls reflects many of the historical...

• Word Count: 1526
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... twelve per cent." When everyone had been exposed, Mr Birling didn't grasp that fact that he was partly responsible. Because they believe that there was no Inspector, he feels that a lesson didn't have to be learnt. Sheila is the next person to come across Eva Smith. She used her power to lose Eva Smith's job at a shop. At first Sheila says ... ...

• Word Count: 1260
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good Night." I think that the speech sums up all of Priestley's views. He uses the Inspector to try ... ...

• Word Count: 1654
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... he finds himself in besides he can't have any sort of public scandal which will jeopardise his chances of receiving a knighthood. Before the Inspector arrives Birling is impatient with Eric and is in control of the situation.Birling is confident,jovial,excited and even smug ... the imposing authority and figure of an Inspector to create dramatic tension effectively .The atmosphere becomes negative. Birlings character starts to develop further.Before the Inspectors arrival Birling is shown to be a family man which implies he is loving,trustworthy,respectable and responsible.He is ambito...

• Word Count: 1612
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

An Inspector Calls The story was set in 1912, just two years before the First World War. It was a time of great transition; the existing social order was being questioned. In the 19th century the British Empire had grew to be the largest ... to that I say - fiddlesticks! The Germans don't want war. Nobody wants war, except some half-civilised folks in the Balkans". As I quoted earlier the story was set just two years before the First World War, the audience would have known this, as the play was first performed in 1946. Another example of dramatic irony in the opening scene is when Birling ....

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5

... Sheila went to buy a dress, which her mother objected to saying that the dress would not suit Sheila. However, Sheila still wanted it. When Eva brought the dress to Sheila, before she gave it Sheila, she held the dress against her body. This got Sheila very angry and jealous because when she tried the dress on, it did not suit her ... Daisy. But then Gerald had to go for several weeks. He knew and so did Daisy know that the relationship was going to end therefore Gerald broke it off completely before going. Gerald can be given some blame that he used Daisy Renton as a mistress until he ...

• Word Count: 2092
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... lighting becomes brighter and harder as the events of the play and their dramatic course and mood progressively changes. The harsh light forces them to look at their behaviour. Just before the Inspector leaves he gives a big speech. However it's not an ordinary conversation because its not asking anyone to answer. He uses rhetorical devises - techniques which are used to persuade ... ...

• Word Count: 1848
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... their involvement in Eva Smith's suicide? An Inspector calls is deliberately set in 1912 to demonstrate Priestly's message which is "We are responsible for each other" 1912 was two years before World War one. Many people were aware that great changes were about to take place. Britain was in a state of upheaval, there were others, such as Mr Birling, thought quite ... atmosphere drop for a second so the mood should be that she breaks the tension so everything dies down and the characters get a short rest - but this is just the calm before the next storm. Sheila is devastated about the ne...

• Word Count: 2117
• Approx Pages: 8

... aspects of politics. The play's progression is from sheer ignorance to that of knowledge, not only for the audience but also for the characters themselves. "An Inspector Calls" is based before World War I and the Russia Revolution. J.B. Priestly carefully observes the setting and unites the time, place and action in his structure. The time span of the play performance corresponds more ... ...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School