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An Inspector Calls - Tension in the Birling Family

            Throughout the course of this play, we can see Priestley using tension not only as a force of attraction between the audience and the play but also to elevate the situation at hand whether it be according to Eva's death or the social status that all the characters represent. Priestley demonstrates this tension not only at the heart of the Birling family but also surrounding the Inspector and his political counter-comments against Arthur. We can see through the eyes of the Birlings, the tension between all the characters involved especially through the Inspector who lays the foundation for creating tension between Eva and the Birlings. Towards the beginning of the play we can see a relatively low level of tension between the Birlings. However, the lighting that Priestley demands i.e. pink and intimate suggests a more sinister tone. This immediately creates tension as the audience is intrigued as to the rather forced surroundings. Gerald and Sheila also demonstrate tension from the beginning, especially during Geralds rather direct (and untruthful) response to Sheila: And Ive told you I was awfully busy at the works all that time. This implies that this is not the first time Gerald has had to inform Sheila of his whereabouts whilst he was gallivanting off with Eva Smith, signifying previous and continuing strain amongst the Birlings. .
             As the play progresses we see the Inspector lethargically, but precisely extracting information out of the family which captivates the audience and possibly makes the audience anticipate the consequences of the confessions of each character. During Mrs Birlings attempt to prolong her confessions we reach a climactic point in the play where for the first time we see an angrier side to the Inspector; I warn you, you're making it worse for yourself. When Mrs Birling finally confesses, there is a release of tension but this is an example of stress at the heart of the Birling family.


Essays Related to An Inspector Calls - Tension in the Birling Family

1. "The success of "An Inspector Calls"

... that they know things that the others don't, as well as this tension builds up between the audience and the inspector because the audience have got to know the characters quite well and the inspector is almost an "intruder" into the lives of the characters and the engagement party which was taking place. Another way in which Priestley builds up tension is in the use of lighting. When the inspector arrives Mr. Birling asks Edna the maid to give them more ... happen, will the family be arrested? How will this inspector on his way differ from Goole? Is Eva Smith dead or is it someone else?...

  • Word Count: 5428
  • Approx Pages: 22
  • Grade Level: High School

2. An Inspector Calls

... dramatic tension. An Inspector Calls was written in the 1940's by J.B.Priestly and was first produced in London on 1st October 1946 at the New Theatre.The play is set in the year 1912.The play is about Eva Smith a young woman of twenty four years who has died in a infirmary.She had been taken there because she'd swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant.She committed suicide.Inspector Goole arrives for some information at the Birling household in the ... is a turning point and is used as a catalyst by Priestly.All the undercurrents of tension rise to the surface and the family begins to ar...

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

3. An Inspector Calls

"An Inspector Calls" "Show how J.B Priestly creates dramatic tension in "An Inspector Calls"? "An Inspector Calls" written and created by J.B Priestly, the play is based on trust and 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 ... after himself - and his family of course. When he was one - and do long as he does that he won't ...

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

4. An Inspector Calls

... entertain. An Inspector Calls is different because it has a moral purpose which teaches Priestley's socialistic ideas. Inspector Goole, whether a real Inspector or not, is Priestley's instrument for teaching the moral lesson in the play. Birling has to learn a lot but especially that his workers (and other people even if they are of a lower class), are still people with their own lives, and feelings. The most important lesson that the whole family needs ... the hoax' Inspector, and how the information could affect their social status. J.B. Priestley adds the final twist to really teach ...

  • Word Count: 3387
  • Approx Pages: 14
  • Grade Level: High School

5. An Inspector Calls

... entertain. An Inspector Calls is different because it has a moral purpose which teaches Priestley's socialistic ideas. Inspector Goole, whether a real Inspector or not, is Priestley's instrument for teaching the moral lesson in the play. Birling has to learn a lot but especially that his workers (and other people even if they are of a lower class), are still people with their own lives, and feelings. The most important lesson that the whole family needs ... the hoax' Inspector, and how the information could affect their social status. J.B. Priestley adds the final twist to really teach ...

  • Word Count: 3228
  • Approx Pages: 13
  • Grade Level: High School

6. An inspector calls

AN INSPECTOR CALLS THE PLOT. The plot of "an inspector calls- involves the Birling family who are an upper middle class family of the 20th centaury. It involves a girl who is sucked form a job by Mr. Birling for organising a strike, who is later sucked from a job by Mr. Birling's daughter Sheila because she was jealous of the girl's beauty. The same girl changes her name from Eva Smith to Daisy Renton after she has an affair with Sheila's fiancé ... " but these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people."" Sheila takes full responsibility for her own action, " it was my own fault,"" she ...

  • Word Count: 1459
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

7. An Inspector Calls" Analysis of Dramatic Events

... which take place in Act three and consider their effect on the audience. An Inspector Calls is a play which investigates the themes behind honesty, fairness, social justice and hypocrisy. It is about a family which consists of Arthur Birling, a wealthy, successful manufacturer, his wife, also his social superior, Cybil Birling and their children, Eric Birling and Sheila Birling. Eric's behaviour can be described as peculiar due to the fact that ... exposes how his drinking made him irresponsible, how his indulgence in alcohol made him forget his responsibilities "I was squiffy" he says, ...

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

8. Compare the Characters of Arthur and Sheila Birling.

... the characters of Arthur and Sheila Birling. How does Priestly get them to face up to 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 ... The door bell has great significance in the sense that it proves that there is something else to Arthur. When the inspector enters I think the audience believe that the inspector is a person of solidity and purpo...

  • Word Count: 2117
  • Approx Pages: 8

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