In ‘An Inspector Calls’ how does J.B. Priestley use dramatic devices to convey his concerns
and ideas to the members of the audience, as well as interest and involve them in his
play?
In writing the play of ‘An Inspector Calls’, it is evident that Priestley had a political agenda.
Fuelled by the injustice of capitalism, Priestley utilises the play to deliver a pro-socialist
message and expose the limitations of capitalism. Set against the backdrop of two world
wars, in 1914 and 1945, in a world where many class structures were being broken by the
working classes (in Russia and France), Priestley exploits the insecurities of the middle and
upper classes to drive his socialist ideologies forward. Through the course of the play, we
see The Inspector teaching the Birlings about the importance of responsibility and him
taking an interest in the working classes’ welfare. The audience is able to dee Priestley’s
ideology that we are ‘one body’ and everyone is equal, regardless of status, gender or class.
In 1945 after the breakdown of the class structure after the wars, Priestley wanted people
to be equal and not be separated by rigid class or gender and no boundaries for people to
earn a more valued place in society. The play is in the style of a morality play and polemic
response to a class-based society and the dramatic devices propound Priestley’s ideology.
Notably, dramatic irony is utilised early in the play to challenge the efficacy of capitalism. As
the play is a microcosm, Birling, the patriarch of the family is used to represent capitalism.
Therefore, in exposing the foolish nature of Birling, Priestley is able to undermine and
challenge the success of capitalism. Birling monopolises his daughter’s engagement
delivering a verbose speech. Through the course of his speech, he delivers two predictions
that the audience knows are glaringly wrong. This use of device heightens the tension and
involves the audience in the events of the text. Using dramatic irony early on in the play is
effective in the portrayal of a key character. Birling is revealed to make incorrect predictions
about the Titanic being ‘absolutely unsinkable’ and ‘the world developing so fast … make
war impossible’. Written after two world wars, this exposes Birling as complacent, foolish
and ignorant because the First World War began two years later. The use of the adverb
‘absolutely’ compounds the arrogance of Birling, coupled with the adjective ‘impossible’
makes Birling and capitalism appear unstable.
Priestley uses lighting in his play to deliberately changes the atmosphere. At the start of the
play the lighting is ‘pink and intimate’ exposing the self-satisfied snugness of the family. The
‘pink’ of the light could intimate that the family see life through rose-tinted spectacles and
their vision of reality is distorted. However, when the Inspector enters the room the light is
‘brighter and harder’. This dramatic device could imply to the audience that The Inspector
exposes the hard truth and helps the Birlings to see the glaring reality of their sinful
behaviour and disregard for other members of society. Alternatively, the audience would be
intrigued by the stage and lighting as they are made to focus on The Inspector and his role
within the play. It heightens our curiosity as we question why he has come to the Birling’s
residence and it builds the enigmatic persona of the eponymous hero. Furthermore, The
Inspector is used to represent the power and force of socialism as he challenges the
ideologies of Birling, reinforcing the critical response to capitalism held by Priestley. Using
the ‘sharp ring’ of the doorbell that signifies that the entrance of The Inspector exposes the
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