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inspector calls, why did priestly?
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- 11. Why did Priestley set the play in 1912?1. 1912--> pre-war.
written in 1946 after ww2
ww1 triggered social discontent- 1912 when the richest were the happiest. 1912 - socialism was being pushed in. - 22. Why is 1946 an appropriate time for writing/producing such a Play?A) - post - World war two
→ most people had experienced high unemployment in the 1920s there for people wanted to change socialism
B) In 1945 there was a Labour landslide election victory
→ it’s the right time for a play like AIC to be written - 33. description of the furniture‘The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cozy and homelike’ The birlings are rich
symbolic of the fact that this is not a real family (i.e. biologically they are, but lack the positive qualities) - 44. How does the lighting help Priestley in conveying a certain mood? (page 1)pink and intimate (cozy) until the inspector arrives
then it should be brighter and harder’ there is an engagement party: Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft → happy atmosphere The inspector reveals the truth about the Birlings → often associated with light - 55. How would you describe the atmosphere at the beginning of the play→ they’re all congratulating Sheila + Gerald on their engagement
→Mr. B: ‘Well, well - this is very nice
→Some joking: Sheila to Eric: ‘You’re squiffy’ (Drunk)
Overall, they’re happy and fairly self-satisfied - 66. Why is the action of the play limited to one room?symbolic of the limited outlook of the birlings on life→Priestly is suggesting that people who are privileged are unaware of what happens with those beneath them in society
- 77. How does Priestley suggest that something isn’t quite right with the celebrationSheila on Gerald: ‘except for all last summer, when you never came near me’
→ foreshadowing: an idea introduced earlier, a hint that something isn’t right in their relationship.
‘you’re squiffy’ →sign of a drink problem→ hints at a lack of harmony in the family (family doesn’t know about drinking)
Page 9→ Eric isn’t like the other BirlingsIf this was a normal loving family, then Eric would have told them about Daisy Renton - 88. What are Birling’s political views?a capitalist who has no interest in workers' rights→ management is more important than workers→ Mr. Birling being critical about socialism - Mr. B doesn’t like feeling responsible for others.
- 99. What is the purpose of this scene with Birling discussing the future?Priestly uses dramatic irony - done deliberately to make Mr. Birling look like a fool → in turn, this makes capitalism look like a silly philosophy. Mr B: ’when you marry, you’ll be marrying at a very good time’ → we know 1912 is not a good time
‘A lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the near future’ - → 1920s + 30s: a time of industrial unrest → lots of strikes→ eg. the general strike -
: ‘we’re in for a time of steadily increasing prosperity’ (wealth)
→ catastrophic ‘The wall street crush’: 1929 → lends to ‘The Great Depression - 10additional to Q9.Mr. B: ‘Nobody wants war’ → WW1 + WW2 are not far off
Mr B ‘Titanic…absolutely unsinkable’→clearly this is wrong
Mr. B: ‘you’ll be living in a world that’ll have forgotten all these Capital versus labour agitations’ → (a strike)
Mr. B: ‘There’ll be peace and prosperity and rapid progress everywhere - except of course in Russia,which will be behind hand naturally’
→ Birling is wrong because Russia becomes socialist there for Russia is actually ‘advanced’
→ Final irony: priestly who’s wrong → USSR turned out to be an undemocratic regime that persecuted its own people - 1110. How are the stage directions for the description of the Inspector? (page 11)The Inspector is depicted as aa forceful / powerful and intimidating character
→ SD:’an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness
. - 1210 b. what about the birlingsThe Birlings often have more emotional stage directions
e.g. Birling: ‘rather impatiently’
Gerald: ‘showing annoyance’ →by comparison, the inspector is always in control
E.g. Inspector: ‘cutting thorough, massively’
Contrast highlights who it is right/wrong
Birlings = wrong
Inspector = right - 1311. What does the Inspector not do when he arrives and why is this important?The inspector doesn’t share his warrant card with the Birlings
imposter→ therefore he's not a real policeman (most likely a time traveller) - 1412. Why are the Inspector’s stage directions important? (page 12)→for the audience, this character must come across as powerful → establishing which political philosophy is morally correct (Inspector = socialist) → making the audience accept a political philosophy they may not agree with.
- 1513. Why does the Inspector show the photo one at a time? (page 12)because its not the same person for all the birlings
It’s important you understand it’s a few people: makes you aware that it’s the working class that are affected by capitalism the most there for Priestly: vote Labour (socialist) - 1614. What shows Birling’s lack of empathy? (pages 13, 14)Birling seems disinterested in Eva Smith’s suicide: ‘wretched girl’s suicide
Birling: ‘I can’t accept any responsibility’ - 1715. What phrase does the Inspector use that emphasizes responsibility? (page 14)Inspector on Eva Smith death : a chain of events
→ a key idea for the play linked to the idea of responsibility → a chain emphasises the idea of cause and effect→ so therefore if you treat people with respect it has an impact on them → Social justice
Socialism is a political system that respects people - 1816. Why is Birling shocked with the Inspector? How are the Inspector’s political views put across? (pages 14-15)mr birling refused eva smith a pay rise, the insppector questions this, Mr birling doesn't like being questioned.
birling is not used to opposition
and the inspector cares significantly more than one should.
he's capalist-managment is more important than workers. Mr b against fair wages. - 1917. How does Eric contrast to Birling? (pages 15, 16)Eric’s more positive
→ ‘I call it tough luck’ → unfail to eva smith
→ ‘I think it’s a damn shame’
→ Priestly: hope for the future lies with the young (eg. Eric + Sheila are more idealistic) - 2018. How do the stage directions support who is right and who is wrong? (pages 16-17, 22)uses stage directions to help give the Inspector authority and lessen Mr and Mrs Birling's power. For instance, the stage directions for Mr and Mrs Birling indicate that they should respond 'angrily' (p. 41) showing that neither character is able to control the Inspector's actions.
- 2119. How does Birling attempt to put the Inspector in his place? (page 16)Mr birling attempts to bully the inspector:
Threatens him using the police hierarchy → a threat
Mr. B: ‘Chief Constable, Colonel Roberts … he’s an old friend of mine’ (play golf together)
Class-related insult about golf → Inspector: ‘I don’t play golf’ Mr. B: ‘I didn’t suppose you did’ - 2220. How does the Inspector describe Eva Smith’s death? (page 17)The inspector highlights the pain and suffering.
About making an impression on the birlings
About making an impression on the audience
Making people understand that the class system creates suffering → consequences therefore → responsible. - 2321. How does Sheila respond to Eva’s death? (pages 17, 19)Sheila → an important character like Eric: hope lies with the young
→ young people are often more idealistic, and lose this quality with age.
Sheila shows interest in Eva Smith → Sheilla: ‘what was she like? Quite young?’ → hints at these positive qualities that young people have. - 2422. Is Sheila fully sympathetic in Act One? (page 17)Element of childishness – upon hearing the news of Eva’s death Sheila says:
‘And I’ve been so happy tonight’
Does she care?
Behaving like a spoiled child?
Sheila: ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people’
Eg. Mr.B sacked Eva when she asked for a wage increase → people who are at the bottom of society need protection. - 2523. How does the Inspector describe Eva’s situation? (pages 19, 21)The inspector describes Evas situation:
‘No work no money coming in, and living in lodgings, with no relatives to help her, few friends, lonely, half starved’ (key aspect to revise)
→Poverty and a lack of work is often stigmatised by people on the right (conservative party) eg. the Birlings → they think it’s her fault
This emotional approach → purpose: people must realise what it’s like to be working class → audience not voting Conservative
P.21 Inspector: ‘a nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it’ - 2624. What is Sheila’s reaction to the photo? (page 21)Stage Direction for Sheila: ‘She looks at it clearly, recognises it with a little cry, gives a half-stifled sob, and then runs out’
→ she’s impulsive and childish (got Eva Fired because Eva looked better in a dress than she did: Milwards) but she understands right and wrong (morality) →Priestly: hope lies with the young - 2725. What is interesting about Gerald’s remark ‘We’re respectable citizens and not criminals’? (page 22)→ by 1912/46 standards, none of them have committed a crime
Erics rape: not criminalised at this time
Mr. Birling: no laws about unfair dismissal → linked to Sheila
Erics theft: his family don’t seem too bothered about that → they're not going to press charges
→ All these bad things are not actual crimes:
Priestley: socialism is a way of running society in a way that is more moral. - 2826. In the end how does Sheila respond to her actions? (page 24)Sheila: ‘i’ll never, never do it again to anybody’ → Sheila displays enormous guilt and remorse at her actions so she can show responsibility for her actions → young people have a natural idealism → with age, this can turn into cynicism (overly critical).
- 2927. How does Sheila’s story suggest that she’s acted wrongly? (page 24)Monologue on her actions (Millwards)
lots of dashes→an indication of her emotions e.g guilt
Stage Direction :she almost breaks down, but just controls herself
In getting eva sacked, she initially would not accept responsibility
Sheila:”I couldn’t be sorry for her”
Sheila's monologue in some way resembles the confessional monologues to a priest in the catholic church→ the same concept:acknowledgement of sin/guilt+Penance (responsibility for your action) - 3028. What is Gerald’s secret? (page 26)Gerald: we discover he is involved too→this was foreshadowed earlier in this act (“last summer”)
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- Descripción
- questions on writing decisions made my priestly in the book inspector calls.
- Creado por
- Mallory Wigglesworth
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