An Inspector Calls themes Flashcards
How is dramatic irony used in An Inspector Calls to make Birling look stupid and overconfident?
‘fiddlesticks! The German’s don’t want war.’
Link to ‘unsinkable’ Titanic
Audience are more knowledgable than Birling
How does Priestley create Drama?
Greek unities - Time, place and action
Also An Inspector Calls includes a Dénouement - a learning experience at the end of the play
Dramatic Irony
Stage directions
What themes are in An Inspector Calls?
Remorse and guilt Time Responsibility Law and guilt Public image and hypocrisy Class, status and power Wealth
What are the greek unities?
More than one story line
Time is in less than 24 hours and set in real time
Stage freezes during intervals between acts - real time
Only one setting - the dinning room
Who gives the dénouement in An Inspector Calls?
The inspector - socialist message
How is Remorse and guilt portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
Inspector forces characters to share their sins
Sheila and Eric are very remorseful
Gerald is remorseful yet forgets at the end of the play
Mr and Mrs Birling both don’t regret their actions
How is time portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
Priestley was influenced by the idea that the present past and future exist simultaneously but we only experience the present
Interior and Billings are from 1912 - PRESENT
Inspector is from the 1940’s - time of the play production
Inspector reflects back on attitudes in the 1910’s
Looks to enlighten them with futuristic attitudes
Inspector seems to know what the characters did and what they are going to say - past and future
How is responsibility portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
The dénouement clearly states that an individuals responsibility is not just their own actions but also how their actions affect others
Birling’s can’t except they impacted Eva Smith’s life
Inspector - ‘We are responsible for each other’
Birling - ‘If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with it would be very awkward wouldn’t it?’
How is law and morality portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
Inspector investigates illegality but more so immorality
What is the difference between the law and morality
However, Mr Birling seems to understand the difference
Gerald - ‘we’re respectable citizens and not criminals’
Inspector - ‘Often if it was left to me, I wouldn’t know where to draw the line between respectable citizens and criminals’
How is public image and hypocrisy portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
In 1912 public image and appearance was paramount
Celebration at start of the play all a facade
Inspector exposes everyones private life, and characters realise how private behaviour has public consequences as they publicly admit their actions.
The Birling’s and Gerald try to conceal their actions from the Inspector to maintain their public image
Birling is fixated on a public Scandal and his knighthood
How is class, status and power portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
Birling wants to become higher socially
Through Gerald and a knighthood, also marrying a woman who is socially superior to him
Birling’s try to intimidate Inspector with their status
Eva Smith is suggested to have no morals due to being working class
Birling fears a scandal which will damage their status
Birling encourages Sheila to forgive Gerald as he recognises the benefits socially of their marriage
How is money portrayed in An Inspector Calls?
Mr Birling is fixated with money - maximum profits
Eric and Sheila feel that this attitude is unfair
Birling is angry at Eric for stealing money not about Eva Smith or getting drunk excessively
Birling wants Sheila to marry Gerald for the financial benefits for his business
