priestley's intentions, style, principles

Question 1

name some of Priestley’s principles:

Answer 1

• used his work as a way to deliver social criticism of Britain in the 1930s/40s.
• socialist - believed we should look out for each other, like ‘bees in a hive’. took the side of the poor and less privileged over the powerful and hypocritical.
• hated hypocrisy.

Question 2

name some of Priestley’s writing techniques:

Answer 2

• relied heavily on foreshadowing - hints of the plot are revealed throughout the text, often ironic: ‘Well, you seem like a well-behaved family.’ - Gerald
• used ‘indirect free speech’, conveying a character’s personality through their idioms, tone, and word choices. e.g. The Inspector is concise, measured and unchanging, no matter who he’s speaking with.
• Birlings and Gerald use euphemisms (substituting a word with something less harsh). Symbolises their desire to hide the truth behind unpleasant things they’ve done. The Inspector never does this. e.g. Mr Birling: ‘She comes from an old country family’ = ‘She’s much richer/socially better than me.’
• Dramatic irony is used throughout the text - links the audience and writer against the characters, and makes the audience more likely to take the side of Priestley, and therefore the Inspector, meaning their socialist views have a bigger impact on them.

Question 3

name some of Priestley’s writing styles:

Answer 3

• Inspector is physical manifestation of Priestley’s voice, morality, world view. the way Inspector speaks is in direct contrast to the Birlings - direct, clear, short sentences, increases clarity and impact. Reflects Priestley’s personality?
  - Inspector seems omniscient. as if he’s
  following a script and knows what
  Birlings will say.
• creates situations, presents to audience and views with a sense of detachment: he doesn’t get involved.
• entrances and exits important, add drama to situation. knows that new absence or presence of a character creates tension.
• highly symbolic writing. characters/names represent bigger picture. ‘Daisy Renton’ = Daisy (fresh, natural) + Renton (sold, used, rented out), how Gerald treated her.
• worked for BBC, ministry of propaganda - hence didactic (bossy, teacher-like) style (similar to inspector)
• amount of time that passes for audience same as time passes for characters. makes play real, convincing, bigger impact on audience.