Structure and chronology Flashcards
Role of the narrator
Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a narrator who controls the release of information to the audience and characters in the play, and the order that the audience hear key details.
Inspector Goole knows everything before the characters even tell him. This creates tension as the audience wonders how Inspector Goole knew that a girl had died.
The audience also wonders how the family was involved before the death had actually happened.
True natures revealed
As the characters learn details of the story and stop the flow by interrupting and arguing, we see their true natures. More tension is built up for the audience.
Characters’ reactions
By presenting a group of characters who only know their own role in Eva Smith’s story (once they realise who she was), Priestley could create more drama and tension. We see the characters’ reactions to one another’s stories, and their reactions to the very idea of someone from a lower social class interrogating them.
Act 1
We meet the Birlings in their rose-tinted world.
The Inspector enters and shatters the illusion (misleading image) because we learn about Mr Birling and Sheila’s involvement in Eva’s death.
As the act ends, we learn that Gerald knew Eva as well. We see a huge argument between the newly-engaged couple.
Act 2
The act opens with Gerald being uncertain and upset.
But Priestley leaves Gerald and moves to Mrs Birling, who argues with him and tries to stop the investigation.
Goole moves back to Gerald, who reveals his part in the story.
Then, we move to Mrs Birling’s role. She ends up telling Goole to punish whoever got Eva pregnant.
Just as Mrs Birling figures out it was her own son, the act ends.
Act 3
Eric enters and reveals his part in the story.
Mrs Birling tries to withdraw her statements from before.
The Inspector tells them that they all killed Eva Smith and tells them to be less selfish. Then he leaves.
The family find that the story is false. The audience see the true impact of Inspector Goole – three of the main characters have learnt nothing.
Just as they are showing their joy at this, a real Inspector calls and says he needs to interview them all.
Cliffhanger - irony
The cliffhanger also adds tension because the Birlings had just been celebrating that they were free and clear. They thought their reputations were safe and that they could pretend again that their actions have no consequences.
The audience is frustrated because they feel like most of the characters have learnt nothing. Then they are told that there will be a real investigation.
Cliffhanger - characters’ reactions
Priestley’s cliffhanger (ending that creates suspense) adds a huge amount of tension.
The audience doesn’t know how the characters will react when the real police officer interviews them and if they will learn anything this time around.
Cycle of events
The structure of the play represents the unending cycle of events – as long as the older Birlings and Gerald (the higher-class members of society) refuse to accept any responsibility for their actions, the cycle will repeat and people will get hurt. Eric and Sheila show that they could stop the cycle of destruction. They have learnt from their mistakes and are willing to change.
Main story - chronological
The main story, which takes place in the Birling house, is told chronologically (in order of events).
This lets him build tension and drama by revealing more and more shocking details as the story unfolds.
Each detail leaves the audience feeling more and more sympathy towards Eva Smith, and more anger towards the Birlings and Gerald.
Central story - various stories
But in the central story, various other stories are recounted – stories that tell the characters’ involvement with Eva/Daisy.
Whenever we learn another detail, we get a better picture of a lower-class, vulnerable girl who was constantly suffering because of the elite, wealthy, selfish upper class.
Priestley builds up the story in this way to teach the audience a lesson about social responsibility and equality – the audience can see how one selfish action after another affects Eva Smith’s life.
The message is that people should be careful because they could add to an already-difficult situation and cause horrible consequences.
Image of suffering
Whenever we learn another detail, we get a better picture of a lower-class, vulnerable girl who was constantly suffering because of the elite, wealthy, selfish upper class.
Message - consequences
Priestley builds up the story in this way to teach the audience a lesson about social responsibility and equality – the audience can see how one selfish action after another affects Eva Smith life.
