ENGLISH ASSESSMENT- An Inspector Calls
“An Inspector Calls” is a play written by J.B. Priestly in 1945. Although the play was written in 1945, it was set on a single night in 1912. This play is a “Murder Mystery”. This genre was really popular in them days in fact it had a big success; it reached everyone’s interests. The audience, especially middle class (capitalists) was really attracted by this type of drama. It’s really entertaining and it involves the audience as they too try to figure out what is happening. This is also one of the reasons why J.B. Priestly chose to do this play. Priestly by doing this play wanted to send a message to the capitalists. He wanted to make them realize how unfair, cruel and bad their actions were. He wanted them to learn something; a lesson that will make them change their way of life for the good of others. In 1912 there was a strong inequality in the society: capitalists and socialists. Capitalists were the ones who had the power to control things because of their status, money or position in the society; and the socialists were those ones who had to suffer all the injustices from them. The victim of these injustices, in the play is Eva Smith. Priestly demonstrates to the audience the bad consequences caused by the lack of responsibility from capitalists in 1912. Protagonist of the play is Mr Burling- he represents capitalist ruling class- and the inspector- he represents socialism. The combination of the play is a detective thriller and morality play with the purpose of making the audience learn something at the end of it.
The stage directions at the start of the play help to show the audience the superiority and self importance of the Birling’s family. Stage directions and settings are really relevant. At the start of the play, Priestly describes Mr. Birling’s house as a “large suburban house” so that the audience can have a clue of where the play is set. Stage directions shows that there was a celebration and “man in...