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An Inspector Calls: structure and dramatic devices
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Priestley controls the audience's reactions very carefully. Explaining how his methods shape the audience's response makes your essay stronger.
A tight structure
The play has three acts and the action is continuous: one evening in 1912, in the Birlings' dining room in the fictional town of Brumley.
The Inspector questions each character one at a time, revealing a chain of events that led to Eva's death.
The Inspector questions each character one at a time, revealing a chain of events that led to Eva's death.
Cliffhangers, entrances and lighting
Acts end on cliffhangers, and characters enter at tense moments (Eric's return at the end of Act 2).
The stage directions ask for the lighting to change from soft and cosy to brighter and harder when the Inspector arrives, as if a light is being shone on the family.
The stage directions ask for the lighting to change from soft and cosy to brighter and harder when the Inspector arrives, as if a light is being shone on the family.
Dramatic irony and the twist
Mr Birling confidently claims war will not happen and praises the 'unsinkable' Titanic. The 1945 audience knew he was wrong, so they distrust his views.
The final twist: a phone call says a girl has just died and a police inspector is on his way. The family must face the questions again.
The final twist: a phone call says a girl has just died and a police inspector is on his way. The family must face the questions again.
Why does Priestley use dramatic irony in Birling's early speeches?
- Birling predicts there will be no war and that the Titanic is unsinkable.
- The audience knows both predictions are wrong.
- So they learn to distrust Birling and his capitalist views.
Answer: To make the audience see Birling as foolish, so they reject his selfish ideas.
One continuous evening, three acts, one-by-one questioning, cliffhangers, lighting changes, dramatic irony about war and the Titanic, and a final twist phone call.
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