Character Of Birling In JB Priestley's An Inspector Calls

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In Act One Of An Inspector Calls, How Does JB Priestley Present The Character Of Birling? ‘An Inspector Calls’ is about a respectful family of high society, being interrogated about a death of a girl that committed suicide. Little did they know that they are all connected to this girl one way or another, they are all part of the chain of events that occurred in her life, each partly responsible. One by one as they confess their stories to ‘Inspector Goole’ they come to terms with the sudden tragedy. But when the Inspector leaves, they soon find out there was no real inspector in the first place… Priestley had a purpose. Too get across a point to the reader/audience. A point with a moral behind the context of the play. For example when the Inspector says ‘’A good deal happened to her after that. But you’re partly to blame’’. Here Priestley uses the Inspector to show that you must be intent on your actions as they could have an affect on others. Like the old saying, ‘what goes around comes around’. But looking at that quote,…show more content…
The more questions the Inspector asks, the more on edge Birling becomes. Irritated, angry and disconcerted. For example when he says “(angrily) look here Inspector, I consider this uncalled for an officious.’’ Here, Birling addresses the Inspector in an aggressive manner; behind them words it’s like a hinted warning to watch his step. This shows Birling to be impatient and intends to project his anger upon the Inspector discreetly, through the dialogue used. Also with the stage directions used, Birling appears to be affronted. But there’s another way of looking at this snappy dialogue. Deep down inside Birling perhaps is deteriorating, desperately thinking of a resolution to his problems. This shows the character of Birling to be defined in a different light. It tells me that he has a short temper, and is quick to react to situations without thinking about the outcome
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