Explore the Ways J.B Priestley Presents Relationships Between Characters in an Inspector Calls

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1. Priestley starts the play in Media-Res; this is one of the many techniques the writer uses to present relationships between characters. Structurally, as the play starts so suddenly halfway through a happy and joyous scene, this foreshadows to the audience that something must happen in the play to make the atmosphere go downhill. Especially as the scene is a dinner party celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft, a very important relationship. The audience is also given a hint when Gerald says ‘You seem to be a nice well behaved family’ Priestley is setting up the Birlings for a monumental fall. 2. The first few pages also enable Priestley to set the scene, the play is set in 1912, which is shown frequently through the props and dialogue used. ‘By jingo’ and ‘Steady the buffs’ are perfect examples, these phrases where commonly used in that time and remind the audience that the play is set in Edwardian Britain. The typical Edwardian family would have different relationships between each other as a typical family today. This also means men are of a higher importance and are more domineering than women and the women accept that. Eric states ‘I left them talking about clothes again.’ in a derogatory manner, Priestly has made the alliances clear between the male and females. The Birlings are portrayed as a high class respectable capitalist and a somewhat stock family. Through this Priestley has set up a false façade which is waiting to be torn down by the Inspector. 3. Some say Priestley is channelled through inspector Goole, the witty ghostly protagonist, who is a socialist and represents proletariats. Inspector Goole is the catalyst in the play. Mr Birling is a very strong member of the bourgeoisie, a capitalist, along with his wife. As the Inspector is introduced into the play there is an automatic reaction and tension between the two male

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