An Inspector Calls In this essay I will examine each character in detail to establish if any of them are responsible for Eva Smith's death. I shall also consider Eva's part in her own downfall. Inspector Goole had a way of making people think and do what he wanted. Although he didn't seem to get any extra information out of the other characters he soon made them realise that Eva Smith had died a horribly painful death and they had all contributed in making her want to end her life. He got them to tell each other their sins and secrets.
Through the play he attempts to show the audience that society can change and this is due to every single person within it. Inspector Goole particularly presents the idea of the responsibility everyone has for each other in society. Throughout the play Priestly shows his socialist views though the Inspector. He does this by exposing the Birling family to each other’s unjust actions. He then shows them although they can not change what they did, they can change how they act in the future.
Realistic authors wanted to present ordinary characters, which like ordinary people in real life are affected by social parameters. In The Death of Ivan Ilyich, the reader gets a clear example of this as it seems that the protagonist of the story, Ivan, lives his life and makes all of his decisions only in accordance with what is socially acceptable. The first example of this is during Ivan’s schooling. Ivan finds himself not only accepting, but also indulging in acts he once found “horrid and made him feel disgusted with himself” (1428). However, once “he saw that such actions were done by people of good position and that they did not regard them as wrong”, he was able to disregard them, also (1428).
“An inspector calls” J.B Priestley’s play ‘’an inspector calls’’ leaves the impression on the audience, no matter what their political views are, that everyone should take responsibility for their own actions. The play was set in 1912 and it leaves a cliff-hanger for the audience as they make their own opinion on who is responsible for ‘Eva smiths’ death as the phone rings, announcing an inspector is on his way!. J.B Priestley crafts a character with selfishness and self centered emotions through the character ‘Mr Birling’. The audience first see this in act one when he says,” a man has to make his own way” but when ‘Eva Smith’ asked for the wage rates to be raised to ‘twenty-five shillings’ a week he refused: ’ I refused of-course’. I think this was wrong of him because Mr Birling has made it in life and had it easy, he does not have to earn a living of a low wage so he doesn’t know what it is like for poor people.
This socialist inspiration for Priestley came from Bernard Shaws and H. G. Wellses, who also had communist aims for the society. At the beginning of the play, Priestley introduces ideas about social class, through characterization. This is evident in the stage directions when the Birling family doesn’t require any aid, ‘Edna goes out.’ This suggests that Edna is not vital to the society because she is only needed in the house for domestic work. Due to Edna's position in the hierarchy, it is necessary for her to leave the stage but if she was a member of the Birling family, she wouldn't be required to. This illustrates the significance of the social class and the inequality faced by those of the lower class.
She even feels she a connection with Ted Bundy because she could have seen herself as a potential victim of Ted. What she meant by using these statements is that she tries to show that she knows exactly what the horrific things Ted Bundy did to his victims and even then still makes the statement “He and the death penalty seemed made for each other”, but
As Drummond says, “It’s the loneliest feeling in the world—to find yourself standing up when everybody else is sitting down.” Both Cates and Drummond experience a struggle against mainstream society. The older and more experienced Drummond comforts Cates with his knowledge that individuals make progress for all of society when they courageously pursue the truth regardless of others’ opinions. At the end of the play, when the court announces the verdict, Drummond says to Cates, “You don’t suppose this kind of thing is ever finished, do you? Tomorrow it’ll be something else—and another fella will have to stand up. And you’ve helped give him the guts to do it!” As Drummond implies, individuals throughout history have challenged societal norms by forcing society to rethink its assumptions.
Be sure to discuss where/how the character starts out, what events/experiences cause the character to transform, and where/how the character ends up. What does the character learn about himself/herself, others, and/or the society? 2. In The Crucible, which scene is the most significant in terms of Miller’s intended themes/messages/morals for the play? Explain why you believe the scene to be the most significant, which themes it illustrates, and how the scene illustrates these themes.
Later in the play, the audience is better able to appreciate the emotion and the catastrophe of Elizabeth’s lie to Danforth. When she tells him proctor is not a liar, because of what the audience knows from earlier scenes. We know that Elizabeth never lies; yet she does her thinking that she will save John, but he has already confessed. This moment comes as a huge shock to the audience and is powerful example of the use of dramatic irony. The symbolism of the crucible, which serves as the play’s title, is integral to the play.
This is true because we are solely responsible for our choices, and we have to accept the consequences of every deed, word, and thought throughout our lifetime. Jim Rohn also made it clear that what we give is what we receive when saying “The world breathes on us and each of us, in return, breathes onto the world. If a man chooses to mistreat others with his evil nature, he will in return be mistreated, but, if he chooses to touch the lives of others they will in turn touch his and he my friend, will be destined for greatness”. If a friend of yours asks you to help them rob a bank and you accept to knowingly commit a crime the only result of this action is you spending years of your life in prison. The choice to do wrong in the end will cost you both your freedom of choice and your family and loved ones emotional stress.