The audience are also aware that during this time, the world was on the verge of war. This allows Priestley to show how socialism will lead to a brighter future, as he cleverly uses the difference in the time the play was written in 1945 and the time when it was set to use dramatic irony to his advantage. He is able to express the ignorance of the higher classes, and the audience can soon relate this problem to the capitalist state, '… it'll make war impossible... the Titanic... unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable...' (Birling, Act1, Page 7) through this, the audience know that this is ironic, as they would remember the Titanic sinking. As the audience would be watching the play after World War Two, they also know that the Germans will attack, so there will be a war. This means that Mr Birling is automatically viewed as a liar with far less
This acts as almost a threat to the audience which serves the purpose of focusing their minds and realising that it is a serious matter. Dramatic irony is used to mock Mr Birling and make his views seem imprudent and unwise compared to the Socialist views of the Inspector. Mr Birling says that he is a “hard-headed businessman” (Capitalist) and
Through his conversations with his family and his actions (stage directions), we see his true personality, which is one that longs for wealth and reputation. In regards to Eric stealing money, Birling says ‘you must give me a list of those accounts, I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’ this quote shows how Birling sees this whole situation. Instead of relising how sad it is that he’s brought up a child that steals from his own father and rapes young women or furthermore,
Priestley uses the Inspector to present his own views and outline the lack of social conduct. The play was performed just after World War Two. This means that when it was written and performed, there was much more known about the war and what had gone wrong. Priestley uses the morals in the play to make the audience see that if things had been different before the First World War, things might have been different as a result. Towards the end of the play, the Inspector makes a speech, which outlines his political views.
Through the play the Inspector/Priestly tries to change Mr Birling/the audience’s minds about how they should treat others. The play is a way that Priestly gets his political views across. When Mr Birling was asked about Eva smith he said he knew what he had done but he didn’t feel any sympathy for the girl, “I can’t accept any responsibility.” Even though he knew
Everyone is a part of 'one body', the Inspector sees society as more important than individual interests. The views he is propounding are again like those of Priestley who wanted his socialist views put across to the audience. He adds a warning about what could happen op if, like some members of the family, we ignore our responsibility: 'and I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson,when the will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.' Probably he is thinking partly about the world war which they had just lived through, the result of the governments blindly pursuing 'national interest' at all cost. No doubt he was thinking too about the Russian revolution in which poor workers and peasants took over the state and exacted a bloody revenge against the aristocrats who had treated them so
Priestley was a supporter of socialism and the Inspector promotes Priestley's idea of social responsibility in the play. When talking to Gerald and Sheila about responsibility, the Inspector speaks 'sternly to them both'. The word 'sternly' means uncompromising which suggests that Priestley feels that society needs to confront this issue as it is very serious. We hear the voice of Priestley through the Inspector, 'You see, we have to share something'. Though the Inspector is talking to Sheila and Gerald we can infer that Priestley is addressing the audience directly through the use of the phrase 'You see'.
One of Fo’s most known works is “Can’t pay won’t pay!” in which he uses Farce and other dramatic conventions to influence and motivate the audience about contemporary issues. As Fo’s work gained popularity he became not only a source of entertainment for people but a spokesperson in which he brought up matters that affected the society around him. Fo uses Farce as a dramatic weapon which influences and motivates the audience while educating them about contemporary matters. This is seen in the famous play “can’t pay won’t pay!” in which farce is used to expose the corruption of the government and how the working-class families are being unrightfully ripped off by the higher authorities. This is mainly presented through the character of Giovanni who symbolises the common people and is used by Fo to relate to the audience and make them reflect upon themselves.
She sees the harmful direction of the wave and sets forth to end it. Ben Ross An intelligent and energetic history teacher at Gordon High who's popular among his students for his enthusiasm and accessibility. He creates The Wave as an experiment to show his students how fascism can be embraced by the masses. He creates an experiment to see what it would have been like in Nazi Germany during World War II. 7 themes Major Themes Organization Even before he invents The Wave, Mr. Ross notices that his students are not living up to their potential because they lack organization in their lives.
A main example of this is how they take responsibility and how the old generation such as Arthur and Sybil Birling abnegate all responsibility and how the younger generation accept change and responsibility, for example in act one when the Inspector accuses Mr Birling of starting a chain of events when he sacked Eva. Mr Birling being a very arrogant man believes he had nothing to do with her downfall so he replies to the Inspector, “I can’t accept any responsibility.” This is a prime example of the older generation refusing to accept responsibility. Priestley presents this in a very direct manner which is shown throughout the play and doesn’t hide his views on the older generation. Another stage in the play when the older generation deny responsibility is during act two when Mrs Birling refuses to discuss the suicide of Eva and says “I don’t think we want any further details of this disgusting affair.” This shows she doesn’t want to hear any more information in case it alters the situation, also showing how she doesn’t accept change or responsibility. The contrast to this is how the younger generation such as Eric and Sheila accept responsibility, for example in act 3 when Eric says to the family “you’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all.” This shows that despite the fact the Inspector wasn’t a real inspector he has