CHAPTER_3.pptx;filename_= UTF-8''CHAPTER 3

7/25/2019 CHAPTER_3.pptx;filename_= UTF-8''CHAPTER 3

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CHAPTER 3:UNDERSTANDING

THE DRAMAThe Inspectors Calls

by J.B Priestley


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INSPECTORS CALLS

BackgroundShort

Summary

Characters Theme

Plot Setting


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BACKGROUND

Introducing J.B Priestley


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INTRODUCING J.B PRIESTLEY John Boynton Priestley was born in

Yorkshire in !"# $rote %&n Inspector Calls a'ter the

st $$. (is work contains contro)ersial*

politically changed messages. (e knew early on that he wanted to

become a writer* but decided againstgoing to uni)ersity as he thought hewould get a better 'eel 'or the world

around him away 'rom academia. Instead* he became a +unior clerk

with a local wool 'irm at the age o',.


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MORE ON J.B PRIESTLY

$hen the $$ broke out* Priestley+oined the in'antry.

&'ter the war* he gained a degree 'rom Cambridge-ni)ersity* then mo)ed to ondon to work as a 'reelance

writer /"0"1.

(e wrote his 'irst play in "20. (is writing was ground3breaking and contro)ersial. (e included new ideas aboutpossible parallel uni)erses and strong political messages.

4uring $$0 he broadcast a massi)ely popular weeklyradio programme which was attacked by the Conser)ati)esas being too le't3wing.

(e continued to write into the "56s* and diedin "!#


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POLITICAL VIEWS

Concerned about the conse7uenceso' social ine7uality in Britain.

Set up a new political party*the Common $ealth

Party8public ownership o'land* greater democracy* anda new 9morality9 in politics.

Yet by "#:* most o' thoseclass and gender di)isions had

been breached.

In "0* rigid class andgender boundaries seemed to

ensure that nothing wouldchange.

Through this play* heencourages people to sei;e theopportunity the end o' the war

had gi)en them to build abetter* more caring society.


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SHORT SUMMARYACT 1 (1A,1B,1C)ACT (A,B,C)

ACT 3 (3A,3B,3C,3D)

&CT * &CT 0* &CT 2


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ACT 1/&*B*C1


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1STACT (1A) The Birling 'amily are holding adinner party to celebrate the

engagement o' Sheila to


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1STACT (1B) Inspector


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1STACT (1C) $hen Sheila enters* theInspector re)eals that hewould also like to 7uestionher about >)a Smith9s death.

>)a9s ne?t +ob was at a bigshop called =ilwards* butthat she was sacked a'ter a

customer complained abouther.

She admits that it was her'ault that >)a was sacked.

$hen the Inspector then

states that >)a* in despair*changed her name*


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ACT /0&*0B*0C1


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NDACT (A)


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NDACT (B) Sheila is glad to ha)e heard thiscon'ession 'rom her 'ianc* although

=rs Birling is scandalised. Inspector


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NDACT (C) @ight at the end o'

the scene* as =rsBirling denounces the'ather o' the child

and claims he needsto be made ane?ample o'.

Sheila /and the

audience1 realise that>ric is in)ol)ed. $hen>ric comes into theroom* the act ends.


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ACT 3/2&*2B*2C*241


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3RDACT (3A) >ric tells the story o' his ownin)ol)ement with the girl.

(e had met her in the sametheatre bar as ricbecause she knew he didn9t

lo)e her* but she did acceptgi'ts o' money 'rom him untilshe realised it was stolen.


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3RDACT (3B) &ll the Birlings now knowthey played a part in thegirl9s death.

=r and =rs Birling areconcerned about co)eringup their in)ol)ement*

whereas Sheila and >ric aremore aware o' the personaltragedy and 'eel guilty.

The Inspector lea)es* a'terdeli)ering a strong messageabout how we allshould beresponsible 'or each other.


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3RDACT (3C) The 'amily has begun to

consider the conse7uences

o' what has been re)ealed*they gradually begin towonder about the Inspector.

$hen


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3RDACT (3D) Then the telephone

rings. =r Birlinganswers it* and a'terhanging up tells the

'amily that it wasthe police on theline.

&n inspector is on hisway to ask 7uestionsabout the suicide o'a young girl...


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CHARACTERS


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CHARACTER 1 D(ea)y3looking* ratherportentous man in his middle'i'ties but rather pro)incial inhis speech.D

P!"#$ o' his achie)ements. (eboasts about ha)ing been =ayorand tries /and 'ails1 to impressthe Inspector with his local

standing and his in'luential'riends.

(owe)er* he is aware o' peoplewho are his social superiors.

(e claims the party Eis one o'the happiest nights o' my li'e.D

(e is "%&''&'*'or the 'utureand con'ident that there willnot be a war.

(e is e?tremely +-'


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HE IS E/TREMELY SEL0ISH BECAUSE:


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CHARACTER 4escribed at the start as Eabout

'i'ty* a rather cold woman andher husband9s social superior.F

She is a "2. She has the least respect 'or

the Inspector o' all thecharacters. She tries 3unsuccess'ully 3 to intimidatehim and 'orce him to lea)e*then lies to him.

She sees Sheila and >ric still as

EchildrenD. She &!'+ &" $+ &'4that

she doesn9t want to belie)e. Garrow sense o' morality.


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CHARACTER 3 4escribed at the start as Ea prettygirl in her early twenties* )erypleased with li'e and rathere?cited.D

Seems )ery play'ul at theopening8nai)e H shallow.

Shows her *"%5'"

immediately she hears o' her'ather9s treatment o' >)a Smith.

She 'eels 4#'&'or her +ealousactions and blames hersel' asEreally responsible.D

She is )ery %+!*+%&'6+, *#!'"# 78'+!.

She is 54!with her parents in&ct 2 'or trying to Epretend thatnothing much has happened.E


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CHARACTER 9 4escribed at the start as Ein hisearly twenties* not 7uite atease* hal' shy* hal' asserti)e.D

>ric seems +25!!5+$ 5$5885!$right 'rom the start.

(ea)y drinker. (e 'eels 4#'& 5$ -!#&!5&'"

with himsel' o)er hisrelationship with the girl.

(e had some innate ++ "-!+%"'2''&.

(e is appalled by his parents9

inability to admit their ownresponsibility.

(e is 'ully aware o' his socialresponsibility.


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CHARACTER 9 4escribed as Ean attracti)e chap

about thirty* rather too manly tobe a dandy but )ery much theeasy well3bred man3about3town.D

(e is an 5!'&"*!5&3 the son o'ord and ady Cro't.

(e is not as willing as Sheila toadmit his part in the girl9s death.

(e did ha)e some genuine 'eeling'or 4aisy @enton.

In &ct 2 he tries to come up withas much e)idence as possible to

pro)e that the Inspector is a 'ake. &t the end o' the play* he has not

changed.


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CHARACTER ; 4escribed on his entrance ascreating Ean impression o'massi)eness* solidity andpurpose'ulness.

(e is a man in his 'i'ties*dressed in a plain darkish suit.

(e speaks care'ully* weightily*and has a habit o' lookinghard at the person headdresses be'ore actuallyspeaking.

(e works )ery &+5&'*5. (e is a 'igure o' 5#&"!'&. (is 'inal speech is like a

sermon or a politician9s


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HE SEEMS TO KNOW AND UNDERSTAND AN E/TRAORDINARY AMOUNTO0 IN0O:

(e knows thehistory o' >)a Smith

and the Birlings9in)ol)ement in it.

(e knows things aregoing to happen

(e is ob)iously in agreat hurry towardsthe end o' the play.


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CHARACTER > The Inspector* Sheila*ric all say that she wasEpretty.D

(er parents were dead. She came 'rom outside

Brumley. She was working class. (owe)er* in &ct 2 we begin to

wonder whether >)a e)erreally e?isted.

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