An Inspector Calls - Priestleys Presentation of the Inspector Essay

An Inspector Calls - How does Priestley's presentation of the Inspector create dramatic tension in the play? 'An Inspector Calls' Question Title: How does Priestley's presentation of the Inspector create dramatic tension in the play? During the play 'An Inspector Calls' the Inspector is used as a dramatic device. He raises and decreases the tension due to his attitude, actions, speeches and his symbolic role to the family, and audience at the time when the play was first performed. Throughout my essay I will be examining how Priestley's presentation of the Inspector generates tension throughout the play. Before the Inspector is introduced into the play, the atmosphere in the Birling's house is quite relaxed. They are celebrating Sheila and Gerald's engagement, so there is a party atmosphere and dull lighting. The stage directions describe the situation as: "At the moment they have all had a good dinner, are celebrating a special occasion, and are pleased with themselves." The Inspector's arrival disrupts the family's celebration; this automatically raises the tension, because the family would be annoyed by the abrupt interruption of their celebration. When the Inspector first rings the doorbell, Birling is just finishing one of his arrogant speeches. He has just said: "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own." This is significant in relationship to the play because Birling's original views are exactly what Priestley, through the Inspector, is trying to teach the audience not to think like. Birling is the kind of person who Priestley is trying to get through to. The atmosphere is also made uneasy because no one knows definitely why the Inspector has called bu... ...r classes and the way that the Inspector brought these ideas crashing down. In the 1954 film version of the play the man who plays the Inspector is a pale faced man with dark dramatic eyes. This makes the Inspector look ghostly enforcing some peoples theories of him being a ghost. Because the Inspector's true identity is not revealed the tension in the play is increased. This is because the audience don't know anything about the Inspector, so do not trust the inspector and there-fore would be put on edge by him. Priestley has presented the Inspector in a very mysterious way, we do not know where he comes from or anything about him, but it is soon made clear why he is in the play; to teach an important lesson. The audience is left thinking about the play and all the issues raised in it. This play definitely left me thinking about my role among society.