How does J.B Priestley use dramatic devices in An Inspector Calls? Essa

Coursework How does J.B Priestley use dramatic devices in An Inspector Calls to convey his concerns and ideas to the members of the audience as well as interest and involve them in his play? 23rd, February 2005 The main theme of â€Å"An Inspector Calls† is responsibility. J.B Priestley wants to show the Birlings’ and the audience that we all share responsibility for other people’s welfare, and that wealthy people have obligations to look after those less fortunate than themselves. Priestley uses Inspector Goole to put across his views on society by portraying himself as a character. Through Inspector Goole Priestley is able to emphasize that with privileges come responsibilities to help others. In the 1930’s Priestley’s main concern was the social inequality in Britain. Priestly set up The Commonwealth Party in 1942. Their main arguments were public land ownership, greater democracy, and a new "morality" in politics. In 1945 Priestley’s party joined the labour party. Priestley was particularly influential in developing the idea of the Welfare State, this finally took place at the end of World War Two. The play is set in 1912 but was written and performed in 1945. This is significant as it allows J.B Priestley to make Mr. Birling seem even more ridiculous and naà ¯ve. For example, he mentions how there is not going to be a war, however by 1945 when the play was first performed the audience know that there were two wars between 1914 and 1945, World War One and World War Two, which began in 1939. Mr. Birling also mentions how the ship Titanic will not sink, ‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’. Again in 1945 the audience know that Titanic did sink, consequently the things that Mr. Birling says, the audienc... ...stley is also conveying his ideas here. The audience would realise that everyone is responsible for each other. Priestley interests and involves the audience by having a lot of tension in the play â€Å"An Inspector Calls†. Priestley also interests them by having an exciting plot and a wide range of characters. He involves the audience by using dramatic irony very early on in the play and using characters to put across his concerns, such as the inspector in his speech tells the Birling’s "each of you helped to kill her." This is not only aimed at the characters on stage but at the audience too. Priestley’s message in â€Å"An Inspector Calls† is responsibility and how everyone is responsible for other people, we are all linked in society. This message is still relevant today because we still have responsibilities for other people and our actions do affect others.