An Inspector Calls was written by JB Priestley Essay Example

committed any mistake and are conscious of their image in others' eyes. Mrs Birling advises Sheila not to act immaturely.

'On page 59, Sheila should be the target of the direction, but her husband should be given a quick glance to indicate that they hold the same views on their daughters' absurd last remark. When Sheila responds defensively, her father's reaction is to tell her to leave the room if she continues to speak like that. This displays Birling's belief that he is the most dominant figure in the room. Initially, the other characters would have concurred, but now his children do not respect him at all.

In my role as director, I would depict Eric's line "That'll be terrible for her, won't it?" with a sarcastic tone, while Sheila's line would be delivered dismissively. Sheila expresses that the person who made them confess is insignificant and proceeds to detail everyone's actions. As she talks about each character, the lights will focus on them and they will make a small gesture. Birling will respond with an uninterested sigh, believing he has not done anything wrong. In the first act, Birling declares "Still, I can't accept any responsibility." Sheila will pause before admitting what she did to the girl and say it in an ashamed tone to convey her remorse over causing someone else pain.

In her words on page 23, she expresses her 'rotten' feelings. When Sheila mentions Eric's name, he should attempt to grab a wine glass but then refrain from doing so, demonstrating to the audience that he understands that alcohol is not the solution to his problems. Lastly, Mrs. Birling should coldly stare at

her daughter. On page 47, Mrs. Birling makes it clear that she will not take responsibility for the girl's death. At the start of page 60, Sheila's deliberate and thoughtful speech about Inspector Goole's knowledge adds an intriguing layer to the character.

Birling proceeds to minimize the situation by saying "that's nothing..." before shifting the blame onto his family for revealing too much information to the inspector.

Upon reaching the stage, Birling should head towards the small table situated in the front corner and grab the whiskey bottle present on top of it. While Mrs. Birling converses with Sheila, Birling should take a swig from his drink after uttering the words 'The fact is' and before completing his statement with 'you allowed yourself to be bluffed'.

The man's stress is evident as he returns to his seat. Towards the end of the page, Mrs Birling refers to Eric and Sheila as 'children', causing them to feel patronised given their mature behavior in contrast to their parents. This is demonstrated by their scowls. Upon hearing the bell ring, everyone should express alarm by looking at each other. Mrs Birling assigns Edna to answer the door, which slams shut off stage moments before Gerald enters.

Sheila appears uneasy, fidgeting as no one rises to greet the newcomer who removes his hat and gloves to reveal his familial connection. Gerald gazes at Sheila while remarking 'I hope you don't mind me coming back,'referencing her return of the engagement ring after his confession on page 40. Mrs Birling intervenes with a sugary tone, assuring Gerald of his welcome. Birling cuts off Sheila as she begins recounting events following Gerald's departure, not wanting

to tarnish his family image and hinder the merger of their respective companies.

It is possible that in the future, Croft's Limited and Birling and Company will collaborate instead of competing against each other.

On page 4, Gerald inquires about the Inspector's behavior. Mrs. Birling responds by stating that he was impolite to her and her husband. She neglects to mention that he also treated her children discourteously and addressed them with the same tone of voice.

The speaker clearly anticipates being treated with extra respect due to her age, indicating a lack of understanding of equality and disregard for the Inspector's message. Gerald appears pleased and exclaims "Hm-hm!" drawing the attention of the group. As Birling eagerly stands up, he poses the question, "You know something, what is it?" The spotlight shifts onto Gerald as he explains his belief that the Inspector is a fraud, but then returns to the table.

After Birling shouted about the fake, Mrs. Birling appeared happy, while Sheila and Eric looked more shocked than joyful. Birling wanted to make sure of his statement and decided to call the Chief Constable. He headed towards the telephone on the desk, accompanied by Gerald, who seems to feel significant within the family. While Mrs. Birling watched them, Sheila and Eric focused on the table, indicating that it did not matter to them whether the Inspector was a fake or not. Birling spoke with the Constable before ending the call.

On page 63, it shows that Birling, Mrs. Birling, and Gerald have forgotten about their previous actions and are only concerned with keeping the situation from becoming public. Birling proudly announces that the

man they encountered was not really a police inspector and suggests they have been deceived. He even pats Gerald on the shoulder in agreement. All three individuals make remarks indicating their relief and disregard for their prior actions. Mr. Birling emphasizes that the fact that the man was not a real inspector "makes all the difference."

With a look of disgust, Sheila expresses her displeasure towards the three characters and sarcastically remarks, "I suppose we're all nice people now." Eric defends his sister, prompting anger from their father who is upset that Eric went against the law. While Mr. Birling almost reveals what Eric did, his wife interrupts to prevent Gerald from knowing. It becomes clear that Mr. and Mrs. Birling and Gerald are each seeking approval from the other, as later on, Gerald admits to Sheila in front of her parents that he does not want to know the rest of their "crimes." This behavior highlights Gerald's detachment from reality, which is typical of the upper class.

As Mrs Birling boasts about being the only one who did not concede, Eric stands up and begins pacing behind the table. Irritated, his father instructs him to sit down, but Eric sharply retorts "I'm alright." He then moves towards Sheila's seat and stands behind her. At the same time, Gerald sits in the center of the table. Birling begins speaking again with "Now look you two..."

Within the play, there is a clear divide between the younger and older generations, as demonstrated by the positioning of the characters at opposite ends of the table. This contrast of views is apparent when the husband stands behind his wife's chair. Despite

being seated in the middle, Gerald's agreement with Birling's perspective is evident; in fact, on page 63 he exclaims 'Of course!' in response to Birling's celebration that the Inspector was not real. Moreover, Gerald is keen to avoid any further confrontation with Sheila, having already provoked her once earlier that evening.

On page 64, Eric displays a change in character by confronting his father during a speech that Sheila agrees with. Birling exclaims 'Look- for God's sake!' while his wife sarcastically interjects 'Arthur!' insinuating his wrongdoing. Birling argues that his children fail to comprehend the potential public scandal, but Eric disrupts and proclaims 'And I say the girl's dead and we all helped to kill her- and that's what matters.' Sheila exhibits greater maturity than her parents throughout this scene, while Eric appears more self-assured and perhaps relieved that the truth is revealed. Mr and Mrs Birling are depicted as self-absorbed and elitist since they refuse to acknowledge their mistakes, despite it being evident to the audience.

Gerald sits at the center of the family, delighting in the fraudulent Inspector's exposure, yet never admitting any wrongdoing or condoning his actions. Priestley's message is clear - our actions affect others, and with great power comes responsibility, a lesson forgotten by all the characters. The play highlights the entrenched social hierarchy, exemplified by the Inspector's shabby appearance in contrast to the stylish Birling family. As a director, I would emphasize the play's irony while keeping its message clear. I would highlight the generational divide and underline the tension between characters through careful staging and grouping.