Essays On Play

In this Essay I will be trying to point out J. B. Priestley’s intention in writing ‘An Inspector Calls’. I will also be showing how modern interpretations of the original, support his message o the audience. J. B. Priestley wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ in 1944 but it was first performed in 1945 in Moscow. It […]

“An inspector calls” is a play written by J. B. Priestly in 1946, but its setting is in 1912. These two dates present a stark contrast for multiple reasons. In 1912, the economy differed significantly as individuals prioritized themselves over others, and there was a considerable increase in the circulation of money. This made the […]

The aim of this essay is to demonstrate, with ample evidence, the significant amount of dramatic tension that the Inspector generates and his contribution to the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ overall dramatic effectiveness. The play was written by J. B. Priestley in 1945, in the aftermath of both world wars and the disastrous maiden voyage […]

An Inspector Calls is set in 1912, just before the beginning of World War One, however it was written in 1944-5, and was first performed in 1945 as the Second World War ended. Priestley survived the First World War, but bitterly disliked it. So when the Second World War came around, he began to question […]

JB Priestley authored An Inspector Calls in 1945, though it takes place in 1912. The writer employs his knowledge of history to his benefit by having Birling deliver a speech that is highly ironic in the beginning of the play. Birling states, ‘I say there isn’t a chance of war…the Titanic- she sails next week- […]

In the play An Inspector Calls, a message is being portrayed to the reader by J. B Priestley and in my opinion, the main bearer of this message is the inspector. Being of an ambiguous nature, he appears to live in a different world to the family with whom he deals; the Birlings and it […]

Upon reading “An Inspector Calls,” it becomes clear that the Inspector is not as he initially appears. Although he is introduced without much indication of his true character, it gradually becomes apparent that he may be an imposter. Moreover, the Inspector has a significant impact on several characters and serves as a means through which […]

Introduction:The question asked was: Who, in your opinion, is most responsible for the death of Eva Smith. Use evidence from the text to justify your answer. The best way to answer this question is to firstly find out what each person did to contribute to the death of Eva Smith due to this play being […]

How does Priestley present the change in Sheila during the course of the play? How do you think this change reflects some of Priestley’s ideas? In An Inspector Calls J. B. Priestley present Sheila Birling’s change during the play in order to reflect some of his own ideas. Sheila is one of the few characters […]

‘What freedom men and women could have, were they not constantly tricked and trapped and enslaved and tortured by their sexuality’ – John Steinbeck In ‘Of Mice and Men’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’ both authors indirectly show their beliefs and opinions towards women and the way they are treated by society. In the time both […]

How does Priestley portray the differences between the generations in ‘An Inspector Calls’? Priestley shows us that the older generation –Mr and Mrs Birling – are less ‘impressionable’ (as the inspector said) than the younger generation – Eric and Sheila. This means that they are less able to learn for their actions and change their […]

Sheila is portrayed as a beautiful young lady in her early twenties with a rather selfish and arrogant nature. Using her compelling personality she is able to obtain anything in which she desires through her father. She makes inconsequential remarks and speaks in a childish manner. However she is the only one to accept immediate […]

Priestley’s main aim within “An Inspector Calls”, is to express his political and moral values by using the characters and situations to convey the inequalities of society. He emphasises the importance of collective responsibility to show how our actions affect those around us and demonstrate that we are all responsible for each other. Priestley’s attitudes […]

Written in 1945 by J.B. Priesley, the play An Inspector Calls is set in 1912 just before the Great War. This was a time of very great tension, especially between England and Germany, yet the British aristocracy still felt optimistic for the near future. There are frequent references to the war during the opening section […]

In this essay I will be exploring several characters in the play of An Inspector Calls. After exploring these characters I will analyse them again to see what developments may happen to them after they are interrogated by the inspector. I will also explain my views on what morals I think come to mind with […]

In this composition, I will delve into the manner in which responsibility is tackled in the drama and furnish proof to underscore its emphasis on the repercussions of our deeds on other individuals within a community. At the beginning of the play, the dining room of a fairly large suburban house owned by Arthur Birling, […]

An Inspector Calls – a tale of suspense and biting social criticism of an upper class family. With each minute that goes by another enigmatic incident is unravelled -leaving the reader engrossed by the ongoing tales of lies and deceit, that together form the plot for Priestley’s masterpiece. Set in 1912, An Inspector Calls introduces […]

An Inspector Calls is a play based in 1912, although it was written in 1946 by JB Priestley. Priestley was a deeply political writer with a strong favour for Communism. Communism is the political belief that there is no rich or poor and that everybody is equal, indeed Communists also believe that there should be […]

Although many of the early critics found Oscar Wilde’s final play strictly humorous, it clearly conveys social hypocrisies of the upper-classes of the period (late-Victorian). Wilde was being satirical and paradoxical in his play to show the hypocrisy and entertain the viewers in a play that is still being repeated till today. It is a […]

Compare and contrast the sisters, Elinor and Marianne, in Sense and Sensibility to Cecily and Gwendolyn in The Importance of Being Earnest. Be sure to consider the personalities of each woman as you analyze how the demands and requirements of courtship dominate her attention and her interactions with others. Elinor and Marianne Dashwood VS Cecily […]

At the turn of the twentieth century, The Importance of Being Ernest premiered as a humorous play that is widely recognized as a “farce” and a “social satire.” This classification accurately captures the play’s emphasis on street-smart humor, although some critics originally objected to its lack of seriousness and social message. Such objections were uncommon […]

The Selfish Giant is a puppet production adapted from a short story by Oscar Wilde. It is about a giant who has been away from his castle and garden for 7 long years and during that time the children have come to enjoy his garden and its trees and flowers. As the story opens two […]