An Inspector Calls: How Does Priestly Use the Character of Sheila to Deliver His Message to the Audience Essay Example
Saimah Anwar
“An Inspector Calls”
How does Priestley use the character of Sheila Birling to deliver his message to the audience?
J.B Priestley wrote this play in 1945 a period after two appalling world wars- The Holocaust and the Atom Bomb. He set his play in 1912 when class and gender were what ruled society- along with money of course.
Through his play Priestley encourages people to seize the opportunity the end of the war had given them to build a better, more caring society and put an end to the “Golden Age” Which Winston Churchill of the Conservative party favoured. However Priestley favoured Clement Attlee of the opposing party Labour; he thought Labour were more fair and equal and spoke the truth, Priestley thought many people had forgotten the truth, that the rich had all the power and the poor had nothing during the “Golden Age.” His play “An Inspector Calls” serves to remind people that the “Golden Age” was not as carefree as Churchill made out; in fact, it was the rich who held all the power over the poor. Society was ruled by money, class and gender!
“An Inspector Calls” is based around “Everyman”- a morality play. The story of “Everyman” is that you should do good deeds throughout your life because friends, wealth and prosperity don’t go with you when you die, but your good deeds will! It is also about every mans journey to repent their sins, so they may pass into heaven. “An Inspector Calls” uses the inspector to portray the guilt and responsibility of each character where as “Everyman” uses death. An excellent saying which is said by the inspector, Symbolizes the moral of these two plays: “You can never escape your actions” The inspector’s main objective is to make the family realise what responsibilities they have and that their behaviour has an influence on others. Furthermore: sin, power balances, death, family life, wealth, class, responsibility and guilt are all important themes in
“An Inspector Calls”
How does Priestley use the character of Sheila Birling to deliver his message to the audience?
J.B Priestley wrote this play in 1945 a period after two appalling world wars- The Holocaust and the Atom Bomb. He set his play in 1912 when class and gender were what ruled society- along with money of course.
Through his play Priestley encourages people to seize the opportunity the end of the war had given them to build a better, more caring society and put an end to the “Golden Age” Which Winston Churchill of the Conservative party favoured. However Priestley favoured Clement Attlee of the opposing party Labour; he thought Labour were more fair and equal and spoke the truth, Priestley thought many people had forgotten the truth, that the rich had all the power and the poor had nothing during the “Golden Age.” His play “An Inspector Calls” serves to remind people that the “Golden Age” was not as carefree as Churchill made out; in fact, it was the rich who held all the power over the poor. Society was ruled by money, class and gender!
“An Inspector Calls” is based around “Everyman”- a morality play. The story of “Everyman” is that you should do good deeds throughout your life because friends, wealth and prosperity don’t go with you when you die, but your good deeds will! It is also about every mans journey to repent their sins, so they may pass into heaven. “An Inspector Calls” uses the inspector to portray the guilt and responsibility of each character where as “Everyman” uses death. An excellent saying which is said by the inspector, Symbolizes the moral of these two plays: “You can never escape your actions” The inspector’s main objective is to make the family realise what responsibilities they have and that their behaviour has an influence on others. Furthermore: sin, power balances, death, family life, wealth, class, responsibility and guilt are all important themes in