JB Priestly: An Inspector Calls

I have made another educational power point with even more slides to help students with their English literature exams coming up soon. This is based on An Inspector Calls which is a play written in 1945 made by Priestly. I hope you enjoy and learn, please follow and like to discover more power points. Thank you! (Reference: Bitesize: English literature)
~ Suzan G
(Info is from Bitesize, I don't own it)


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

1. An Inspector Calls JB Priestly

2. Plot Summary An Inspector Calls by J B Priestley, is a play that revolves around the apparent suicide of a young woman called Eva Smith. In the play, the unsuspecting Birling family are visited by the mysterious Inspector Goole. He arrives just as they are celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling to Gerald Croft. The Inspector reveals that a girl called Eva Smith, has taken her own life by drinking disinfectant. The family are horrified but initially confused as to why the Inspector has called to see them. What follows is a tense and uncomfortable investigation by an all-knowing Inspector through which the family discover that they are all in fact caught up in this poor girl's death. Priestley uses dramatic irony to great effect in the play.

3. Social and historical context An Inspector Calls was first performed in 1945 at a time of great change - both World Wars were fresh in the minds of the people, women had become more prominent in the workplace and it was possible to be class mobile . It is set in 1912 - this means that the characters have no knowledge of these world events. Priestley uses this to make important points about society and responsibility.

4. Key plot points An inspector arrives at the Birling house. He tells them how a girl called Eva Smith has killed herself by drinking disinfectant - he wants to ask them some questions. The Inspector reveals that the girl used to work in Arthur Birling's factory and he had her sacked for going on strike. Mr Birling refuses to accept any responsibility for her death. The Inspector then reveals that Sheila thought that Eva had made fun of her, complained and got her sacked. Sheila is deeply ashamed and feels responsible for the girl’s death. The Inspector forces Gerald to confess to an affair he had with Eva. Sheila respects Gerald’s honesty but returns the engagement ring he gave her. It is revealed that Sybil Birling had refused to help the pregnant Eva. It turns out that it was Eric who got Eva pregnant, and stole money from his father to help her. The Inspector leaves. The family ring the infirmary and there is no record of a girl dying from drinking disinfectant. Suddenly the phone rings, Mr Birling answers it, to his horror the phone call reveals that a young woman has just died from drinking disinfectant and the police are on their way to question them about it. The curtain falls and the play ends.

5. Setting the scene and opening the play Before the play begins, Priestley gives detailed instructions on how the play should be staged. The action takes place in a single room with few adjustments needed during the performance. The stage directions specify that the house is 'not cosy and homelike' and the lighting needs to become 'brighter and harder' once the Inspector arrives. The first of the three acts opens with the Birling family and Gerald Croft celebrating the engagement of Sheila Birling and Gerald. Mr. Birling makes a speech As it is a happy occasion, Mr. Birling takes the opportunity to make a speech. During the speech he reveals how happy he is that Sheila is marrying Gerald because Gerald’s parents are wealthy business owners. It is clear that Mr. Birling feels this marriage will be to his advantage, he boasts that he is to be considered for a knighthood . It is important to realise that the audience of 1945 would pick up on the fact that a lot of what Mr. Birling says is incorrect. He states how war will never happen and that the Titanic is unsinkable. This would indicate to the audience that what Mr. Birling says is not to be trusted. It might also alert them to a few other clues that Priestley gives in this opening scene that things are not as positive as they might appear in the Birling house. Eric Birling is distracted and a little drunk, while Sheila teases Gerald about him neglecting her last summer. During the speech, Mr. Birling suggests that 'a man has to make his own way'. At this precise moment, Inspector Goole arrives which is significant and proves a socialist is here to prove him wrong.

6. The first part that caused Eva's suicide (Mr. Birling) The Inspector tells the family that a girl died in the infirmary two hours ago. She took her own life by drinking disinfectant. The family are shocked by this news but don't see how they could be involved. The Inspector has a picture of the girl and a letter and diary she had written. He only ever shows one person the picture at a time - this is an important detail for later. He reveals the girl's name - Eva Smith, and that she used to work in Mr. Birling's factory. Mr. Birling had Eva sacked as she was the ringleader of a group of workers who had asked for higher pay. Mr. Birling still can’t see how he has anything to do with Eva’s death. The Inspector points out that her being sacked could be the beginning of a chain of events that led to her suicide but Mr. Birling is still not convinced.

7. The second part that caused Eva's suicide (Sheila) The Inspector explains that Eva Smith had no family to turn to and was out of work for two months after being sacked by Mr Birling. He then turns his attention to Sheila who has been deeply affected by the news of the girl’s suicide. He asks if she remembers making a complaint about a worker at the department store, Milwards. She does and then he shows her the photograph to confirm the girl’s identity. Sheila is horrified when she finds out that her complaint led to Eva being sacked for a second time. Sheila gives a full and honest account of what happened in the store, admitting that she thought Eva had smiled when she tried on a dress that didn’t suit her. Sheila is very ashamed of her behaviour.

8. The third part that caused Eva's suicide (Gerald)

9. The fourth part that caused Eva's suicide (Mrs. Birling) The Inspector tells us that after the affair with Gerald, Daisy went to live by the sea for two months - this was when she kept the diary he had found. Attention then turns to Mrs Birling who is revealed to be a prominent member of the Brumley Women's Charity Organisation. She has kept quiet about the fact that just two weeks earlier Daisy had approached the charity seeking help. Daisy had called herself Mrs Birling when she introduced herself to the charity, Mrs Birling did not like this and sent her away. The Inspector continues to question Mrs Birling and it turns out that Daisy was pregnant. Mrs Birling claims that the man who got her pregnant should be made an example of. Sheila knows what has happened by this point and begs her mother to stop talking, Eric enters the scene and Act II ends.

10. The fifth and last part that caused Eva's suicide (Eric) Eric confesses; Mrs. Birling looks very stupid after Eric admits that it was he who got Daisy pregnant. Like Sheila, he is very ashamed of his actions and is honest about his involvement with Daisy. He tells the Inspector that he drinks heavily and how, during a night out, he met Daisy. He admits that the first time they met he walked her home and pressured her into letting him into her lodgings. He slept with her that evening and on a further evening. When he next met Daisy, he found out that she was pregnant. They both knew that they weren't in love and marriage wasn't an option but Eric wanted to help by giving her money. She refused to accept the money when she found out Eric had stolen it from his father's business.

11. Inspector's leaving The family are distraught by this point and are arguing amongst themselves. The Inspector interrupts and makes a speech about how if we are not responsible for each other, there will be terrible consequences. The Inspector leaves and Gerald returns after a walk outside. He met a police officer and found out that there was no Inspector Goole on the force. They also begin to wonder if the girl mentioned to each of them could have been 'four or five different girls', suggesting that the whole evening could have been a trick. Gerald rings the local infirmary and discovers that no girl who had died by drinking disinfectant had been admitted. Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald are excited by the idea that they may not be to blame. Eric and Sheila are aware that it makes no difference whether or not the Inspector was real, they still behaved badly.

12. The phone ring/ending/cliff hanger Just as Mr Birling is mocking the Inspector and is celebrating that he is off the hook, the phone rings. Mr Birling answers and to his horror it is the police. They inform him that a girl has just died after drinking disinfectant and a police officer is on their way to ask the family some questions. They're all left in shock and mix of confusion and sadness. The curtain falls and the play ends.  

13. Characters

14. Overview An Inspector Calls has six main characters. The Birling family are Arthur, Sybil, Eric and Sheila. Gerald Croft, Sheila's fiancé, joins the Birlings for dinner. Inspector Goole arrives to conduct his investigation. This investigation focuses on the death of Eva Smith, who changes her name to Daisy Renton. She is significant but we never actually meet her. The Birlings' maid, Edna, may seem insignificant but she introduces the Inspector and serves as a reminder of the Birlings’ wealth.

15. Main characters Mr. Arthur Birling Mrs. Sybil Birling Sheila Birling Eric Birling Gerald Croft Inspector Goole Secondary characters Eva Smith/Daisy Renton Minor characters Edna - the Birlings' maid

16. Mr. Birling Mr. Birling is the head of the Birling household . He has made himself very wealthy by being a 'hard-headed' business man . He is an active member of the community in Brumley and thinks that he might be in the running for a Knighthood. At the start of the play he comes across as being arrogant, making long speeches about his predictions for the future. He also makes assertions about how a man should look out for number one and not waste time helping others. It is at this exact moment that the Inspector arrives. Sybil, his wife, is his 'social superior' and it is hinted that he is self-conscious about being from a more working-class background. He is materialistic and possessive and also has old fashioned views about women . Mr. Birling is shaken by the investigation and is shocked by the behavior of his son Eric. However, he doesn’t learn any lessons during the course of the play. When it seems that the Inspector might have been an imposter he is overjoyed and mocks the others for having been 'tricked' by the investigation. 

17. Social and historical context (in Birling) J B Priestley was a socialist When the play was written after World War Two in 1945, there was no form of welfare from the government to help the poor. J B Priestley believed in socialism, the political idea based on common ownership and that we should all look after one another. Mr. Birling represents greedy businessmen who only care for themselves. Priestley uses him to show the audience that the Eva Smiths of the world will continue to suffer if people like Birling remain in positions of power.

18. Mrs. Birling Mrs Sybil Birling is Arthur Birling's wife and right from the opening of the play she is cold-hearted and snobbish despite being a prominent member of local women's charity. Throughout dinner she tells Sheila and Eric off for things that she considers impolite whilst ignorantly turning a blind eye to her son drinking too much. It is clear that despite Eric being old enough to drink and Sheila getting married, she sees them both as children, not as a young man and woman. Her cold, uncaring nature leads to her downfall as the Inspector forces her to unknowingly condemn her own son.

19. Social and historical context (in Mrs. Birling) The hardships of wartime challenged the class structure in Britain. Due to rationing of food and clothes, people of all classes were eating and dressing the same. They were also fighting side by side, and so class barriers came down. Sybil Birling, like her husband Arthur, represents a type of middle-class snobbery that existed prior to the World Wars. Priestley hoped that these sorts of attitudes would die out, and uses Mrs. Birling to show how they can lead to cold and thoughtless behavior. Food was rationed during World War Two.

20. Sheila Birling

21. Social and historical context (in Sheila) Sheila, like Eric, allows Priestley to show his opinions on youth. He felt that there was hope in the young people of post-war Britain. He saw them as the ones who would help solve the problems the country had with class, gender and social responsibility. This is seen in how Sheila is deeply affected by Eva's death, she accepts responsibility straightaway and promises to never behave in such a way again. This is not the case with the older characters, Mr and Mrs Birling and even Gerald do not accept responsibility and we do not get the impression that they will change.

22. Eric Birling Eric is the Birlings' son and is in his early twenties, he is described as being 'not quite at ease, half shy, half assertive'. In other words, he lacks confidence . At points he tries to stand up to his father but is talked down. It becomes clear that he is drunk at the dinner table and later it is revealed that he has been drinking too much for quite some time. It turns out that Eric had an affair with Eva Smith and that she was pregnant with Eric's baby when she committed suicide. Eric stole money from his father's business to help Eva. In the final act Eric makes an emotional attack on his parents and their values and shows that he can be assertive .

23. Lacking confidence At the start of the play Eric is very unsure of himself. He tries to speak up but is often talked down by his father. His behaviour is awkward and stilted. "I don't know - really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh." The stage directions describe Eric as being 'half shy, half assertive' and this comes across in his dialogue. He is awkward and unsure of himself. Here he cannot explain his sudden laughter. Assertive Like Sheila he can be assertive as well. Even early on in the play he tries to stand up to his father. "No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith. Why shouldn't they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. And I don't see why she should have been sacked just because she'd a bit more spirit than the others." At the start of the play, Eric shows that he can be assertive. Here he questions his father's decision to sack Eva Smith. He backs up his point with a well-reasoned argument. His father quickly shouts him down though.

24. Socialist and historical context (in Eric) Priestley uses Eric to suggest that the young people of a post-war Britain would be the answer to a hopeful future. With Eric he also addresses some concerns he had about the dangers of immoral behaviour. Through Eric, Priestley shows that excessive drinking and casual relationships can have consequences.   He also uses Eric to show that parents need to stop hiding children from the world and keeping them shut making sure they have to believe and listen to parents even if they're wrong. Priestly sees that children shouldn't talk too much or cross the line but, making them the same and not allowing or accepting they're differences or other beliefs is wrong. This causes children to not speak up for what's right and stay quiet, not confident and keep away their (socialist) views like Eric. That's why he has outbursts, over drinking and his parents don't understand him at all.

25. Inspector Goole The Inspector arrives whilst the Birling family are celebrating the engagement of Sheila and Gerald. The stage directions state that he 'need not be a big man' but that he must create an ' impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness '. The Inspector investigates each family member one at a time and in doing so, reveals the consequences of their behavior. He drives forward the drama, with his questions creating shocking moments and gripping cliff-hangers for the audience. By the end of the play it is revealed that he isn’t actually an Inspector. It is not entirely clear who he is, Priestley leaves it up to the audience to decide. His name 'Goole' suggests a supernatural or ghost like element, and he seems to know what the characters will say before they do - is he the conscience of the audience? Is he the voice of Priestley? Either way he delivers a frightening message when he leaves, that if people do not take responsibility for each other, the world is doomed.

26. Social and historical context (in the inspector) Inspector Goole sheds a light on all the concerns that Priestley had at the time of writing An Inspector Calls around age, gender, class and social responsibility. Priestley uses the Inspector to make the audience question their own behavior and morality and hopes that they will learn some lessons as the Birlings do. The issues the Inspector highlights are just as relevant to a modern day audience. The context effects a character's personality and actions but for inspector Goole the social and historical context is also the reason and point why the inspector is in the play He uses the inspector as his mouthpiece and as a socialist character to prove the capitalist's wrong and teach the audience a lesson through the inspector's 'leaving' speech, Eva's suicide and the Birling's consequences.

27. Eva Smith/Daisy Renton We never meet Eva Smith during the course of the play, but she is a very important character. It is her death that is the cause of the Inspector’s investigation which in turn drives the drama. The audience learns about Eva through the Inspector, who has read a letter and a diary she kept. They also learn about her through the characters she came into contact with. A lot of the information about her is inferred - from the incident at Mr. Birling’s factory we can infer that she was strong willed. From her interaction with Sheila the audience can see that Eva had a sense of humor. Her relationship with Gerald, when she changed her name to Daisy Renton, reveals her sensitivity. By the time she reaches Eric and Sybil, Eva is desperate and resourceful in trying to get herself help. Eva is always referred to in a positive light by the characters that met her but the Inspector never lets the audience or the Birlings and Gerald forget her gruesome death. The Inspector's final speech reveals Priestley's lesson that there are millions of Eva Smiths being exploited and this must not continue.

28. Themes

29. The consequences of the Birlings' actions highlight Priestley’s ideas on social responsibility - do we look after one another in society? The difference between the younger and older characters' reactions to Eva Smith's death shows how Priestley viewed different generations . He viewed the younger generation as hope for the future and this is why both Sheila and Eric learn a lesson from the Inspector. How the male characters behave towards the females in the play highlights important points on gender and inequality. Class issues are also dealt with by having a middle-class family involved in the death of a working-class girl. J B Priestley explored these themes in a lot of his work. They are political in nature and are still relevant today.

30. Social responsibility An Inspector Calls was first performed in the UK just after the end of World War Two, in 1946. It was a time of great change in Britain and many writers were concerned with the welfare of the poor. At that time there was no assistance for people who could not afford to look after themselves. Priestley wanted to address this issue. He also felt that if people were more considerate of one another, it would improve quality of life for all. This is why social responsibility is a key theme of the play. Priestley wanted his audience to be responsible for their own behaviour and responsible for the welfare of others. How is the theme of social responsibility shown in the play? In An Inspector Calls , Priestley explores social responsibility through: the treatment of Eva Smith how each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their behaviour the Inspector's lessons

31. How does Priestley show this? Evidence Analysis Sheila feels socially responsible Sheila is shocked when she learns that she had a part to play in Eva’s death. "All right Gerald, you needn't look at me like that. At least I'm trying to tell the truth. I expect you’ve done things you’re ashamed of too." Sheila takes responsibility for her actions and tells the truth. Gerald is being judgemental of her even though he has not yet taken responsibility for his own actions. Mr Birling does not feel socially responsible Mr Birling refuses to take any responsibility for Eva Smith’s death. "If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we'd had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn't it?" Mr Birling dismisses the idea that we should be responsible for each other, suggesting that such a situation would be 'awkward'.

32. Eric feels socially responsible Eric shows that he takes responsibility for his actions in the final act of the play. "I don't see much nonsense about it when a girl goes and kills herself. You lot may be letting yourselves out nicely, but I can't. Nor can mother. We did her in all right." Eric clearly shows that he has a sense of social responsibility. Whilst Gerald and Eric's parents are enjoying being in the clear, Eric still takes the matter of Eva's death very seriously. He is even brave enough to tell his mother that she should feel responsible too. Mrs Birling does not feel socially responsible Sybil Birling will not take any responsibility for the death of Eva Smith even after she has been questioned by the Inspector. "I should think not. Eric, I'm absolutely ashamed of you." In telling Eric that she is ashamed of him she shows that she has learned nothing from the Inspector’s investigation. The audience would know that she is in no position to be questioning the behaviour of anyone else given her own treatment of Eva Smith and lack of social responsibility.

33. The Inspector's lessons When the Inspector is questioning the Birlings. "It's better to ask for the earth than to take it." Here the Inspector is suggesting that it is socially irresponsible to be greedy and 'take' things without permission. This is a practice the privileged Birlings would be used to.

34. Age Age is an important theme in An Inspector Calls . Priestley uses it to show how he believed that there was hope in the younger generation's ability to learn and change.  The older characters' opinions and behaviors are stubbornly fixed. Mr. Birling refuses to learn and Mrs. Birling cannot see the obvious about herself and her children. Eric and Sheila however are younger - they accept their mistakes and offer the chance for a brighter future.

35. How does Priestley explore the theme of social responsibility in An Inspector Calls ?

36. How is the theme of age shown in the play? In An Inspector Calls , Priestley explores the theme of age through: Sheila and Eric's response to Eva's death Mr. and Mrs. Birling's response to Eva's death  how the older characters perceive the younger ones  Priestly hopes younger generation are to be more open to society and caring (socialism) to make the world better

37. How does Priestley show this? Evidence Analysis Sheila and Eric Eric stands up to his parents when it becomes clear that they will not take responsibility. "You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all." Eric sees that his parents are trying to 'pretend' that nothing happened when it is suggested that the Inspector was not real. He and Sheila, the younger characters, still feel responsible. Mr and Mrs Birling Mrs Birling explains her decision to turn away Eva when she came to her for help. "So I was perfectly justified in advising my committee not to allow her claim for assistance." Despite hearing about all the misfortune that Eva Smith has suffered, Mrs Birling is unmoved and stubbornly stands by her decision to turn Eva away. Older Vs younger Mr Birling turns on his son Eric and nearly attacks him physically. "Why, you hysterical young fool - get back - or I'll -" Mr Birling implies here that Eric is a 'fool' because he is young. Ironically, it is the older Arthur who nearly resorts to physical violence.

38. How are the younger Birling’s, Sheila and Eric, different to their parents in An Inspector Calls ? Mr and Mrs Birling are both unrepentant about their involvement in Eva's death. Sheila and Eric develop a sense of social responsibility during the course of the play. Sheila and Eric are ashamed about their involvement in the death and are desperate to make amends. When Gerald suggests that the Inspector was not real, Mr and Mrs Birling are over the moon that they could be 'off the hook'. However, Sheila and Eric are convinced that even if the Inspector was not real and a girl didn’t die, they still behaved badly and should change their ways. The older characters are painted in a more negative light and they don't learn from their mistakes. The younger characters admit they were wrong and try to make things better.

39. Gender During World War Two women had a more prominent role in the work place An Inspector Calls was written after World War Two. As many British men went away to fight during the war, their positions in work had to be filled by women. This helped change existing perceptions. Men had to acknowledge the fact that women were just as capable as them. As a result of this, many women enjoyed a newfound freedom that working and earning money allowed them. Not all men saw this change in attitude as a good thing and stayed stuck in the past. Priestley explores the impact of these new gender roles through the independence of Eva Smith and the sexist attitudes of Mr Birling.

40. How does Priestley show this? Evidence Analysis How Mr Birling refers to women When Mr Birling is telling Eric and Gerald about women's attitudes towards the clothes they wear. "...not only something to make ' em look prettier - but - well, a sort of sign or token of their self-respect." Mr Birling shows that he has a patronising view of women, making the suggestion that clothes are a sign of self-respect for them. He has a stereotypical view of women here and does not see them as individuals but suggests that all women think in the same way. How Gerald refers to women Gerald makes sexist and superficial comments about the women in the bar he visits. "I hate those hard-eyed dough-faced women." Gerald shows that he can be very superficial in his view of women. If they don’t meet his standard of how they 'should' look, he dislikes them.

41. How Mrs Birling treats Eva Smith​ When Mrs Birling suggests that Eva is incapable of having feelings.​ "She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position."​ Priestley shows that even women like Mrs Birling can be just as cruel and old fashioned as the men are. She does not try to empathise with a member of her own gender. This also highlights her negative attitude towards the working class​

42. How does Priestley explore ideas about gender in An Inspector Calls? A Eva Smith is a modern woman - she is independent and fights for her own rights and those of others. Mr. Birling is very patronising about women, claiming that they couldn’t organise a proper strike and makes sweeping statements about how they love clothes. Mrs. Birling fulfils old-fashioned female roles. She thinks that women should support their husbands and not speak against them. She also turns against Eva Smith because she is going to be a single mother. Priestley would have hoped that by the end of the play the audience have questioned their views of stereotypical gender roles.

43. Class Priestley highlighted the inequality between upper, middle and working- classes. Before World War Two, Britain was divided by class . Two such classes were the wealthy land and factory owners and the poor workers. The war helped bring these two classes closer together and rationing meant that people of all classes were eating and even dressing the same. The war effort also meant that people from all classes were mixing together. This was certainly not the case before. Priestley wanted to highlight that inequality between the classes still existed and that the upper-classes looked down upon the working-class in post-war Britain.

44. How is Class shown in the play? In An Inspector Calls , Priestley explores the theme of class through the treatment of working-class Eva Smith by the wealthy Birlings and Gerald Croft when she is in the following situations: when she is a factory worker when she works in a shop when she is effectively homeless when she is potentially a single mother

45. How does Priestley show this? Evidence Analysis Mr Birling's opinion of the working class. When Mr Birling discusses how he sacked Eva Smith after she had gone on strike. "If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth." Mr Birling feels that it is his responsibility to come down 'sharply' on 'these people'. Priestley wanted the audience to realise that this is the wrong attitude to have, we should be looking after 'these people' not punishing them. The behaviour of the Birlings' friends. When Gerald tells the Birlings about the behaviour of Joe Meggarty. "He's a notorious womaniser as well as being one of the worst sots and rogues in Brumley." Joe Meggarty is an 'Alderman' or a council member. The rest of the family is shocked to hear that he is a 'sot' (another word for a drunk), and a womaniser. Much to the Birlings' surprise, their upper-class friends can behave badly.

46. Mrs Birling’s opinion of the working class​ When Mrs Birling is discussing the moment when Eva approached her charity.​ "As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!"​ Mrs Birling refers to Eva Smith as a 'girl of that sort'. She clearly has preconceptions about working-class girls suggesting that they lack morals and will always take money. ​ How does Priestley use Eva Smith to explore ideas about class? As a factory worker Eva asks for higher wages and is sacked by Mr Birling. When Eva works as a shop assistant she is sacked following an unnecessary complaint from Sheila. Gerald looks after her when she has nowhere to stay, but dumps her when he no longer wants her. Overall, working-class Eva is treated very badly by the wealthy middle and upper-classes. Priestley wanted the audience to see the injustice in this.

47. Use of Form The form is the type of text and genre that the writer chooses to write in. An Inspector Calls is written in the form of a play and so it is meant to be heard and seen in performance. There are stage directions to help guide actors and it is written in lines of dialogue. All productions of An Inspector Calls will be different, some might focus on a particular theme or could use staging in different ways which will give the performance a slightly different feel. An Inspector Calls fits into three possible genres: well-made play morality play crime thriller

48. Well-made play A well-made play is a popular dramatic genre from the 19th-century. In a well-made play the plot is intricate and complex and the action builds to a climax . This is often concerned with events that happened before the events of the play. A well-made play usually ends with a return to order but Priestley moves away from this genre with the revelation at the end. An Inspector Calls is a well-made play because the events are all influenced by what happened to Eva Smith before the play takes place What is the effect of this? This structure allows J B Priestley to manipulate the audience. They do not know what happened to Eva Smith and so each revelation about her treatment by the Birlings and Gerald Croft adds to the drama. Each revelation is more shocking than the last and so Priestley cleverly builds to the climax. In An Inspector Calls there is a twist at the end of the plot - the characters are unsure if the Inspector existed at all. This gives the audience time to reflect on the events of the play. When it is revealed that another inspector is on their way and the curtain falls, the audience would be stunned.

49. Morality play Morality plays were popular during the 15th and 16th-centuries. Historically they sought to teach the audience lessons that focused on the seven deadly sins: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy and pride. Whilst characters who committed these sins were punished, morality plays showed that if a character repented then they could redeem themselves. An Inspector Calls is a morality play because all of the Birlings and Gerald Croft commit crimes which are similar to the seven deadly sins. Mr Birling is greedy because he wants more money, Sheila is guilty of wrath and envy when she spitefully complains about Eva Smith and so on. Not all of the characters manage to redeem themselves. What is the effect of this? Priestley uses the morality play structure to teach a 20th-century audience a series of lessons that relate to his beliefs about social responsibility, age, gender and class. The audience is invited to enjoy judging these characters - they are also forced to question their own behaviour. Priestley would have hoped that people watching the play would have left the theatre as better people.

50. Crime Thriller