An Inspector Calls is a thought-provoking play by J.B. Priestley that explores themes of social responsibility, class divisions, and moral accountability. Set in 1912, it follows the wealthy Birling family as they are interrogated by the mysterious Inspector Goole about their connections to a young woman's suicide.
Key points:
• The play critiques the selfishness and hypocrisy of the upper classes
• It emphasizes how individual actions can have far-reaching consequences
• The Inspector serves as a moral voice, pushing characters to examine their consciences
• The ambiguous ending leaves audiences questioning reality and responsibility
Highlight: An Inspector Calls uses dramatic irony to contrast the characters' complacency with the audience's knowledge of impending historical events like World War I and the sinking of the Titanic.
Quote: "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." - Inspector Goole
Vocabulary: Dramatic irony - When the audience knows something the characters do not, creating tension or humor
Example: Mr. Birling's confident predictions about the impossibility of war and the unsinkability of the Titanic demonstrate dramatic irony, as 1912 audiences would know these claims to be false.
