Discuss the Importance and Dramatic Impact of the Inspector's Final Speech in "An Inspector Calls" by J.B.Priestley.

Essay by t.smithHigh School, 10th gradeA-, October 2005

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J.B.Priestley wrote this play to deliver a moral message to the audience. He uses the Inspector Goole as a cipher to allow him to do this. He also uses the Inspector to play on all of the characters' guilt to bring across to the audience the feelings of responsibility and culpability. In a way, the Inspector could be a representation of Priestley, passing on his principles. As the play was first performed in 1945 but is set in 1912, he uses the Inspector to impose the threat of war against the other characters. This gets the audiences attention by pricking their conscience, making them realise that in post-war complacency, society needs to ensure that the events of World War II is the responsibility of all society and is not to be repeated. This also allows Priestley to use dramatic irony on numerous accounts against Birling to show Mr. Birling's arrogance, and bad judgement and about the Birlings and their values.

He portrayed their values as just wanting to show off their wealth, he also gave the impression that their appearance was very important to them.

At the start of the play, when the curtain rises, we see the Birling family dining in their fairly large suburban house. They are celebrating the engagement of Gerald Croft and their daughter Sheila. Left alone, the men start drinking port. It is clear from the start of the play what Mr. Birling's values are, "you ought to like this port, Gerald. As a matter of fact, Finchley told me it's exactly the same port your Father gets from him". Here, Birling is trying to impress his future son in-law by bringing out the expensive port. Mr. Birling also reveals why he is so pleased with his daughter's engagement. "You are just the kind of...