An Inspector Calls :: sh Literature

An Inspector Calls I liked 'An Inspector Calls' even though it isn't the type of play I would usually have enjoyed, because of there being only one scene and small number of characters. But it had a plot that impressed and perplexed me from start to finish with a nice twist at the end. Set at Brumley in 1912 'An Inspector Calls' is about a wealthy family named the Birlings and one night that changes each and every one of them. A man claiming to be a police inspector investigating the suicide of a young, working class girl, arrives at the stately home of Mr Arthur Birling. He has probing questions for each of the five people dining within the house and more than one person is exposed for affecting this girl's life and driving her to suicide. In this play Priestley not only aims to entertain but as with almost all of his other plays and novels has hidden meanings and messages, such as the proud arrogance and irresponsibility of upper class, older generation bureaucrats and their conservative views of the period, their blindness to change and their selfish, spoiled attitudes. This becomes apparently clear as Priestley almost dons the part of the inspector in challenging the family one by one, as Priestley's and the inspector's views appear almost alike (Priestley being a great fighter for the rights of the working class person). This is stated quite clearly in the inspectors closing paragraph: "But remember this. One Eva Smith has gone- but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives" I also enjoyed the screenplay. I feel it was quite successful and a fair interpretation of the original play. It also changed my views of some of the characters. I felt more sympathetic for the young Eric Birling as the screenplay gave you a clearer picture of his side of the story and played on his vulnerability and sweet innocence. Also the inspector came across as more scheming and not half as democratic as in the play. I didn't particularly take to this, as one of the reasons I liked the character of the inspector is because of his political and authoritative persona. The screenplay also gave the play a more si-fi/paranormal genre with the inspector disappearing into thin air at the end and his slightly more obvious ability to predict the future. I did particularly enjoy the flashbacks to each family members first meeting with Eva throughout the screenplay. These little sections