An Inspector Calls - In-Depth Analysis

Introduction

• Focus on complex and sophisticated analysis of the play.
• Two genres to consider: Morality Play and Detective Fiction.

Morality Play

• Allegorical drama teaching moral lessons, popular in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries.
• Characters often embody moral qualities or abstractions.
• In An Inspector Calls, characters can be linked to the seven deadly sins (e.g., Mr. Birling - greed, Sheila - envy).
• Core message: Responsibility towards others, not just self.

Detective Fiction

• Traditional detective stories narrow suspects, but An Inspector Calls inverts this.
• All characters are implicated in Eva Smith's death.
• Priestley uses this inversion to highlight societal neglect and abuse of vulnerable individuals.

Literary Devices

• Anadiplosis: Repetition of a word at the end of one sentence and the beginning of the next.
  • Example: "What happened to her afterwards..."
  • Emphasizes interconnectedness and joint responsibility.

Setting

• Single setting: Dining room of the Birlings' house.
• No scene changes suggest self-absorption and disconnection from the wider world.
• Creates a claustrophobic atmosphere, focusing on the play's moral message.
• Lack of scene change forces focus on the moral lesson, emphasizing its simplicity and lack of subtlety.

Character Analysis

• Inspector Goole: Sparse details, acts as a moral force rather than a character.
  • Represents the opposite of Mr. Birling's capitalist values.
• Mr. Birling: Dramatic irony in his statements underscores his ignorance.
  • Example: Titanic being "unsinkable".
  • Highlights the folly of capitalist values.

Dramatic Irony

• Over-the-top to emphasize the moral lesson.
• Repetition and Intensifiers: Enhance the irony of Birling's statements.

Structure Analysis

• Inspector's arrival interrupts Birling's speech, symbolizing the clash between capitalism and socialism.
• Use of dramatic irony and structural interruption to highlight ideological conflicts.

Minor Characters

• Edna: Represents class dynamics.
  • How others speak to her reveals attitudes towards the working class.
  • Mr. Birling's use of imperatives shows lack of respect and politeness, reflecting societal issues.

Conclusion

• The play's simplicity and lack of subtlety serve to hammer home its moral message.
• Encouragement to explore further resources and guides for deeper understanding.