J B Preistley example essay topic

John Boynton Preistley wrote 'An Inspector Calls@ during one week in 1945. He was a Yorkshireman who wanted to comment on the key conflicts taking place in English society in 1945. J B Preistley wrote sixteen novels and over forty plays in his lifetime and experiance much success. As a political social thinker, J B Preistley used literature as a means of commenting on society and the lack of support he felt the poor had. He was patriotic (passionatley love your country) socialist whose major issue was trying to better the lives of the poor. Preistley formed many of his opinions in th period 1911-1914 as worked as a clerk (junior office worker) in a Bradford wool form.

He had ambitions to be a writer but wanted to gain life experiance, so avoided university (available to the rich) and went to work. He realised as a society we would improve if we thought 9 of ourselves as together - not every man for himself (Arthur Birling's veiw point). The Birling's dining room is where the action is focused and the passing of time on stage as in the theatre. The breaks between Acts are not used to change scenery, so they do not disturb the action of the play.

The Inspector reports Eva Smith's interactions with the Birling family to the audience. Their meetings with Eva happened "off-stage", so the Inspector forces the family to describe their past dealings with Eva in detail. The Inspector summaries the action and comments on individual characters, explaining the lessons that need to be learnt. The Inspector includes the audience and this makes the play a more interactive experiance. The audience witnesses their own faults being reflected in the play's characters.

Social class is an obsession of Arthur Birling's and his biggest fear after the departure of the Inspect ure is that he won't get his Knighthood! The small social things matter to Sybil and Arthur, especially when they are entertaining Gerald. Arthur has the same port as Gerald's father. Sybil is unhappy when her husband says what good food it was and to "Tell cook from me".

This would involve Sybil actually talking to one of her servants! Likewise, the order of events is clearly defined, food, port, the women retire to the drawing room whilst the men smoke cigars. This lifestyle is very ceremonial. The middle and upper classes cleary behave as if their wealth makes them better people and they are rarely relaxed. Certain things are not discussed and Sybil, Arthur and Gerald are presented as quite cold people. Prostitution, mistresses and alcoholism are all not to be mentioned and Sybil is sure that girls from the lower classes are lacking "fine feelings and scruples".

Her comments and avoiding inappropriate words of behaviour.