Critical evaluation of An Inspector Calls Essay -- English Literature

Critical evaluation of An Inspector CallsAn Inspector CallsAn Inspector Calls is a play set in the mystery/ detective thrillergenre. It is set in 1912 b arly it was written by J.B Priestly in1945 and staged in Moscow. As he lived through both wars he could seewhat had actually happened in the prison term the play was set. J.B Priestlyuses the records to express his views on the issue of socialresponsibility, morality and about class divisions with many themesincluding greed, regret, guilt and blame.An Inspector Calls is about the Birling family who are quitewealthy. They are celebrating their daughters engagement with herfianc, Gerald. An Inspector arrives and breaks up the party,questioning the family on the death of a young Eva Smith, who hadkilled herself by drinking disinfectant. Upon questioning each ingredientof the family seems to be involved in her death and is slowly forcedto confess. When the Inspector finally leaves they find out that he isa fake. But at the actually end they get a phone call telling them that ayoung woman has just killed herself and that there is an Inspector onhis way to tell to them about it. An Inspector Calls is what is knownas a well made play. Its progression is that from ignorance toknowledge (for both the audience and the characters).During the course of the play the action is loosely focused on EvaSmith/ Daisy Renton. At the beginning of the play Sheila is describedas a pretty girl in her early twenties, in truth jolly with life andrather excited. The reader gets the impression that she is a veryrelaxed, spoilt, and innocent girl who is very nave.At the start of the play Sheila has a very good, happy relationshipwith her family and fianc... ...ing about the public finding outand if the inspector is real or fake.Sheila is the character which is explored in this essay.Responsibility is developed through her character as her reactions andresponses are compared to her familys. Although she is the youngest,she behaves i n a mature manner answering the Inspectors questionswhereas her family refuses. She understands what has happened andtakes responsibility for her actions.Change is developed from the beginning to the very end. In thebeginning Sheila is carefree, innocent and nave. She has no worriesor concerns. However towards the end she develops a social conscienceand an understanding of the real world. She is emotionally strongerand has doubts about her parents. She has learnt a lot from herexperience and even though the inspector was a fraud she is stillaware of her actions.