How is the interrogation of Mr Birling made dramatic. What does this extract reveal about the themes of the play? Priestley introduces us to each character in the first few pages of his short play “An Inspector Calls”. It is established that we are thrust upon a political marriage between the Birling family and Gerald Croft, son of the owner of Crofts Ltd, a competitor to Birling & Co. The family are celebrating the engagement of Gerald Croft to Mr Birling’s daughter, Sheila just before an Inspector rings the doorbell. After this interrogation the Birling family will never be the same again.
Before the Inspector arrives, we see Mr Birling at the height of his pomposity “Yes, you don’t know what some of the boys get up to nowadays… I don’t want to lecture you two young fellows”. Mr Birling is extremely earnest in these two paragraphs before the Inspector arrives and this is highlighted with Priestley’s stage direction of “solemnly”. The words and phrases Mr Birling uses just before the Inspector “appears” is extremely ironic and makes the entrance and preparation of the arrival of the Inspector even more so dramatic considering that these words are infact referring to Inspector Goole’s philosophy.
In comparison to Mr Birling’s insolate approach, highlighting a key theme of the play already which is Mr Birling’s microcosm of the society he lives in. The entrance of Inspector Goole is made dramatic with the timing from the stage directions “We hear the sharp ring of a front door bell”. The word sharp is perhaps a metaphor for the Inspector’s interrogation on the family. Priestley chooses for the doorbell to ring at this time, as it cuts Mr Birling off from his literal height of ostentation which is shown in the text with his words being cut off using hyphens “his own – and –”.
The doorbell ringing at this time is both a metaphorically and literal interruption which represents another disturbance and in hindsight threatens to shatter the family because of the fractured punctuation Priestley uses. The irony of Mr Birling’s next sanctimonious speech “Edna’ll answer it. Well, have another glass of part Gerald” shows that he isn’t bothered by the doorbell ringing which is why he is ever so more shocked when Inspector Goole does start interrogating him. Once again suggesting Mr Birling’s obliviousness to the society he’s in.
Even before the Inspector starts his interrogation we see signs and characteristics from different characters that foreshadow later events towards the end of the play. Eric’s stage directions being “uneasy” suggesting a tension and guilty conscience and Gerald being sarcastic, making jokes emphasised by his stage direction “nodding confidently” and his line that follows, “and that would be awkward, wouldn’t it”. This accentuates another theme in the play, that Gerald is infact at this significant part of the play a mini Mr Birling.
Priestley creates good drama just with the effect of stage directions and he does so very well describing Inspector Goole by using words like “massiveness, solidity, purposefulness”. However these words do not describe the Inspector’s physical presence therefore creating dramatic impact. “He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking”, this is highly opposite to Birling’s myopia which foreshadows his scrutiny.
As Mr Birling and the Inspector meet we can see Mr Birling almost at once trying to assert rank and pull fame by association “you know, Crofts Limited” and show experience trying to intimidate the Inspector “You’re new, aren’t you? ” this is an example of Priestly creating dramatic tension between the Inspector and Mr Birling from the offset of the interrogation – introducing another theme of the play that Mr Birling undermines the Inspector from the foundation of the interrogation.
This is emphasised with the stage direction “with a touch of impatience”. The Inspectors short sentences at first give him enough rope to hang Mr Birling with, which is indicative to the way he works where he increases dramatic conflict by him saying not much in comparison to Mr Birling saying too much. The Inspector’s way of interrogation continues with him not saying a lot but Mr Birling replying with didactic speeches which is dramatic.
This is portrayed in a stage direction “the Inspector interposes himself between them and the photography” this divide and rule scheme the Inspector uses is part of his process which eventually allows the whole family to admit to what they have done, and adds to the tension making each interrogation, especially the one between Mr Birling and the Inspector more dramatic. Here by causing Mr Birling to become agitated which is also conveyed throughout the play. Aswell as the other characters starting to become cautious and measured because of the calm yet firm exterior the Inspector constructs.
During the interrogation, Mr Birling’s complacency is emphasised and to clutch his spotlight he refers back to a speech he made even before the Inspector arrives, suggesting he feels pressured or tense. Priestley now introduces the Inspector with sarcasm and subtly challenges Mr Birling which changes the tone of Arthur Birling shown in his implication of long speeches now until the end of his interrogation. We see a change in Arthur Birling, “I don’t like that tone” sounds paternal and shocked with his use of emotive language which makes this part of the interrogation more dramatic.
Towards the end of the interrogation the Inspector says “they might. But after all it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it” this is the Inspector’s voice of social conscience, imitating what Birling has done by taking away livelihood. At this point the Inspector is slowly drawing Eric into his father’s interrogation. Birling’s stage direction of “staring at the Inspector” and says “What did you say your name was, Inspector? ” shows that he is trying to intimidate him, perhaps he realises he isn’t getting anywhere and uses the authority he thinks he has to do this.
The Inspector cool, calm and collected replies and literally spells his name out “Goole. G double O-L-E” trying to make a joke, so he can be seen as light-hearted, aswell as the Inspector’s self satisfied lines that build up tension and drama and come as a shock to Birling. To conclude, this extract reveals many themes about the play including the social and moral conscience and obligation of the Inspector and his various means and ways of getting information out of Mr Birling and infact the whole family, causing Mr Birling to become agitated and highlight his microcosm of the society he lives in.
In addition to his undermining nature which is the main theme revealed in this extract. Priestley uses timings, stage directions, a mixture of short sentences and didactic speeches to contrast the two highly opposite personalities between Mr Birling and Inspector Goole, which therefore leads to Mr Birling and his family into admitting their “responsibility” into the death of Eva Smith.
