Discuss the dramatic role of the Inspector in J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls".

Have a little read: ... Discuss the dramatic role of the Inspector in J.B. Priestley's play "An Inspector Calls". "An Inspector Calls" by John Boynton Priestley, was written in 1945, post World War II, but was set in 1912, before World War I. One reason for this is to show the events which have already happened and that the audience already have knowledge of, such as the sinking of the Titanic and the outbreak of the war, this is dramatic irony. This was also a time of great innovation with the Titanic about to make its maiden voyage. The play was set in the dining room of the Birling's house. The house is situated in the industrial city of Brumley, in the North Midlands of England. Priestley, the writer of the play, was one of those few people at the time that believed in Socialism and this is shown through his work. No more so when he uses the Inspector to symbolise his feelings towards society at the time. At the time, Classism was at the forefront of society and Socialism was a distant dream for those who dared to share it. Priestley said in his autobiography, Margin Released, 'I wanted to write and I believed that the world outside classrooms and labs would help me to become a writer... I had just enough sense to know that I must spend at least the next few years trying my hand at it'. Priestley got inspiration and experience before World War I and he said that 'that set their stump on me'. This implies that the years 1911-14, were the most critical point in his career. After the army, Priestley did what he wanted to do, which was write. To achieve this, he had to go to Cambridge University where he read Modern History and Political Science and successfully completed the courses and earned his degree. His first novel was called The Good Companions, which he wrote in 1929. At 38 years old, he wrote his first play, Dangerous Corner. He wrote many plays in his time such as Laburnum Grove, Eden End, When We Are Married, I Have Been Here Before, Time and The Calways, An Inspector Calls and many more. The play, An Inspector Calls, was first shown in this country in the New Theatre on the 1st October 1946. The London theatre was damaged and not available at the time, Priestley sent the script to Moscow, where it was produced. In 1977, Priestley was made a member of the Order of Merit. He enjoyed this honour until his death at the age of eighty-nine in 1984. The play 'An Inspector Calls', is about an Inspector, called Inspector Goole, who is investigating the death of a young girl called Eva Smith who swallows some disinfectant to commit suicide. The Inspector arrives at the house of the Birlings and interrupts the celebration of the engagement between