Tuesday, May 26, 2020
A Marxist Approach On Social Classes - 1192 Words
stratification is brought forth by Domhoff and it supports the idea that social classes themselves have hierarchical layers determined status, power, and prestige. The critiques would most likely support the idea of pluralism and that each group is represented in political institutions, but thatââ¬â¢s just not the case in practical manners. A Marxist approach would argue that power is never not socially organized. The reason why power matters is that power by Marxist definition, is the ability to force someone to complete any action that goes against their best wishes and/or free will. Marx would also argue that the state is not neutral, like the pluralists believe, but rather the state represents the eliteââ¬â¢s class interest. Marx would also argue that the elitist seek to preserve themselves within the governmental structure. Basically, Marx doesnââ¬â¢t support that the government is neutral and that pluralist are correct. His theories align with the Power Elite Theory by Wright Mills, but Marx would follow up solutions to wealth inequality with a change in the stateââ¬â¢s systematic role or roles in society. Part 2 5) Describe and outline the class nature of American society. Describe to the reader the three major classes and the one minor class. Make sure you define social class in your answer. How and when did these three classes develop? What are the factors related to the development of class politics? How important are ethnicity and gender in comparison social class inShow MoreRelatedA Marxist Evaluation Of Feminism And Gender Equality Essay1572 Words à |à 7 PagesA Marxist evaluation of feminism and gender equality is another failure of the Neo-Marxist system to generate any serious change in a neoliberal capitalistic model. Feminism, since the 1970s, has become a subjective and distorted version of what it was meant to beââ¬âa system that sought to raise the rights of women out of the home (as domestic servants) and into the workplace. In the late 20th and early 21st century, the idea of Marxism as a system of economic analysis for women to dissect the inequalitiesRead MoreMedia S tudies1668 Words à |à 7 PagesSLLS1005 Essay 1: Course: Introduction to Media Studies (Media and Society) SLLS1005 Word Count: Two opposing views on the role of media in society have thus far dominated media studies: the Marxist and liberal-pluralist perspectives. Simply, Marxist theorists see the role of the mass media as a means of maintaining the existing state of affairs, while the liberal pluralists see the role of the mass media as a means to promote the freedom of speech. The following essay will look moreRead MoreThe Socialization And Dilution Of Marxist Theory Essay1701 Words à |à 7 PagesSocialization and Dilution of Marxist Theory in the Post-WWII Era In Antonio Gramsciââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"Hegemonic Theoryâ⬠in The Prison Notebooks, the Neo-Marxist ideology of cultural and social monopolies is the underlying source of bourgeoisie corruption and economic dysfunction. Gramsciââ¬Ës view of capitalist fascist ideology had failed to understand the complexity of capitalism as a system that dominated academia, the mass media, and other forms of institutionalization that co-opted Marxist leftists movements in theRead MoreThe African Historiography Of Africa Essay1420 Words à |à 6 Pageshistory in the eyes of the Westerners resulted in Africa being labeled as a land of primitive people, with homogenous states and tribes. This paper argues that until the Marxist analysis of Africa, the Westââ¬â¢s idea of Africa was implemented, but later Marxist emphasis on social struggles opened the way for development of a broader based social history that was not of high politics, but rather of ordinary men and women (Parker, J. and Rathbone, R., 2007:142). The analysis of archeological remains in AfricaRead MoreThe Comparison of Marxists and Elitists Accounts of Political Power.859 Words à |à 4 PagesThe comparison of Marxists and Elitists accounts of political power. In this essay we will try to compare the Marxists and the Elitists views of political power and what makes these views different. Before we start analyzing it should be remarked that the Elitists approach is closely connected to the works and ideas of Gaetano Mosca, Roberts Michels and C. Wright Mills and the founder of such an approach to studying political power (W. Pareto), who opposed his ideas to those of Marx and GramsciRead MoreInequalities in Health Essay1272 Words à |à 6 Pagesinequalities focusing on structural materialist, artefact, social selection and cultural explanations. ââ¬Å"Health is a state of complete physical, mental, spiritual and social wellbeing, and not just the absence of diseaseâ⬠(WHO, 1974). Health inequalities are the differences in health or healthcare opportunities in different societies this may be due to income, lifestyle or the area in which someone lives. The functionalist approach to society of health and illness comes from the work of TalcottRead MoreAnalysis Of Aldous Huxley s Brave New World Essay986 Words à |à 4 Pagesappears to be truly happy. This society is created with each person being assigned a social status from birth, much like caste system in modern society or the social or the social strata applied to everyday society. Huxley shows the issues of class struggle from the marxist perspective when he says the structure of society in relation to its major classes, and the struggle between them as the engine change its major classes. Huxley describes a perfect society created through genetic engineering where eachRead MoreThe Sociological Explanations for Class Inequality Essay example1268 Words à |à 6 Pagesproduction, consequently people now identify themselves in terms of what they consume rather than in terms of social-class position. Class identity has therefore fragmented into numerous separate and individualised identities. Others argue that class is still a central influence on peoples lives, that it affects their life chances (health, education, voting, social mobility etc.), they argue that class inequality exists and that such inequalities are widening rather than narrowingRead MoreExploring Political Issues1535 Words à |à 7 PagesThe management of the Celtic Tiger seen through Elitist and Marxist Approaches Irelandââ¬â¢s economy developed dramatically during the 1990s, and was referred to as the ââ¬Å"Celtic Tigerâ⬠- an analogous term for the East Asian Tigers. As a member of the EC, foreign investors saw Ireland as a potential platform to launch their products into Europe. Also, there was a lower corporate tax rate, a skilled workforce and improved economic management. While the country did, at the time of the CelticRead MoreA Functional Understanding Of Historical And Social Context1484 Words à |à 6 PagesWhen it comes to the evaluation of history, there are a variety of components essential to developing a functional understanding of historical and social context: to look to the future, we must look to the past, and to explore the present, we must think about the potential of the future. This juxtaposition of past, present and future, or the combination of empiricism and logic thought, constitutes dialectical materialism, requiring an examination of the end-goal to determine the means of societal
Friday, May 15, 2020
William Harper Lee s Today s World Essay - 1816 Words
Justice in Todayââ¬â¢s World Setting in the 1930ââ¬â¢s, Harper Leeââ¬â¢s fictional portrayal of the typical black man in To Kill a Mocking Bird set off what has happened to hundreds if not thousands of African-Americans in those times. Her book was generally about the racism that existed in the southern states of the U.S. ââ¬Å"In scripting Mockingbird, Lee sought to document the region s historic problem with racism and expose the anatomy of segregation at the moment of its legal dismantling. In doing so, she perspicaciously commented on the institutional mechanisms of racial hierarchy, and ultimately turned to fiction to facilitate cultural change in the face of law s failure to end the injustices visited upon black citizens of southern towns.â⬠(Halpern) Years past this horrendous time, the question still awaits, has racism truly ended? Did Atticus Finch do all he could to help Tom Robinson to prevent his fateful end? In this paper, I will answer these questions. B ut first, hereââ¬â¢s a few real-life examples of African-American men who just like Tom Robinson been falsely accused. One such instance is that of Emmet Till. Emmett Till, ââ¬Å"a 14-year-old boy from Chicago who was brutally murdered by two white men in the Mississippi Delta on August 28, 1955, for allegedly whistling at a white woman in a store in Money, Mississippi,â⬠says Patrick Chura. He goes on and states: ââ¬Å"The September 1955 trial of Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam for the murder of Emmett Till in retributionShow MoreRelatedHarper Lee Essay896 Words à |à 4 Pages Williams 1 Harper Lee: Times and Life Research Paper Harper Leeââ¬â¢s Life Story Have you ever wondered who wrote ââ¬Å"To Kill a Mockingbirdâ⬠or who is the author that wrote it? Well Iââ¬â¢m here telling you who that author is. The author who made the book is named Nelle Harper Lee but she is just called Harper Lee on the book. This paper is on Harper Leeââ¬â¢s life and times during the 1900ââ¬â¢s. She is known from herRead MoreThe, Segregation, And The Segregation Of The Reconstruction Era, The Jim Crow Law1146 Words à |à 5 Pagesinduced the Plessy v. Ferguson case. ââ¬Å"Plessy v. Ferguson is considered an important case because it established the doctrine of separate but equal that allowed states for the first time to legally segregate the races,â⬠states historian Yahuru Williams. To be separate but equal meant that both races were provided equal rights, as long as the races were divided into distinct facilities. On May 18 1896, the U.S. Supreme Court voted, by a seven to one majority, in favor of the judge to advanceRead MoreThe Battle Of The Civil War3503 Words à |à 15 PagesConfederate troops after Richmond â⬠¢ Lee victorious to move into Maryland IV. The battle â⬠¢ Three phases of battle throughout the day â⬠¢ Union bad choices opportunity for Confederacy V. Conclusionââ¬Æ' SFC Fuentescolon SSG Lund SSG Patruno SSG Wisniowski Instructor: SFC Ogdenski Senior Leaders Course 13B40 Class 002-15 17 October 2014 The United States after its independence from Great Britain in 1783 would have an astronomical urge to grow as a country and world power. This hunger of expansion grewRead MoreKill A Mockingbird By Harper Lee1577 Words à |à 7 Pages To Kill a Mockingbird: To Kill a Mockingbird revolves around the time period of the 1930ââ¬â¢s in the Southern part of the United States. The protagonist of this story is Scout, a tomboy, who narrates the story from her perspective when she is older. (She was part of this story herself from ages 6-9). The first many chapters of the book is about Scoutââ¬â¢s life in school, and how she grows up in her neighborhood streets. She spends her days with her father, Atticus Finch. The main topic and climax ofRead MoreInnovation and Change Management1725 Words à |à 7 Pagespriority and a further 45% ranking it as a top-three priority. Organisations such as Apple or Google adapted this tactic and thanks to their right management of change, now are recognized as one of the most revolutionizing and prosperous companies in the world (Business Week, 2010). It proves that successfully innovating companies are the winners and they play major role in industry market. Therefore, this essay aims to critically evalu ate the connection between innovation and change management. The termRead MoreSocial Construction of Childhood Essay1286 Words à |à 6 Pagesmust be considerate biological components. Background theories of Social constructionism Starting with an overview of social constructionism in very general terms leads to build more explicit an understanding of child and childhood in a social world. The notion of social constructionism is defined in diverse disciplines and instead of generating a single description there are a number of thoughts. ââ¬Å"It is sometimes called a movement, at other times a position, a theory, a theoretical orientationRead MoreJohn Brown ââ¬Å¡Ãâà ¬ the ââ¬Å¡Ãâà ºSparkââ¬Å¡Ãâà ¹2045 Words à |à 9 Pageswho not only spoke out on his beliefs, but backed up them up with action. He was so contentious that he was able to be considered a hero and a terrorist at the same time. Although Brownââ¬â¢s actions were considered debatable, it can be agreed upon today that they were necessary. John Brown was born in 1800 into a deeply religious family with a father who was vigorously opposed to slavery. He went through many jobs including being a farmer, wool merchant, tanner, and land speculator, but was neverRead MorePrejudice-to Kill a Mockingbird and Martin Luther King5895 Words à |à 24 Pagesthe theme of prejudice are Harper Leeââ¬â¢s realist fiction novel ââ¬ËTo Kill a Mockingbirdââ¬â¢ and Martin Luther Kingââ¬â¢s heart warming speech ââ¬ËI Have a Dreamââ¬â¢. Both texts explore the theme of prejudice of white Americans on the Blacks in the racially tense times of the early twentieth century. Unlike Harper Lee, Martin Luther King goes a step further to persuade the audience that there is prejudice present and we should be motivated to stop this evil from blossoming in our world. Furthermore, in his speechRead MoreIrish in America Essay1344 Words à |à 6 PagesAmerica is a melting pot of different cultures, religions, ideas and identities, a c ountry which over the years has been molded, shaped and changed by its people. There are many historical factors that gone into creating the country as we know it today, but none so influential as the immigration of millions to ââ¬Å"the land of opportunityâ⬠. The millions of people who came to the United States in hopes of finding a better life greatly affected the course of American history, bring the the country newRead MoreThe Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn By Susan B Anthony2214 Words à |à 9 Pagesof Huckleberry Finn. The main themes for this book were racism and slavery, but once we talked about the book in details, we realized there were also a few pieces of evidence of gender inequality. When Huck was pretending to be a girl named Sarah Williams in order to cover his identity, he was sewing with a woman when she said, ââ¬Å"You do a girl tolerable poor, but you might fool men, maybe. Bless you, child, when you set out to thread a needle donââ¬â¢t hold the t hread still and fetch the needle up to it;
Wednesday, May 6, 2020
The Mythology Of The Ancient Greeks - 2537 Words
In the Ancient Greeks, religion was based on the image of remarkable and memorable god and goddess which were powerful, wise, immortal and controlled different part of the universe. For many years humans had the opportunity to study these significant figures by reading their myths, stories where our minds are transported to the early time of civilization in which the god and goddess lived and became the important figures that we know nowadays. One of the god that make himself stand out using his wisdom and his abilities was Hermes. He is the god of trade, travelers, thieves, athletes, border crossing, guide to the Underworld and often known as the messenger of the gods. While many gods are incredible gifted with strength and power, Hermes represents cleverness, determination and a powerful musician. The birth of Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia, represents his abilities as a powerful musician by his creation of a lyre within seconds after he was born. His mother, Maia gave birth to him in a cave on the Mount Cyllene in Arcadia and he was nursed by the nymph Cyllene. The precious baby, became very loved and respected by all the gods in the Mount Olympus. Like Heracles, Hermes showed his abilities as a god really fast, when he escaped from the cave he was born and invented the lyre. He develop a plan as soon as he saw a turtle when he was wandering from the cave. His imagination got expanded when he saw the turtle and with his genuinely laugh said: Here s a bit of luck [2] IShow MoreRelatedMythology : Ancient Greek Mythology1527 Words à |à 7 PagesMythology is a vast collection of made up/fake stories told during the Ancient Greek era. That is what we are told at young age growing up learning about Greek Gods and Goddesses like Zeus and Hercules. But actually the mythology comes fr om the word myth which is a Greek word for speech or discourse, but later adapted the meaning of fable or legend (Doyle, 2015).The traditional stories, poems, literature, and art have been passed down for years. The stories about Gods and Goddesses, heroes, and monstersRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Mythology1630 Words à |à 7 PagesGreek mythology denotes to the myths of the early Greeks, Greece gods, and mythical creatures. While pertaining to these legends and myths includes; to their Gods, the nature and heroes, tales of clashes, and of their adventures. It is also a brief on the origin and connotation of their cult, and the innumerable practices that remained shadowed by them. Myth is defined as; a traditional, typically historic story pertaining to mystic beings, descendants, or heroes that serve an essential kind in theRead MoreAncient Greek And Greek Mythology Essay865 Words à |à 4 PagesAccording to Greek mythology, humans were originally created with four arms, fo ur legs and a head with two faces. Fearing their power, Zeus split them into two separate parts, condemning them to spend their lives in search of their other halves. ââ¬â¢ Plato, The Symposium Everybody has naturally experienced love, whether it was for a family member, a friend, a pet, a significant other, or even themselves. But exactly what is love and why does it naturally happen? Though love is an easy word to sayRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greeks1835 Words à |à 8 PagesIntroduction: The Ancient Greeks believed in many gods and heroes during their time. Each one had a sole purpose in a mortalââ¬â¢s lifetime. Greek mythology had a huge impact on religion in Ancient Greece. The Greeks performed rituals in order to honor their gods. Mythology affected the Ancient Greeks in many ways. The origins of mythology, the influences of mythology through a humanââ¬â¢s lifetime and lessons taught in the ancient myths will be examined. Why Greek mythology was created Greek mythology was createdRead MoreThe Mythology Of The Ancient Greeks2119 Words à |à 9 Pagesand idols to answer prayers or requests. The ancient Greeks worshiped many gods and goddesses, which they saw as ruling over many functions of their daily lives: such as love, crops, water, wisdom, and warfare. ââ¬Å"The ancient Greeks lived by myths, fables, and teachings, which developed as oral stories during the Bronze Age. The most popular first known written poet is Homer who wrote ââ¬ËIliad and the Odysseyââ¬â¢ in the 8th century.â⬠There are so many Greek myths, gods, goddesses, and mythical creaturesRead MoreGreek Mythology And The Ancient Greek History935 Words à |à 4 PagesThis destination was chosen not only for its incomparable natural beauty, but because it is a magical place, full of discoveries, charm and secrets. I have always been interested in the ancient Greek history. The first time I learned about Greek mythology was in middle school. I enjoyed lea rning about the Greek Gods such as Zeus, Athena, and Poseidon, the tales would amaze me. Even watching the historical document and movies that recreate the Gods, pursued my interest more. So I wanted to travelRead MoreWomen Of Ancient Greek Mythology Essay1535 Words à |à 7 Pagesregarded as the subservient gender, an idea that was no different in Ancient Greece. Throughout Greek mythology, women were considered inferior and troublesome symbols, while men were known for courage, leadership, and strength. While there is no argument of the flagrant sexism that is illustrated in Greek mythology, it can also be claimed that women were given a situated position of freedom, necessity, and power as well. Many popular Greek plays and myths contain several complexes and well described femaleRead MoreGreek Mythology Of Ancient Greece1551 Words à |à 7 Pagesof the many wonders Ancient Greece had to offer. However, one of the most memorable creations of Ancient Greece would have to be Gree k mythology. These myths included hundreds of stories and teachings that would have a lasting effect on Greek culture for centuries to come. When taking a deeper look into some of these myths, one may notice gender and sexual behavior to be themes that occur quite frequently. One also cannot help but notice that some social conditions in Ancient Greece, such as theRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greece1322 Words à |à 6 Pages Greek Mythology is a mystical and unique universe filled with divine beings, semi-gods, oracles, monsters, creatures, heroes, women and powerful gods with the ability to control nature, all intertwined in epic battles controlled by various times on a gigantic stage composed of temples, shines, prophecies, rituals and even a word for the dead which was called the underworld. Greek mythology itself is legend. In fact, it shows a window into the ancient past, a view of a world that existed not onlyRead MoreGreek Mythology : Ancient Greece963 Words à |à 4 PagesWhen people wonder about Ancient Greece the first thing that comes to their minds is Greek mythology; gods and goddesses that have helped shape many historical events. ââ¬Å"In ancient Greece, stories about gods and goddesses and heroes and monsters were an important part of everyday life.â⬠(ââ¬Å"Greek Mythology.â⬠) The civilization showed that numerous characters and stories helped shape Greeks. The beliefs the Greeks had with mythologies was they understood the meaning behind all the characters that are
Tuesday, May 5, 2020
How does Priestley make a drama out of the theme of social responsibility Essay Example For Students
How does Priestley make a drama out of the theme of social responsibility Essay J. B. Priestley wrote the play An Inspector Calls, in 1945. The play was set in Brumley, a fictitious town in the midlands. An Inspector Calls is about how a nouveou riche family is responsible for the suicide death of a young woman named Eva Smith. This play by J. B. Priestley was written to say to everyone that we all have social responsibility, we all are responsible for one another, and that we are all intertwined with everyone elses life. Thats the message this play is trying to convey. The play was set in 1910-1912; this was the period when life was segregated into classes. It was set in the Edwardian era, where women had no rights, and were not allowed to vote. It was extremely difficult for women to acquire jobs, mostly because men had first priority. Eva Smith was lucky to receive a job at Milwards, but most women worked in factories for little pay. There was a gap between the upper class and the lower class. The middle class was not much different to the upper class. In 1945 Labour came to power. They introduced the NHS, which would provide free health treatment for everyone. The Welfare State was also brought about thanks to the first Labour party; this would provide a net to catch people like Eva Smith, to help them get back up. Cases like Eva should not happen today thanks to benefits. The Welfare State is like friendly fishermen. They would catch the fish that need help, help them and lead them back into the river, so they can swim to the sea. The play consists of all classes. Gerald Croft is from the upper class who is well spoken in the play. The Birlings are the middle class because they are nouveau riche. You can tell this by the way Mr. Birling especially speaks. It is obvious, because he speaks informal sometimes. Finally, Eva Smith is the lower class as she has had the hardest life, in terms of least money, jobs and not being able to have much pleasure. The main message of the Inspector is that we dont live alone and if that lesson isnt learnt then we will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Whatever we do has a chain of events afterwards; We are responsible for each other. What we do around others affects them. You cant shut the world out of your lives, and look after only yourselves and your families. This message is also applied into todays world. The president of the United States has been taught in fire and blood and anguish when the Twin Towers was destroyed. America tried to block the rest of the world from themselves but didnt succeed. They didnt help the countries that needed them, or helping to find environmentally friendly materials. Their punishment, for their selfishness, was the destruction of their Twin Towers and their Pentagon. Unlike the Inspector, Mr. Birling sees the world differently. We have gathered Mr. Birling comes from a poor background, at least not an upper class one. Coming from a poor family, you would expect him to understand that people need to help one another, like the Inspector does. Unfortunately, Mr. Birling sees the world in a rather different perspective, more like, the other way round. He thinks in order to proceed in life, a man has to make his own way, meaning if dont help anyone else, or talk to anyone else, then you wont get in trouble. He also is very complacent due to the fact that he is hard-headed business man. He tried to assume the future with what little information he had possessed. For example, he talks about transport, which then brings him on to the titanic. The Titanic absolutely unsinkable. This is a good case of dramatic irony, because the characters in the play talk about something in the future, which we know about. Of course, we know that the titanic sank on its maiden voyage. Another example is when Mr. Birling talks about the World War and how its never going to happen. A few German officers have too much to drink and begin talking nonsense. People think, Wars inevitable. Mr. Birling thinks fiddlesticks of those ideas. Therefore, because of these wrong accusations the audience get the impression that Mr. Birling is untrustworthy, ignorant and complacent. Just before the Inspector comes, Mr. Birling was talking about how a man has to look after himself in order to be at the top. Mr. Birling thinks thats how people make it to the top. He only thinks to look after yourself and your family only. Everybody has to look after everyone else which Mr. Birling thinks is untrue, and is trying to provide this false prophecy of his to Gerald and Eric. This is a significant time when the Inspector arrives because this is the lesson the Inspector is going to prove wrong, and hopefully, create a permanent lesson in them. When we see the inspector for the first time, Mr. Birling treats him as anyone would casually and friendly. At first he thinks the Inspector is there because of a police warrant. However, after he finds what he is really there for about a young woman who had just died he reacts in a cold-hearted way, he spoke his next words rather impatiently, more or less a so-what reaction. Which is unlike Eric whose response was my God! Which is enough evidence to say that Eric is concerned. Mr. Birling plays an important part in changing this helpless womans life. He also started the domino effect in pushing Eva into her death. He is a factory owner, and being an owner, he believes in high profits and lower costs, and also the minimum wage. Women in 1910-12 were as Ive said before, had no priority over men. Therefore the dirty work was left for them in places like factories. As there was nowhere else to work people like Eva had no choice but to work for little pay, or be forced onto the streets. People like Mr. Birling probably suited the job, as he didnt have any sympathy for any women in that terrible state. The reason for Mr. Birling sacking Eva from her job was not because she didnt do her work, it was because he wouldnt allow a raise from twenty-two and six a week which was the minimum wage allowed to twenty five shillings a week. Which is the equivalent of just over a pound in Sterling, which is not a lot. Also, for asking for the raise he sacked Eva Smith. Except the four or five ring-leaders told them to clear out Eva Smith, was one of them. Drama Portfolio Essay PaperThis is shown towards the end, after the characters find out about the Inspector is a fake. She and Eric wont accept that nothing has happened which is wrong, whereas the rest are triumphantly and smiling. Sheila, instead of being childish, accepts responsibility and takes charge when her parents and Gerald sweeping the dirt under the carpet. Dont lets start dodging and pretending now, she says to her father. Its as though Sheila and her parents roles have been reversed. Sheila and Eric are the only people who have learnt the Inspectors message; she is probably going to change for the rest of her life because of this incident. As the war was going to happen soon after the set time in the play, she would have become a nurse to help the wounded. Sheila was the only person who really connected with the Inspector; he seemed to understand her feelings. After Gerald couldnt figure out what Sheila was feeling, the Inspector took charge and told Gerald what she felt. I dont understand about you, Sheila was amazed and thats when her and the Inspector connected. They shared this connection throughout. Sheila was the first to realise that the Inspector was indirectly saying that Eric was the father, but making Mrs. Birlings double standards show. She tried to warn her mother about it, with sudden alarm she said, Mother stop stop! An Inspector Calls has a few bad points about it through no fault of its own, and a few good points which has made this an extremely intensifying play. Priestley twists the characters word to either reveal the truth about their personalities or to reveal the truth about the situation. When Mrs. Birling was answering the questions from the Inspector, the Inspector was twisting the questions around to prove what Mrs. Birling really thinks of the father of Eva Smiths child. For example, the Inspector responds when Mrs. Birling insults the father of the child. So hes the chief culprit? the Inspector says, and to which Mrs. Birling, certainly. The Inspector has twisted the questions to prove the cruelty of Mrs. Birling. Also, the end of Act 2 creates a lot of tension, only because of a simple entrance when the parents realise that Eric is the father. Eric enters at the end of the act and looks extremely pale and everyone I giving him inquiring stares. This effortless entrance creates an excellent cliffhanger to lure the reader to read more. Priestley, instead of using special effects like modern day plays, uses simple but effective techniques such as dramatic irony. Its been used throughout the play but is used best in one incident to Mrs. Birling. Mrs. Birling is a spiteful, narrow-minded, heartless woman. Using the Inspectors knowledge from Evas diary, the Inspector uses dramatic irony on Mrs. Birling to convey her true image and feelings. We end up finding out that Eric is the father when Sheila hysterically cries out, But dont you see? As she has realised the truth, Mrs. Birling ignores Sheilas attempts to save her and continues about how she blames the young man who is a drunken young idler. After Mrs. Birling realises the truth, she is shocked and never thought the father was Eric, I never dreamt, she has double standards. When she realised, she changed her attitude completely towards the father. It changed from the drunk-fool, to the your not the type attitude. The play has such a satisfying ending due to the change of moods so suddenly. The mood changes from the happy, celebrating mood at the beginning, to the sad mood whilst the Inspector was there, back to happy, because of Gerald, who helps realise that the Inspector is a fake. Mr. Birling excitedly says, By Jingo! A fake! Which carries on while everyone is feeling triumphant and saying things eagerly. However, everyone and Mr. Birlings mood is unexpectedly changed by a single phone call from the hospital. When the hospital informed them of the real death of Eva, everyone looks dumbfounded and look guilty. As well as the mood changing, the roles of the parents and children change as well. The lesson of social responsibility was not learnt by the older generation i. e. Mr. And Mrs. Birling and Gerald. Whereas it was learnt by Eric and Sheila. This is odd, because the older generation is meant to be more mature and understanding than the younger generation, but in this case, its the other way round. J. B. Priestley is radical by undermining the two most important characters, the Inspector and Eva. This is a risky technique to use, because it could ruin the whole play. He has done so much to build up the Inspector up, but decides to destroy him by a phone call. Fortunately, this works out for an advantage for J. B. Priestley, as this changes the mood for Mr. And Mrs. Birling and Gerald, which is a contrast from the sad, miserable mood everyone was in before the Inspector left. Also, Eva Smiths character was being built up throughout the play, as we found out more about her, but at the end was removed from the play by another single phone call, this time to the hospital, to find out if Eva has really died. However, this works again well with the tension. Then we get another phone a call, from the hospital to say a girl really has died, and an Inspector will be on his way. This repeated cycle of the Inspector coming at the end also adds to the cliffhanger effect. Overall it was a risky technique, but worked well to improve the tension. The play is like a murder mystery, because of the Inspector being present. In this case, it is not a murder, but a suicide. Consequently, it is the inspection of their actions to drive Eva to her death, rather than them actually killing her. J. B. Priestleys An Inspector Calls is a successful play, teaching people about social responsibility and how you cant get away from it. J. B. Priestley tried to make the plays theme of social responsibility and did exceedingly well. However, only the majority of the people learn that lesson. Some people even in todays world still havent learnt that lesson. Hopefully, another play will help to teach them.
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