Wednesday, April 8, 2020
Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy based on different kinds of loves Essay Example
Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy based on different kinds of loves Essay Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy based on different kinds of loves. Romeo and Juliet become married in a forbidden relationship over the high tension brawl between their rival families which Shakespeare clearly shows in the play. Despite the family brawls, the pair decides to let their perfect love defeat all. Peoples ideas have changed in the space of 400 years, for example back then some loves featured in this play would produce different reactions to the audience, than today. Shakespeare opens the play with the chorus who speaks a sonnet, where love imagery is found; Two Star-crossed lovers This hints the couple feeling stuck and desperate to be free to love one another. The stars in this quote means their love is bound to happen, the forbidden bit is in the darkness, as stars are covered by darkness meaning the two lovers are as well, but as stars shine in the dark night this proves their love is everlasting in spite of the hard situation. We will write a custom essay sample on Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy based on different kinds of loves specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy based on different kinds of loves specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Romeo and Juliet is a love tragedy based on different kinds of loves specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer In Act 1, scene 1 straight away we are involved in the fight scenes followed by the violent action which would have entertained the Shakespeares audience 400 years ago. In the first scene fighting is going on and rude comments are being passed out between the two families. Some other quotes showing how much the two families hate one another, which could lead even to risking their own lives just to show how brave they were. We also know that the two families liked winding each other up which would lead up more fights therefore some more entertainment for the Shakespeare audience. The first love we see in Romeo and Juliet is the love not between the two star crossed lovers but Romeo and Rosaline. The type of love for these two is Elizabethan courtly love, this is when some one uses flowery words and actions with out really meaning them, Benvolio describes this supposed love in Act 1, scene 1. Courtly love is unrequited love between two people. In this case Rosaline is apparently too good or unattainable and Romeo is inadequate for her, and he is using what we now call false love language to show her his fake or empty love for her. Alas that love so gentle in his view should be so tyrannous and rough in proof! Benvolio in truth says that this love is fake and very different to the love we see later on in the play with Juliet. When Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time in the Capulet party Romeos language changes from Elizabethan courtly love to real almost perfect love. Shakespeare shows this to us because he uses religious words and thoughts to highlight the quality of their love. The sonnet split between them is a form of love poetry used quite a lot in Shakespeares time. The actors also shows love by language and hand movement as the part played by Juliet was played by a man 400 years ago. if I profane with my unworthyest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this. Already we can see a big difference in language from the language he used with Rosaline you can tell he is speaking form the heart and Shakespeare made sure of that. Shakespeare I think also uses some religious actions and words in his play as hand movements are used in prayer as well. O then dear saint, let lips do what hands do. They pray; grant thou, lest faith turn to despair In Act 2, scene 3 when Romeo stands outside of Juliets balcony he talks about Juliet in true love imagery. Arise fair sun, and kill the envious moon The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars Romeo compares Juliet as if she was the sun, stars and heaven, which again Shakespeare uses imagery to tell the audience how much Romeo is in love with her as the characters were played by men, unfortunately. Juliet then talks to herself in soft, peaceful imagery showing innocence and love for Romeo. When he bestrides the lazy puffing clouds, and sails upon the bosom of the air Juliets parents have arranged a marriage for Juliet and Paris. Arranged marriages in Shakespeares time were common in powerful families. Her parents think that it is because of her cousin, Tybalts death caused by Romeo that she is upset but they are wrong and the audience know the truth, this is an example of dramatic irony. Marry, that marry is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter, Juliet Juliet is worried and troubled by the idea of the arranged marriage as she is married to Romeo secretly, this scene only would shock the audience of Shakespeares time as marrying some one and then marrying a second man was thought to be outrageous, more like unthinkable. Ere he that he should be husband comes to woo. I pray to tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris. Juliet tells Lady Capulet, her mother how much she doesnt want to marry Paris and uses Romeo as an example to show her how much she hates him as he murdered Tybalt. The audience knows this is not true so this is an example of dramatic irony. Juliet is trying to make her parents understand how much she despises the idea of marrying Paris but her plan does not work, as she wants it to. It is not yet near day; it was the nightingale It is some meteor that the sun exhaled Here Shakespeare shows us how they dont what to leave each other just yet, those extra more seconds with each other mean a lot and even dough its morning they are not that worried about getting caught in bed together. As it is their first morning together being husband and wife. Mercutio, friend of Romeo is a playful character full of sexual innuendos. His lines are full of puns, especially when he can add a sexual meaning. Mercutio takes love as a joke and is the clown who entertains the audience and his friends with his funny lines. The pox of such antic, lisping, affecting phantasimes, these new turners of accent! By Jesus, a very good blade! a very tall man! a very good whore! When Juliet is first aware that Romeo has killed Tybalt her love and anger blend in a series of romantic words which illustrate her emotional state. Dove-feathered raven, wolvish-ravening lamb! Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical! Then, dreadful trumpet, sound the general doom Juliet talks alone with the nurse and she begins to question Romeo being with her, this shocks Juliet as she believed in the nurse all along but now shes changed her mind and advises her to go for Paris. The nurse is showing her love for Juliet, as she doesnt want her to get caught with Romeo. The nurse is not telling her this so she doesnt get in trouble, but shes telling her to help her. And the nurse feels it is the right decision to go with Paris. At the beginning of Act 3, scene 2 we see Juliet alone waiting for her husband and she is very impatient to see him. She compares her love for the night with her love for Romeo. Cut him up into little stars And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night, And pay no worship to the garish sun. The use of star and sky imagery is used again to show us how her love and missing of her husband Romeo to the night once again. Another love in Shakespeares play is the friendly love between Romeo and Mercutio. Tybalt kills Mercutio, and Romeo because of this love risks his life to get Tybalt, he finds him and kills him to avenge Mercutios death. But before Mercutio died he blamed Romeo for getting him stabbed, so you could say this love is one sided, with only Romeo loving Mercutio. Although Tybalt is dead, Juliet still remains in love to her husband by standing by his side and defending him even though he murdered her cousin. This shows how strong her love is for Romeo even dough he has killed one of her close family members. Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband. In Act 4, scene 3 we see Juliet and Paris in Friar Lawrences cell talking about the wedding. Paris doesnt know about Juliets affair with Romeo. Juliet goes along with the wedding uneasy for what she should do to get out of it. That may be, sir, when I may be a wife Juliets responses are full of answers, which refer to Romeo; only the audience knows what Juliet is talking about. After Paris leaves, Juliet looks for help from Friar Lawrence who gives her the potion to make it look like shes dead and escape marriage to Paris. This is an example of unrequited love because Paris loves Juliet but she doesnt love him back in the same way. Oercovered quite with dead mens rattling bones, With reeky shanks and yellow chapless skulls Shakespeare adds scary imagery to Juliets speech. Juliet would rather take this potion and escape with Romeo than marry Paris this again shows how much they love each other. The dreadful imagery ends and the result is she takes the potion. Act 4, scene 3 when Juliet is saying her goodbyes before she takes the potion we see Juliet frightened as she thinks about what will happen if this plan was to go wrong and all these strange thoughts going trough her head about being stuck there and Romeo not being there when she wakes up. As in a vault, an ancient receptacle, Where for this many hundred years the bones Of all my buried ancestors are packed, Where bloody Tybalt, yet but green in earth She commits herself and lets go of all these thoughts and just takes the potion in the hope of her awaking to find her husband there to greet her. Act 5, scene 3 the scene where Paris is crying for Juliets death. As Juliet has taken the potion everyone thinks shes dead and was put in the vault with her ancestors as the plan said. When Romeo enters in search of Juliet Paris stops Romeo and they both fight for Juliets love. Romeo murders Paris this shows how much Paris loved Juliet but she didnt love him back this is unrequited love something Romeo felt at the start with Rosaline. Pariss last request was to get Romeo to lay him by her side this shows how much Paris did love her. When Romeo finally sees Juliet in her vault he takes the imagery to a new level by using dreadful and disturbing imagery, which he cries out in pain. He then takes some poison and dies for Juliet thinking she was dead all because Friar Lawrences message didnt get to him in time. When Juliet wakes up from her sleep she finds Romeo dead and the shock of seeing all this go wrong makes her just think of killing herself. Juliets direct speech is shorter than Romeos as Juliet feels guilty and is in pain to see al this tragedy. As Friar Lawrence tells Juliet the watch is coming she stabs herself before they ask her why shes still alive and whats been going on, Juliet does this to save herself and to be with her husband Romeo, after death. Yeah, noise? Then Ill be brief. O happy dagger, This is thy sheath; there rust and let me die. Love triumphs in the end because the two families are united. So although Romeo and Juliet have to die, love wins in the end-in a strange way. The Capulet and Montagues learn to re-unite because of the tragic death that the fight brought. Both County Paris and Romeo die because of Juliet and she kills herself because Romeo is dead, they erect a statue for them and mourn. Go hence to have more talk of these sad things, Some shall be pardoned, and some punished: For never was a story of more woe Than this of Juliet and her Romeo
Monday, March 9, 2020
Kurt Baier Essays
Kurt Baier Essays Kurt Baier Paper Kurt Baier Paper Kurt Baier The Medieval Christian Picture: This view holds that man is a divine creature with a purpose assigned to him by his Maker. There is nothing and no one in the world in which we can have faith or trust, or look to for guidance, etc. except for other humans. This means that life cannot lie in submission to Godââ¬â¢s will. Christians cannot justify the enormous amounts of undeserved suffering in the world. Modern Scientific Picture: Scientists and educated men feel the Christian attitude towards the world and human existence is inappropriate. While science has both robbed us of any purpose that we had before, it has also furnished us with enormously greater power to achieve these purposes. The Purpose of Human Existence: The conditions necessary to sustain life will not last forever. We are to live lives full of activities devoid of purpose are futile and worthless. -Contemporary Astronomy: By referring to the Big Bang Theory Baier says refutes the Christian ideas and agrees with the modern scientific view. -Contemporary Biology: ââ¬Å"Science does not rob human life of purpose, but rather helps us to comprehend what our purpose of life is. Two Conceptions of Purpose: Reason Based: 1. The universe is intelligible 2. Life has a purpose 3. All menââ¬â¢s hopes and desires can ultimately be satisfied Artifact Based: Uses examples such as hieroglyphics and fossils. Divine Plan: The earthly life is not worth living because there is another eternal life of happiness and joy. Is earthly living worth living? Two Disappointment Propositions (Christian View): 1. ) Earthly life is not worth living 2. ) There is another perfect life of eternal happiness and joy
Friday, February 21, 2020
OPPORTUNITY COSTS Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
OPPORTUNITY COSTS - Coursework Example EXPLAIN THE CONCEPTS OF COMPARATIVE AND ABSOLUTE ADVANTAGE The concept of ââ¬ËComparative and Absolute Advantageââ¬â¢ holds primary importance being closely related to profit maximization and increased productivity. It principally indicates the capability of a producer to manufacture products and/or services at a lesser opportunity cost than other producers operating in almost identical conditions. A comparative advantage provides a company the capacity to trade goods, products and services at a lower fee than other players in the market for the purpose of attaining higher sales margins and revenues. In the similar context, the concept of obsolete advantage can be identified when a company produces larger volume of goods than that of its competitors with a given amount of resources. In both these situations, companies are affirmed to obtain advantages over its competitors in terms of cost of production and profit margin (Horsley 1-99). For example, in case the USA and Canada ha ve been producing differing quantities of potatoes and rice in a year [as illustrated in the below table], both the producers will have to incur differing opportunity cost. ... Assessing both these situations, it can be observed that Canada will have a comparative advantage in producing larger volume of potatoes, with the given amount of resources and also by incurring lesser opportunity cost. Thus, Canada should produce potatoes. HOW DOES TRADE AFFECT THE PRODUCTION POSSIBILITIES FRONTIER? EXPLAIN Production possibilities frontier, in simple terms, can be referred to as a frontier or a graph indicating the maximum output producing possibilities for a particular producer to manufacture two products at a given point of time. Indicating all possible combinations of the given two products, the production possibilities frontier tends to conclude the possible points at which the producer can manufacture at a greater production level in comparison to the other commodityââ¬â¢s normal production level with the fixed amount of resources (Horsley 1-99). Trade can affect the production possibilities frontier in a positive as well as in a negative manner. For instan ce, if the activities related to trade and commerce increases in a country, the requirement of the resources and production capacity with respect to two given commodities is also quite likely to increase (Horsley 1-99). Precisely, the concept of production possibilities frontier indicates the points at which a producer can make the maximum use of the resources allocated to produce one or more commodities. Notably, the points on the curved line of production possibilities frontier [refer to the diagram below] depicts efficiency of the producer to use the given amount of resources to produce maximum amount of product A and product B. On the contrary, the points below the curved line depict the inefficiency of the producer to make effective use of the resources allocated.
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Significance of US Involvement in WWI Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
Significance of US Involvement in WWI - Essay Example The World War I had a significant play on the USAââ¬â¢s further development and growth. For corporate America, the war has started long before it began for the common citizens. Charles Schwab, the president of Bethlehem Steel, one of the worldââ¬â¢s largest weapons merchants, within first two months of strive took a trip to London having money-making interests in mind where he received contracts from the British government for millions of weaponry shells and ten 500-ton submarines. Assembling of such foreign vessels was against the law, however Bethlehem Steel went ahead with it, and the Wilson administration did not take any action to prevent it from doing so. The company earned $61 million in 1916, which was more than its combined gross revenues for the previous eight years. (Dwyer, 2004) Another thing that the war brought was an influx in funds selling ammunition, which had a positive effect on the economy of the United States. According to Thomas Fleming in The Illusion of Victory: America in World War I, the United States was supplying Great Britain, France and Russia with 40 percent if their war material.(Fleming,71) The president Woodrow Wilson, upon being elected with the slogan ââ¬Å"he kept us out of warâ⬠only few months later appealed to Congress to declare that a state of war between the United States and Germany. When calling for war, he was appealing to the grates American idea ââ¬â fight to make the world safe for democracy. (Fleming, 1-3) By the time America officially declared war to Germany, the international banking firm of J. P. Morgan in New York already loaned Britain and France $2.1 billion (which is worth around $30 billion by 2004 measures), and had gained $30 million ââ¬â around $425 million in 2004 dollars ââ¬â in profit. (Fleming, 70) Perhaps the next significant fact of participating in the war is best explained by the president Woodrow Wilsonââ¬â¢s in his own words when he said, in regards to his concept ion for American-inspired democratic after-war global peace and harmony and unity: As head of a nation participating in the war, the president of the United States would have a seat at the peace table, but . . . if he remained the representative of a neutral country, he could at best only ââ¬Ëcall through a crack in the door. (Fleming, 79) What Wilson really wanted to get through the war was to raise the status of the USA in the world, for the country to have more influence on an international scale. No American interest was at stake in WWI, the war never affected American territory, however a total of 120, 000 men died. The war significantly raised the authority of the US in major international issues. It allowed the United States to interfere in solving European issues, which did not even concern them. (Thomas, 137) So the most significant changes that World War I brought was a strengthened economy and bigger authority in international matters. Another significant fact about Wo rld War I is that it set the stage for War World II. The Life and Death of Sergeant York Alvin Cullum York was born the third oldest of a family of eleven children. The York family just barely managed to make a living by farming and hunting, and York became a proficient marksman at an early age. Prior to the World War I, York was employed on the railroad as a day laborer. He had virtually no experience with money managing and later suffered from chronic fiscal problems. When York had the money, he would spend it, invested it poorly, and would generously give it away to other people who he believed needed it. As York came of age he earned a reputation as a deadly accurate shot and a trouble maker. He would spend too much time drinking and gambling in borderline. He was generally considered a problem and someone who "would never amount to
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
The Horror of the Salem Witch Trials
The Horror of the Salem Witch Trials Delia Peterson Would you ever die for what you believe? In 1692, many people had no other choice but to do just that. The belief in magic and spells was introduced by Native American and African slaves in New England. Many who practiced this were accused of witchcraft. Salem, Massachusetts was the sight of many witch trials and perhaps the most well-known, but other villages held them too such as Andover, Massachusetts; Fairfield, Connecticut; and other places in New England (Historical Witches, n.p.). Historians have analyzed the accusations and hearings of the Salem Witch Trials, and have since observed possible causes of the hysteria. It all started when Betty Parris, the daughter of Puritan minister, Samuel Parris, and his niece, Abigail Williams, experimented with magic and witchcraft (Salem Witch, n.p.). They began twitching, screaming, and not speaking, so a doctor diagnosed the girls with being under the spell of a witch (Currie, 7-8). Samuel Parris pressured the girls to identify the perpetrator. They named Tituba, their slave, Sarah Good, and Sarah Osborn. The latter two, who were outcasts and did not attend church regularly, declared their innocence, but Good accused Osborn. Tituba originally pleaded innocent, but eventually told the officials of her dealings with the devil (Britannica School Salem witch, n.p.). What followed was a witch hunt, as the girls went on a spree of identifying witches, even pointing the finger at a former minister. Newly identified and confessed witches then turned around and named more witches. By the time the uproar had quieted down, 156 people sat in prison, charged as witches. Then trials were held by a panel of untrained judges, trying people who were forced to defend themselves without lawyers (Salem witch, n.p.). The trials took a year to complete, only stopping when accusations extended to well respected members of the community. The accused were convicted using spectral evidence, which is claims by victims that the defendants Satanic form attacked them. As, each witch testified, the victims seemed to have fits in the crowd, giving the judges enough evidence to believe that person is guilty (Britannica School Salem witch, n.p.). The judges also allowed a touch test, and if the accused persons touch stopped the victims contortions, their demonic presence was confirmed. Other forms of evidence was allowed such as examining people for witch marks and accepting gossip, hearsay, and stories (The Witchcraft, n.p.). If someone confessed (or confessed and named others), they were spared as it was thought they would receive their punishment from God. Those who declared their innocence did not have it so easy, becoming martyrs to their own sense of justice (Britannica School Salem witch, n.p.). It was thought a witch could not recite the Lords Prayer perfectly, yet an ex-minister did so but was still hanged. Using these methods, 19 people were hanged that year. An additional eight people died in prison, and one man was pressed to death by a heavy board. Over 200 townspeople were accused of being witches by the young girls between June and September of 1692. (Currie 37-38). When the accusations extended to his own wife, the governor stopped the trials and established a court that accepted only concrete evidence. There, the rest of the accused were pardoned by the governor (Britannica School Salem witch, n.p.). Historians have turned to many different reasons for so many people to believe the claims of the girls. Many believe that in transitioning from one governor to the next, Salem was in the midst of many social issues. The former governor had done nothing to stop the worsening of the hysteria, and while the new leader tried to step in and conduct fair trials, he unearthed a law causing the death penalty to be inflicted on those practicing witchcraft, a capital punishment. Betty Parriss involvement was attributed to her fear of having disobeyed the laws of her religion as her father was a minister (Salem Witch, n.p.). There is also a theory that ergotism was present in Salem during this time, and is what caused mass hysteria. Ergot grows on cereal grain, and in this case, it would have been rye which the people relied heavily on. It causes a poisoning that is most common in women and children (Ergotism, n.p.). One type of ergotism, or long term ergot poisoning causes hallucinations, delu sions, muscle contractions or convulsions, and shaking, all of which were reported in Salem. All the facts add up, and the weather at that time was warm and damp which is perfect for ergot to thrive (Ergot Theory, n.p.). There are many other theories, but no one knows for sure if any of them are the real cause of the frenzy. The accusations and trials have led to many theories about the possible reasons for the delusions in Salem around 1692. Many people wonder how the judges were able to convict so many without concrete evidence or why the governor did not stop it until it was too late. It has taught us a lot about our countrys history and about the many mistakes we made. Those trials led to the first amendment which is freedom of religion. Nowadays, the government cannot persecute anyone for what religion they practice or for what they believe. We need to respect others and their beliefs even if they are different from us. We know now that we should not be afraid to stand up for what we believe, and not conform to what society tells us because it is not always right. Work Cited Caporael, Linnda R. Ergotism: the Satan loosed in Salem. Science, 1976. science.sciencemag.org. 16 Jan. 2017. Carlson, Marc. Historical Witches and Witchtrials in North America. personal.utulsa.edu. Accessed 5 Jan. 2017. Currie, Stephen. The Salem Witch Trials. San Diego: KidHaven Press, 2002. K, Anna. Ergot Theory Could Clear Accused Witches. The Salem Journal: The Aftermath Witches Remise. 2012. people.ucls.uchicago.edu. Accessed 16 Jan. 2017. Salem Witchcraft Trials 1692. Famous American Trials. law2.umkc.edu. Accessed 16 Jan. 2017. Salem witch trials. Britannica School, Encyclopà ¦dia Britannica, 26 Jan. 2016. school.eb.com. Accessed 15 Jan. 2017. Salem Witch Trials. Research in Context, Gale, 2016. Research in Context, go.galegroup.com. Accessed 4 Nov. 2016.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Human Nature in Lord of the Flies :: Free Essay Writer
Human Nature in Lord of the Flies Good morning/afternoon Mrs. Visser and class, I will be speaking about human nature and what it means to be human. Now what does it truly mean to be human and what makes us human? The main thing about humanity is we see ourselves as superior to nature and the animals in it. We see this in Lord of the Flies when the boys first land on the island. Even though there are animals and plants on the island they disregard it and claim the island as their own. Now what would make man superior to nature, his ability to think? To alter his surroundings to make his life easier? Arrogance or how about that it is how it is always been? Man seems to try and force his views upon others, through different means. Jack for example uses fear and manipulation to control his tribe, while Ralph hung onto the values he was taught in society. Now behind Ralph was piggy, who in the novel represented manââ¬â¢s knowledge and civilized manââ¬â¢s ideals. He was the one Ralph turned to when he was in doubt about what he must do, about what the civilized thing to do would be. Behind Jack was Rodger who represented the savagery and nature instinct that a human has to survive. Simon represented the spirituality and nature in the book. Simon is also one of those that seek the truth. When the beast is mentioned, he was the first and only person until later on to suggest that the beast was humanââ¬â¢s. He was the first person to see that the beast was an internal thing. People like Simon who seek the truth soon find that they are not accepted in society. Simon was laughed at when he suggested that the beast was internal. It is in human nature to try and blame something else for our mistakes. This separates him and makes him an outsider as it is in human nature not to accept the truth. Later on when he finds out who and what the beast is, all the boys help to attack and kill him. This shows that it is in human nature to reject the truth as a lie or even insanity. When Simon dies it shows the death of spirituality and a foreshadowing of what the inherit evil in man will do to nature later on. The inherit evil in man is represented by in the following ways by the following people:
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Opposing views in the play Essay
Priestly was a socialist, he thought that the divide between rich and poor was a problem. Priestly also helped set up a political party which he believed would give people a fairer system. His work and ideas helped to bring changes such as the welfare state. He wrote the play in order to put across his views. â⬠We donââ¬â¢t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.â⬠This shows Priestleyââ¬â¢s socialism through the character of the inspector. It shows that we should think about how we behave around other people and how we are all equal. The play was set in 1912 and written in 1945. This was to remind the audience of how it was before the war. Also it was set in 1912 so Priestly could incorporate dramatic irony. In the opening of the play Priestly uses dramatic devices to draw in the audience. The Play is setà In the dining room where it is ââ¬Å"heavily comfortable but not cosy and homelikeâ⬠. This creates an impression that though the family are wealthy, successful, and of the upper class, there is lack of family warmth. This reveals that the characters in the Birling family are deprived of familial warmth and affection. I think Priestly gives such a detailed description of the stage set because, he wants to accurately reflect a specific period in time, and also as the setting doesnââ¬â¢t change through out the play its best to get it right the first time.à In the opening of the play priestly includes specific props to give a sense of social class in the Birlings. At the very begging Edna is clearing the table of ââ¬Å"dessert plates and champagne glasses, replacing them with a decanter of port, cigar boxes and cigarettes.â⬠These objects are all expensive things, things you would expect to find at a special occasion. Therefore, not only does it show the Birlings upper class, it also shows that there is a special occasion. The characters costumes are roughly described to match the correct period of time. Men more-so, partly because they would all have been the same, and partly because this would be a strict dress code for a special occasion in those days. This would tell the audience immediately what period the play was set in.à At the begging of the play the lighting is a soft pink, this is to show how relaxed the Birlings were and that everything was ok. Like the expression ââ¬Å"looking back through rose coloured spectacles.â⬠Then as the inspector arrives there is a dramatic change of lighting to a hard, brighter light to show the inspectorââ¬â¢s sternness. At the beginning of the play the characters are each described briefly of their characteristics and emotions. These descriptions shall change through the play for at the beginning they are clearly happy in celebration and through out the rest of the play become more ââ¬Å"worried, upset, or argumentativeâ⬠. The inspector is described as ââ¬Å"An impression of ââ¬Ëmassiveness, solidity and purposefulnessââ¬â¢, he grows and remains more solid when each of the other characters break down.â⬠This is because Priestly wants to put across that the inspector (a socialist) is superior to the Birlings. The Inspector goes about his investigation in chronological order to the happenings of ââ¬Å"Eva Smithâ⬠, slowly breaking down each character letting them foresee their mistakes. Birlingââ¬â¢s speeches are really important as Priestly uses dramatic irony to put across his ideas about social status. In his speeches Birling sounds arrogant and pompous, thinking he knows it all when dramatic irony shows how wrong he is. ââ¬Å"Titanic-she sails next week-forty six thousand eight hundred tons-New York in five days-and every luxury-and unsinkable.â⬠The audience all know the Titanic was infact not ââ¬Å"unsinkableâ⬠and that it sank a week later, making Birling sound overly confident, bordering on pompous in his vision of the future. He is thus creating in Birling an untrustworthy character-if he is wrong about this he might also be wrong in other things he says. Birling is portrayed as a typical business man, an individualist, and a capitalist and his attitudes reflect that. For example he makes a speech to his son and future son in law which is interrupted by the inspector. He repeats the idea that ââ¬Å"a man has to make his own way, has to look after himselfâ⬠which seems to embody his individualistic philosophy. It seems that Priestly uses speeches as an important device to highlight the opposing views in the play. The inspectorââ¬â¢s final speech would almost parody this earlier speech in that he proposes the exact opposite view ââ¬Å"We are members of one body. We are responsible for each otherâ⬠Priestly uses the character of the inspector as a mouth-piece to say his socialist views.à ââ¬ËAn inspector callsââ¬â¢ is very much a play to put across Priestlyââ¬â¢s veiws about things he believed in, e.g socialism. An enjoyable mystery performance for people who like a twist.
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