Form

• What makes An Inspector Calls a morality play?

  Priestley utilises the traditional morality play to explore social responsibility. Priestley utilises Gerald and Birling as constructs to represnt moral failings while Eva Smith is an allegorical figure representing the vulnerable. Inspector Goole acts as a moral conscience, guiding both the characters and audience to reflect on their actions. The play teaches a clear moral lesson "we are all members of one body".
• How does Priestley use classical unities in the play?

  The play obeys Aristotle's unities.

  1. Time: Takes place in a single evening
  2. Place: One location which is the Birling dining room
  3. Action: There is a single storyline which is the investigation.

  This concentrated setting makes the action feel intense and claustrophobic, highlighting the inescapability of moral responsibility. The confined form mirrors how the characters can’t escape their guilt.
• How does An Inspector Calls follow the structure of a well-made play?

  Priestley structures the play as a well-made play to gradually build tension and expose each character’s flaws. The opening begins with a false sense of security, followed by the Inspector’s interruption, which causes complications. Tension reaches its peak during his final speech before the twist ending. This structure allows the audience to fully engage with the Inspector’s message and reflect on the consequences of the characters’ actions.