Structure & Chronology 2

English Lit: AQA GCSE An Inspector Calls, topic 4.1.3

Structure - Cliffhanger and Cycle of Events

The play's cliffhanger ending adds a huge amount of tension. The structure presents an unending cycle of events.

Priestley’s cliffhanger (ending that creates suspense) adds a huge amount of tension.
The audience doesn’t know how the characters will react when the real police officer interviews them and if they will learn anything this time around.

The cliffhanger also adds tension because the Birlings had just been celebrating that they were free and clear. They thought their reputations were safe and that they could pretend again that their actions have no consequences.
The audience is frustrated because they feel like most of the characters have learnt nothing. Then they are told that there will be a real investigation.

The structure of the play represents the unending cycle of events – as long as the older Birlings and Gerald (the higher-class members of society) refuse to accept any responsibility for their actions, the cycle will repeat and people will get hurt.
Eric and Sheila show that they could stop the cycle of destruction. They have learnt from their mistakes and are willing to change.

There are various time settings at work in the play.

The main story, which takes place in the Birling house, is told chronologically (in order of events).
This lets him build tension and drama by revealing more and more shocking details as the story unfolds.
Each detail leaves the audience feeling more and more sympathy towards Eva Smith, and more anger towards the Birlings and Gerald.

But in the central story, various other stories are recounted – stories that tell the characters’ involvement with Eva/Daisy.
Whenever we learn another detail, we get a better picture of a lower-class, vulnerable girl who was constantly suffering because of the elite, wealthy, selfish upper class.
Priestley builds up the story in this way to teach the audience a lesson about social responsibility and equality – the audience can see how one selfish action after another affects Eva Smith's life.
The message is that people should be careful because they could add to an already-difficult situation and cause horrible consequences.

Which characters show they could stop the cycle of destruction in An Inspector Calls by learning from their mistakes?
What unending cycle of events does the structure of An Inspector Calls represent?