Another Grade 9 Inspector Calls Essay
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How does Priestley present selfishness and its effects throughout the play?
Priestley presents selfishness and its effects in An Inspector Calls through the juxtaposition of Eva and Gerald's relationship and Sheila and Gerald's relationship. This can be evidenced by the way Priestley presents the woman of the play to be similar as Sheila is described as "a very pretty girl in her early twenties", while Eva is described as "very pretty" and "twenty four".
Both these women are taken advantage of by Gerald to satisfy his two most present desires - lust and social stability. With Sheila, Gerald hides his true feelings and is forced by societal pressures to marry Sheila to form a public alliance between the Croft family and the Birling family.
Gerald selfishly manipulates both women to reap the benefits while leaving both women negatively and permanently changed. This can be evidenced by Eva's suicide and, due to his betrayal, Sheila has lost her devotion to him and their relationship is different to what it once was. Priestley does this to show how higher class men's selfishness destroys the innocence of women and conveys to the contemporary audience how upper class men’s selfishness affects all classes. He conveys this purposefully to highlight his overall socialist message while diminishing capitalism as he shows that high class men are allowed by society to be selfish and get away with it.
This can further be reinforced by when Sheila says "wait, I must think'', when Gerald's desperately trying to regain her trust and restart their marriage. This suggests Sheila is uncertain about the future of their relationship despite how all of Gerald's devious deeds were displayed to her. Contextually, we know that women of 1912 lacked rights and had to cling onto the social class of their husbands to climb the social ladder or remain in their already high class. This can be related to Sheila as society places sole value on women and their ability to attract the richest and highest value male, which is why Sheila understands that Gerald is of the highest upper class, born into wealth and higher than her bourgeois family in status. Priestley does this to show a contemporary audience how the upper classes’ selfishness isn't properly punished and instead the weak and lower class pay for their selfishness, like Eva Smith.
(You have provided a detailed analysis of the characters and their relationships, highlighting the theme of selfishness effectively. However, ensure that you directly link these observations back to the question, focusing on how Priestley presents these actions as examples of selfishness and its effects. Also, consider exploring the dramatic impact of these relationships on the audience.)
Moreover Priestley presents selfishness and its effects through Mr Birling. This can be suggested near the beginning of the play where Mr Birling says "we were having a nice little family celebration and look at the nasty mess now". Priestley artfully conveys Mr Birling as petty and inhumane to force an audience to realise their own selfishness and he teaches them how to correct it through his mouthpiece - The Inspector. Priestley juxtaposes his pettiness with The Inspector saying he was "looking at what was left of Eva Smith" and "a nasty mess somebody’s made of it".
Priestley portrays The Inspector as somewhat omniscient by foreshadowing how the Birling family's selfishness was at fault for Eva's death. Moreover, the brutal description of "nasty mess" is used by Priestley to highlight the severity of the family's crimes. Moreover, Mr Birling says "Lower costs and higher prices". This shows how he has no regard for his hardworking employees. Furthermore, Mr Birling says "it's my duty to keep labour costs down" as a rebuttal to The Inspector questioning why he fired Eva. The use of "duty" highlights the key phrase "keep labour costs down". Priestley subtly highlights Mr Birling’s selfishness in his own speech. This is because he doesn't mention the conventional "duties" of males in the 20th century like protection of family, but instead he believes his responsibility is to himself and his wealth first. We know that Mr Birling is obsessed with wealth as he is symbolic of capitalism which Priestley despises.
We know that Eva was fired for asking for higher pay as in 1912 women were paid a third of men, making it impossible to be self sustainable. This demonstrated how society perpetuated the suffrage of women to put men into power because due to the low wages, Eva Birling and other women had to rely on men. Moreover, as all working class men and women were played by upper class wealthy men, it shows how society’s structure was inherently biased to upper class men as they were responsible for everyone's well being and the nation's economic development, especially during 1912 when the industrial revolution was in full force.
(This paragraph effectively addresses Mr. Birling's character and his representation of selfishness. You've included relevant quotes and contextual information to support your points. To enhance your response, consider discussing the dramatic techniques Priestley uses to present Mr. Birling's selfishness and its impact on the audience.)
Finally, Priestley presents selfishness and its effects by using the Inspector to convey his message in the didactic play. This can be evidenced by the quote "we are members of one body". Priestley artfully alludes to the Book of Genesis and the Holy Communion as Jesus's body was represented through bread and eaten to demonstrate togetherness and community. Priestley does this to appeal to the commonly Christian contemporary audience. Priestley does this to imply that the Inspector is teaching the Birling family and Gerald on God’s behalf.
However, The Inspector is also Priestley’s socialist mouthpiece, so Priestley relates Christianity to socialism, which forces a contemporary audience to become socialist to remain a faithful Christian. Even though eventually Sheila and Eric accept responsibility while Mr Birling says "I can't accept any responsibility" and Gerald and Mrs Birling agree, Priestley uses the Inspector to deliver a final message to suggest that everyone in society should care for each other so that the "millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" don’t suffer as a result. The repetition of "millions” highlights the Inspector’s metaphor for the lower class in the phrase. Priestley does this to convey the severity of the family’s selfishness and to present to a contemporary audience how upper classes selfishness is very powerful. By using "millions", he is implying to the audience that the upper class elite will even cause them to suffer.
Moreover, The Inspector presents the effect of selfishness through the phrase "men will be taught in fire and blood and anguish". The polysyndetic listing highlights the key word's "fire", "blood" and "anguish", to convey the brutal effects of selfishness. Furthermore, the Inspector foreshadows World War One, which causes blood to be shed of the innocent but also leads to society deconstructing to work together to fight and protect England. Priestly uses dramatic irony, so that the complementary audience realises that the selfish elite and capitalism were somewhat at fault for the suffering caused in both this and World War Two. This is a tactic used by Priestly to show how selfishness will lead to mass destruction and how selfishness and Capitalism are intertwined.
1093 words
(You have provided a comprehensive analysis of the Inspector's role in conveying Priestley's message about selfishness. Your connection between the play's themes and the broader social and historical context is insightful. To further improve, consider exploring how the Inspector's interactions with other characters serve to highlight their selfishness and the consequences it brings.)
Level: 6
Mark: 26 - 29 (this is a beta feature and mark may not be very accurate)
Overall feedback:
Your essay demonstrates a strong understanding of the theme of selfishness in 'An Inspector Calls' and how Priestley presents it through characters and their relationships. You have used textual evidence and contextual information effectively to support your analysis.
To enhance your response, focus on integrating your points more cohesively and ensuring that each point directly relates back to the question. Additionally, consider discussing the dramatic impact on the audience and the use of dramatic techniques by Priestley to present the theme of selfishness.
What went well: Excellent use of textual evidence and contextual information to support analysis. Good understanding of characters and their relationships in relation to the theme of selfishness.
Even better if: Ensure that each point made is directly linked back to the question. Discuss the dramatic impact on the audience and Priestley's use of dramatic techniques.
What Do I Think You Should Take From This?
Effort matters. This essay is 1093 words long, which is over 200 words more than Tayo.
I have literally never seen an essay over 1000 words long not get a grade 9. The kind of student who is willing to write that fast, is willing to do the work to make sure they have something to say.
It isn’t rocket science. I should know. My daughter’s partner is an actual rocket scientist.
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That’s why I use a table to help me:
You can see that this essay mentions society a lot. That is typical of a strong grade 9. It means you are always writing about the author’s purpose.
You only write 1000+ words if you have something to say. And writing about society is a great shortcut to having a lot to say.
If you aim for these numbers in your writing, and miss them, you’ll still gain a grade 7. These numbers are the quickest way for you to improve.
Paragraphs
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Feedback
Priestley presents selfishness and its effects in An Inspector Calls through the juxtaposition of Eva and Gerald's relationship and Sheila and Gerald's relationship. This can be evidenced by the way Priestley presents the woman of the play to be similar as Sheila is described as "a very pretty girl in her early twenties", while Eva is described as "very pretty" and "twenty four". (This is a good start, but try to directly link the descriptions of the women to the theme of selfishness and its effects, rather than just noting the similarities in their descriptions.)
Both these women are taken advantage of by Gerald to satisfy his two most present desires - lust and social stability. With Sheila, Gerald hides his true feelings and is forced by societal pressures to marry Sheila to form a public alliance between the Croft family and the Birling family. (You've made a good point about Gerald's selfishness in his relationships. However, ensure that you also explore how Priestley presents this selfishness through Gerald's actions and dialogue, not just the outcomes for the women.)
Gerald selfishly manipulates both women to reap the benefits while leaving both women negatively and permanently changed. This can be evidenced by Eva's suicide and, due to his betrayal, Sheila has lost her devotion to him and their relationship is different to what it once was. Priestley does this to show how higher class men's selfishness destroys the innocence of women and conveys to the contemporary audience how upper class men’s selfishness affects all classes. (This is a strong analysis of the consequences of Gerald's selfishness. To enhance your response, consider discussing how Priestley uses dramatic techniques, such as stage directions and timing, to emphasize these effects.)
He conveys this purposefully to highlight his overall socialist message while diminishing capitalism as he shows that high class men are allowed by society to be selfish and get away with it. (Good insight into Priestley's intentions. It would be beneficial to link this back to specific moments in the play where Priestley critiques capitalism and its allowance for selfish behavior.)
This can further be reinforced by when Sheila says "wait, I must think'', when Gerald's desperately trying to regain her trust and restart their marriage. This suggests Sheila is uncertain about the future of their relationship despite how all of Gerald's devious deeds were displayed to her. (You've identified a key moment that reflects Sheila's response to selfishness. To strengthen your analysis, consider exploring how Sheila's character development throughout the play represents a rejection of selfishness.)
Contextually, we know that women of 1912 lacked rights and had to cling onto the social class of their husbands to climb the social ladder or remain in their already high class. This can be related to Sheila as society places sole value on women and their ability to attract the richest and highest value male, which is why Sheila understands that Gerald is of the highest upper class, born into wealth and higher than her bourgeois family in status. (This is a relevant contextual point. To further enhance your response, discuss how Priestley uses the character of Sheila to challenge these societal norms and expectations.)
Priestley does this to show a contemporary audience how the upper classes’ selfishness isn't properly punished and instead the weak and lower class pay for their selfishness, like Eva Smith. (This is a compelling point about the social commentary in the play. Consider also discussing the role of the Inspector as a vehicle for Priestley's critique of the class system and its inherent selfishness.)
Moreover Priestley presents selfishness and its effects through Mr Birling. This can be suggested near the beginning of the play where Mr Birling says "we were having a nice little family celebration and look at the nasty mess now". (You've correctly identified Mr. Birling as a representation of selfishness. To improve, analyze how his dialogue and actions throughout the play contribute to Priestley's critique of selfishness.)
Priestley artfully conveys Mr Birling as petty and inhumane to force an audience to realise their own selfishness and he teaches them how to correct it through his mouthpiece - The Inspector. (This is an insightful observation. Expand on how the Inspector's interactions with Mr. Birling serve to highlight and challenge Birling's selfishness.)
Priestley juxtaposes his pettiness with The Inspector saying he was "looking at what was left of Eva Smith" and "a nasty mess somebody’s made of it". (Good use of juxtaposition to highlight the contrast in attitudes. Discuss how the Inspector's language serves as a moral counterpoint to Birling's selfishness.)
Priestley portrays The Inspector as somewhat omniscient by foreshadowing how the Birling family's selfishness was at fault for Eva's death. (You've touched on an important aspect of the Inspector's character. Elaborate on how his omniscience and moral authority expose the selfishness of the Birling family.)
Moreover, the brutal description of "nasty mess" is used by Priestley to highlight the severity of the family's crimes. (This is a good analysis of the language used. Consider how this language reflects the broader social crimes of selfishness that Priestley is critiquing.)
Moreover, Mr Birling says "Lower costs and higher prices". This shows how he has no regard for his hardworking employees. (This is a clear example of Mr. Birling's capitalist mindset. Analyze how Priestley uses this to demonstrate the dehumanizing effects of selfishness on the working class.)
Furthermore, Mr Birling says "it's my duty to keep labour costs down" as a rebuttal to The Inspector questioning why he fired Eva. The use of "duty" highlights the key phrase "keep labour costs down". (You've identified a significant moment in the play. Discuss how Priestley uses Mr. Birling's sense of 'duty' to critique the self-serving nature of capitalist ideology.)
Priestley subtly highlights Mr Birling’s selfishness in his own speech. This is because he doesn't mention the conventional "duties" of males in the 20th century like protection of family, but instead he believes his responsibility is to himself and his wealth first. (This is an excellent point about Birling's priorities. To enhance your response, consider how Priestley uses this to challenge the audience's own perceptions of duty and responsibility.)
We know that Eva was fired for asking for higher pay as in 1912 women were paid a third of men, making it impossible to be self sustainable. (This is a relevant point about gender inequality. Link this back to the theme of selfishness by discussing how the economic system perpetuates selfishness at the expense of vulnerable individuals like Eva.)
This demonstrated how society perpetuated the suffrage of women to put men into power because due to the low wages, Eva Birling and other women had to rely on men.(You've made a good connection between economic power and gender dynamics. Explore how Priestley presents this reliance as a consequence of selfish societal structures.)
Moreover, as all working class men and women were played by upper class wealthy men, it shows how society’s structure was inherently biased to upper class men as they were responsible for everyone's well being and the nation's economic development, especially during 1912 when the industrial revolution was in full force. (This is a strong contextual point. Discuss how Priestley uses the characters in the play to represent and critique this societal bias.)
Finally, Priestley presents selfishness and its effects by using the Inspector to convey his message in the didactic play. (This is a good point about the role of the Inspector. Expand on how the Inspector's didactic role serves to educate both the characters and the audience about the dangers of selfishness.)
This can be evidenced by the quote "we are members of one body". Priestley artfully alludes to the Book of Genesis and the Holy Communion as Jesus's body was represented through bread and eaten to demonstrate togetherness and community. (You've identified a key quote and its biblical allusion. Analyze how this allusion serves to reinforce Priestley's message about community and the rejection of selfishness.)
Priestley does this to appeal to the commonly Christian contemporary audience. Priestley does this to imply that the Inspector is teaching the Birling family and Gerald on God’s behalf. (This is an interesting point about the intended audience. Discuss how Priestley's use of Christian morality serves to underscore his socialist message.)
However, The Inspector is also Priestley’s socialist mouthpiece, so Priestley relates Christianity to socialism, which forces a contemporary audience to become socialist to remain a faithful Christian. (You've made a compelling connection between Christianity and socialism. Explore how Priestley uses this relationship to challenge the audience's preconceptions and encourage social change.)
Even though eventually Sheila and Eric accept responsibility while Mr Birling says "I can't accept any responsibility" and Gerald and Mrs Birling agree, Priestley uses the Inspector to deliver a final message to suggest that everyone in society should care for each other so that the "millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" don’t suffer as a result. (This is a good analysis of the characters' responses to the Inspector's message. Discuss how the varying responses reflect different attitudes towards selfishness and social responsibility.)
The repetition of "millions” highlights the Inspector’s metaphor for the lower class in the phrase. Priestley does this to convey the severity of the family’s selfishness and to present to a contemporary audience how upper classes selfishness is very powerful. (You've highlighted an important aspect of the Inspector's speech. Analyze how the repetition emphasizes the widespread impact of the upper class's selfishness.)
By using "millions", he is implying to the audience that the upper class elite will even cause them to suffer. (This is a strong point about the implications of the Inspector's message. Consider discussing how Priestley uses this to critique the broader social system and its perpetuation of selfishness.)
Moreover, The Inspector presents the effect of selfishness through the phrase "men will be taught in fire and blood and anguish". The polysyndetic listing highlights the key word's "fire", "blood" and "anguish", to convey the brutal effects of selfishness. (This is an excellent analysis of the Inspector's language. Discuss how this foreshadowing serves as a warning to the audience about the consequences of selfishness.)
Furthermore, the Inspector foreshadows World War One, which causes blood to be shed of the innocent but also leads to society deconstructing to work together to fight and protect England. (You've made a good connection to historical events. Explore how Priestley uses this foreshadowing to reflect on the societal changes brought about by collective suffering.)
Priestly uses dramatic irony, so that the complementary audience realises that the selfish elite and capitalism were somewhat at fault for the suffering caused in both this and World War Two. (This is a good point about the use of dramatic irony. Analyze how Priestley uses this technique to critique the role of the elite and capitalism in societal suffering.)
This is a tactic used by Priestly to show how selfishness will lead to mass destruction and how selfishness and Capitalism are intertwined. (You've identified a key theme in the play. Discuss how Priestley intertwines selfishness and capitalism to present a powerful critique of the social order.)
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