The Importance of Form in 'An Inspector Calls'

Summary

J.B. Priestley chose to write *An Inspector Calls* as a play because of the unique power of theatre to engage a collective audience. In his work *Theatre Outlook*, Priestley explains that theatre’s collective response and uninterrupted nature make it the ideal form to communicate his themes of collective responsibility. Unlike novels, which allow personal control over the pacing and revisiting of sections, a play demands full engagement, heightening the emotional impact. This immersive experience strengthens the social critique at the heart of *An Inspector Calls*, where individuals must confront their actions in a collective society.

Takeaways

• 😀 Priestley wrote more novels than plays, but chose to write *An Inspector Calls* as a play due to the unique power of theatre.
• 😀 In his book *Theatre Outlook*, Priestley explains that he believed theatre to be an essential form of expression and left other forms of writing for it.
• 😀 Priestley argues that theatre's collective nature allows for a shared audience experience, where the individual is part of the whole performance.
• 😀 The form of a play forces the audience to experience the text together, which ties into the main theme of collective responsibility in *An Inspector Calls*.
• 😀 According to Priestley, a genuine theatrical audience cannot enjoy the play in isolation; they must become part of the collective response.
• 😀 The shared experience in a theatre setting enhances the emotional and intellectual impact of the play, making it more powerful than reading a novel.
• 😀 Manfred Pfister in *The Theory and Analysis of Drama* highlights that in theatre, the audience cannot control the pacing or revisit parts of the play, unlike in a novel.
• 😀 The captive audience in theatre cannot pause or interrupt the performance, which intensifies the message and experience, keeping the focus on social issues.
• 😀 Priestley’s use of drama is an intentional choice to challenge the audience without offering respite, forcing them to confront the moral questions posed in the play.
• 😀 Priestley believed that theatre had the power to educate and challenge the audience, helping communities think critically about social issues, as highlighted by Maggie B. Gale.

Q & A

Why did J.B. Priestley choose to write *An Inspector Calls* as a play rather than a novel?

Priestley chose the medium of theatre because he believed in its unique power to create a collective experience, where the audience shares a heightened emotional response. He felt that the themes of collective responsibility in *An Inspector Calls* could best be conveyed through the communal aspect of theatre, which cannot be achieved through novels.

What does Priestley believe is unique about theatre compared to other forms of literature?

Priestley believed that theatre creates a collective response from the audience, which is not possible in other forms of literature like novels. The live, shared experience forces the audience to engage together, enhancing the emotional and thematic impact of the performance.

How does Priestley describe the experience of a theatre audience?

Priestley describes the theatre audience as a collective unit, where individuals lose their sense of separation and become part of the entire performance. The collective experience amplifies the emotional and thematic impact of the play.

How does the form of theatre contribute to the themes of *An Inspector Calls*?

The form of theatre reinforces the theme of collective responsibility by encouraging a shared experience among the audience. The constant, uninterrupted flow of the play mirrors the societal responsibilities that cannot be ignored, and the collective nature of theatre emphasizes the idea that 'We are members of one body.'

What role does the collective response of the audience play in the success of *An Inspector Calls*?

The collective response of the audience plays a crucial role in intensifying the impact of the play’s message. The shared emotional engagement of the audience helps to reinforce the play’s themes of social responsibility and the interconnectedness of individuals in society.

How does the pacing of a theatre performance differ from reading a novel?

In theatre, the audience cannot control the pacing of the performance. They cannot pause, rewind, or skip sections if they miss something. This lack of control heightens the intensity and urgency of the experience, unlike reading a novel where the reader can set their own pace.

Why is the inability of the audience to control the pacing important in *An Inspector Calls*?

The inability to control the pacing reinforces the sense of urgency and the unrelenting nature of the play’s themes. The audience is forced to experience the action in real-time, just as individuals cannot escape their collective responsibility in society.

What does Manfred Pfister suggest about the audience’s experience of drama?

Manfred Pfister suggests that the audience's experience of drama is unique because they cannot control the tempo or interrupt the performance. This makes theatre a more intense and immediate form of engagement compared to other literary forms, like novels.

What did Priestley believe theatre could achieve that other forms of writing could not?

Priestley believed theatre had the power to educate, integrate, and enliven communities. He felt that theatre could force the audience to confront social issues in a way that was immediate and challenging, something that was harder to achieve through other forms of writing like novels.

How does the collective nature of theatre align with the message of *An Inspector Calls*?

The collective nature of theatre aligns with the message of *An Inspector Calls* by reinforcing the theme of collective responsibility. Just as the audience experiences the play together, the characters in the play are confronted with their shared societal responsibilities, making the collective experience of theatre an ideal medium for the play's themes.