Morality in ‘An Inspector Calls’

Morality in µAn Inspector  Calls¶

µAn Inspector Calls¶ - Q Questions uestions 



Write a list of characters; next to their t heir names, summarise summarise their roles in Evas death. Why do you think the Inspector wanted the family to know of the parts they played in the death of Eva Smith?

Learning  

Objectives

to define the term morality  morality play  To describe how An Inspector Calls fits into this tradition.

Morality Plays 

Miracle, Mystery and Morality plays performed in Middle Ages  







Miracle plays: depicted miracles of the saints Mystery plays: scenes from the Bible performed by the craft guilds (mysteries) Morality plays: a type of allegory depicting good vs evil.

The great morality plays were written in the 15 th century. An Inspector Calls follows the tradition of the Morality Play.

Features 

of Morality Plays

Morality plays are allegorical. 







Protagonist represents humanity or a smaller section of it. Supporting characters are personifications of good and evil. Characters may specifically represent virtues and vices (for example, the seven deadly sins). Characters might include Ignorance, Humility,  Covetousness, Riots, as well as the deadly sins.

µAn Inspector Calls¶ as a Morality Play 



J. B. Priestley wishes to convey a moral

message to his audience.  An Inspector Calls is also allegorical. The Inspector possibly represents humanity, or part of it.  Birling perhaps representing avarice, Mrs Birling pride, Sheila envy and anger, Croft  lust, and Eric lust, gluttony and sloth. (Benedict Nightingale, 1982)





Thinking 1.

2.

3.

about Morality

Which area of humanity do you think the Inspector represents? What moral message is Priestley trying to convey to us? Which characters have seen the light by the end of the play and changed their ways? Why do you think Priestley chose these two for this role?