English Coursework- How J. B Priestley uses Time in ‘Time and the Conways’ and ‘An Inspector Calls’

J. B Priestley was an author, novelist, playwright, essayist, broadcaster, scriptwriter, social commentator and man of letters whose career straddles the 20th century. He lived from 13th August 1894 -14th August 1984. He wrote many famous books and plays. The two plays I am comparing and contrasting are, ‘Time and the Conways’ first produced at the Duchess Theatre, London on 26th August 1937. ‘An Inspector Calls’ first produced in London on 1st October 1946 at the new Theatre. I am looking at how J.B Priestley uses time so cleverly and in a unique style.

‘An Inspector Calls’ is on a three-act play. All three acts, which are continuous, take place in the dining room of the Birlings’ house in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands. It is about a mysterious inspector visiting a family before the Second World War. The style of the play seems at first straightforward and understandable, a detective thriller. The Inspector arrives with some news of the death by su...