Literacy Criticism: An Inspector Calls In Formalist Perspective - Research Paper Example

They include plot and character development including the use of language to convey meaning. A formalist perspective in literary criticism involves analysis, evaluation or interpretation of syntax and grammar. For example, in the play An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley, plot and character development is structured in three-acts. Each act is meant to communicate a distinct message concerning the Birling family. It begins Inspector Goole’s sudden disruption of an evening during celebration for the engagement of Arthur Birling’s daughter.

The setting of all action is at Birling’s home with the playwright’s diction and imagery structured toward a bigger mystery as other characters join the inspector. Subsequently, Sheila acknowledges that she also knew Eva being searched by the inspector. Eva has committed suicide and according to the inspector’s point of view, Birling, an affluent Mill owner is a suspect (Bogel 109). Overall, Priestley’s formalist approach is to comprehend the structural purposes of his immediate society instead of critiquing the social situation.

Finally, it is exposed that Birlings family has a direct involvement in Eva’s death. Therefore, the work’s plot grows gradually connecting with the three-act structure in communicating distinct ideas. The relationship between each part of the work and the whole revolves around the structural arrangement. Each act is a revelation of new ideas that affect the overall development (Carter & Simpson 129). For example, Sheila is a beautiful girl in acts one, but transforms into accomplice toward act two.

In other words, the change is a significant pointer to how character development is used by the playwright in analyzing and evaluating the content of the play. As a result, the parts assist in defining the social tension while also analyzing the character traits of characters such Birling, Sheila, Inspect Goole, Gerald Croft and Eva.