Characters - Inspector Goole Flashcards
What was the Inspectors link to the family?
He was investigating the death of Eva Smith and knew that each person had something to do with her death.
What is the Inspectors role in the play?
He acts as Priestly’s mouthpiece, representing socialist beliefs.
He reveals key information chronologically.
How does the atmosphere change when the Inspector enters?
The lights change to a harsh white light.
The celebratory mood is changed to a more serious mood.
How does the Inspector present himself?
As a person of authority
He is assertive and powerful and takes charge of the situation.
He doesn’t let any of the family members intimidate or invalidate him.
How does the Inspector act like a teacher?
He never openly accuses the characters of doing something and tries to get them to understand the roles they played in Eva’s death.
He tries to get them to change their ways.
How does the Inspector highlight the faults of the upper classes?
He refuses to be intimidated or treat them differently which shocks them as they expect special treatment because of their social class.
He knows all the details before they tell him, breaking down the facade they have up.
How does the Inspector warn the family about the impacts of their capitalists views?
He tells them that if they do not change they will be taught in ‘fire and blood and anguish’.
This foreshadows world wars that were caused by selfish capitalists views.
“A chain of events”
This is him telling them that their actions might have a dire consequence. (Eva Smiths suicide).
He encourages the audience to think about how their actions might affect others.
“And you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant things?”
This highlights the hypocritical nature of upper classes; they want to protect their own ‘innocent’ women but not those from the lower-class, who they use for their own enjoyment.
No one tried to shield Eva from those things.
“If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”
He is warning the audience of the consequences of their selfish attitudes and actions.
This is foreshadowing WW1 and WW2 which the audience would have lived through.
“Each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it.”
He leaves in an impressionable manner and tries to get his message across one last time.
He wants them to change their ways and to start to think how their actions affect others.
