Inspector Goole

Question 1

Who is inspector Goole?

Answer 1

a police inspector. He represents the ideals of ​Socialism ​and ​social responsibility​, and the ideal ​justice system
His name is similar to the word Ghoul, suggesting his spiritual qualities.

Question 2

Key Quote: “Speaks carefully, weightily”

Answer 2

The use of the adjective “weightily” evidences the impact of the Inspector’s moral message. Also, speaking “carefully” directly contrasts Mr Birling, whose speech is diluted with dashes and hesitations. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 3

Key Quote: “If you’re easy with me, I’m easy with you”

Answer 3

Priestley’s use of parallelism (same grammatical features of a sentence repeated) in this phrase is, perhaps, symbolic for the Inspector’s message. This sense of equality and treating others how you wish to be treated is inherently socialist. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 4

Key Quote: “Yes, but you can’t. It’s too late. She’s dead.”

Answer 4

Here, Priestley uses short sentences and a terse triplet
of expressions to convey an impactful message and
express the need for radical change. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 5

Key Quote: “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”

Answer 5

The Inspector reminds Mr Birling that he cannot do as he pleases without considering the potential consequences his actions may have. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 6

Key Quote: “Their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness all intertwined with our lives”

Answer 6

Priestley continues to spread the message of socialism
and the need for greater social responsibility as
everybody’s lives are “intertwined”. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 7

Key Quote: “We are members of one body”

Answer 7

Priestley alludes to the Book of Genesis as “we are
members of one body” is used in Holy Communion.
Therefore, through echoing the words of God, Priestley
implies that the Inspector is speaking on God’s behalf. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 8

Key Quote: “Each of you helped to kill her, remember that. Never forget it.”

Answer 8

Despite none of the characters directly ending Eva’s life, they have all had a part to play in her death and are therefore responsible for driving her to suicide. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 9

Key Quote: “You used the power you had… to punish the girl.”

Answer 9

The Inspector plainly states how Sheila abused her power, out of “jealousy” in order to punish Eva Smith for being more beautiful than her. Theme of Morality/Responsibility.

Question 10

Key Quote: “He knows”

Answer 10

Sheila understands the Inspector’s omniscience and thus reveals all to the Inspector, while encouraging Gerald to do the same, as “he knows” anyway. Theme of Omniscience.

Question 11

Key Quote: “I don’t need to know any more. Neither do you.”

Answer 11

At this point, the Inspector has revealed the culpability of the characters in Eva’s death. As this is not a real
Inspector, there is no need to know any more details, other than a sense of guilt and responsibility. Theme of Omniscience.

Question 12

Key Quote: “Need not be a big man”

Answer 12

The Inspector “need not be a big man” as the strength of his position and ideology outweigh the need for an imposing physical appearance. Theme of Physical Appearance.

Question 13

Key Quote: “Impression of massiveness (solidity and purposefulness)”

Answer 13

Priestley leaves the Inspector’s physical appearance as
vague and, to some extent, unimportant due to his
message of social responsibility being more important
than his physical appearance. Theme of Physical Appearance.

Question 14

Key Quote: “A plain darkish suit”

Answer 14

Priestley presents the Inspector as wearing simple and minimal clothes in “a plain darkish suit”, as appearance is irrelevant to him. It is moral and social responsibility
which is of greater importance. Theme of Physical Appearance.

Question 15

Key Quote: “Burnt her inside out, of course”

Answer 15

Priestley uses shocking imagery in an attempt to
persuade the characters to change as he frequently refers to Eva’s death as “burnt her inside out”. Theme of Warning of not Learning a Lesson.

Question 16

Key Quote: “If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”

Answer 16

Therefore, the threat of “fire blood and anguish” could be the Inspector warning both the characters and the
audience of the religious consequences for neglecting their duty of social responsibility. The religious connotation of “fire” is hell and therefore the punishment for not following the message of both Christianity and socialism to ‘love thy neighbour’. Theme of Warning of not Learning a Lesson.

Question 17

Topic sentences

Answer 17

● Priestley promotes his socialist agenda through the Inspector’s speech and appearance, and portrays this ideology as favourable to the status quo of capitalism.
● Priestley explores the contrasting responses to social responsibility through contrasting the reactions between the older and younger-generations within the play.
● Furthermore, Priestley presents socialism favourably through the antithesis of the Inspector - Mr Birling - whose contemptible portrayal extends to the capitalist ideology that he represents.
● Priestley explores the ideal response of the audience to the Inspector’s message of responsibility through his profound effect on Sheila.

Question 18

Structure

Answer 18

In AIC, the inspector is utilised as a mouthpiece for Priestley and his socialist and egalitarian ideologies through his role as a prophet, retelling the story of the Christ-like Eva Smith

Upon the Inspector’s arrival, Priestley immediately creates the impression that the inspector is a powerful figure as he is able to silence Birling..
-This is done through the metaphorical silencing of Mr B’ capitalist ideologies ‘sharp ring of a door bell’
-The stage directions states that ‘he creates at once an impression of massiveness’.-immediately sets him up as a massive and powerful character through the descriptive noun massiveness, ‘at once’ emphasising the immediacy of his presence having a large impact
-stage direction ‘cutting through, massively’ – immediately the inspector has gained huge authority by being able to interrupt Birling, ‘massively’ emphasises his power, despite his lower class
By doing this Priestley perhaps shows how socialist ideologies can overcome capitalist ones while also demonstrating that the class does not translate to authority
The audience is also almost immediately given the impression that the inspector’s presence is supernatural and guiding
-In the stage directions, Priestley states that the light ‘should be brighter and harder’, immediately creating the impression that the inspector is a guiding light to the Birling’s family
-His name ‘Goole’ homophonic to ‘Ghoul’- makes him seem like a supernatural presence
-later, his omniscience reinforce this – Sheila regonises that ‘he knows’
Draws attention to the inspector, as the audience is given the impression that he is not a normal inspector

Harsh but honest character, expressing the need for change
-‘burnt her inside out, of course’- his use of shocking graphic imagery reveals the
truth about the lower class’ suffering, dysphemism contrasts the Birling’s euphemism to trivialise suffering/their actions, heightening their guilt.
-asyndetic listing of Eva’s suffering- ‘friendless, penniless, desperate’ needing ‘advice,sympathy,friendliness’ creates sympathy for the working class, encouraging change
By doing this Priestley criticise the upper class’ ignorance of the lower classes suffering.
Catalyses change in the characters, especially in the more ‘impressionable’ youth – a better teacher than Mr and Mrs B.
-Sheila’s change
-Eric’s change

He is (socialist) Antithesis to Mr Birling -capitalist (favourable impression of socialism) mouthpiece for Priestley
-speaks ‘carefully’ contrasts Mr B’s syncopated and hesitation- Inspector is more thoughtful and controlled
-‘every man for himself’ contrasts ‘we are all responsible to each other’- his final didactic manifesto juxtaposes Mr B’s monologue
-By making Mr B look like a fool, the audience is inclined to agree with the inspector
Remains ambiguous because it is not who the inspector is that matters, it’s his message
-only Sheila and Eric being the idea recipients recognise this
-‘millions and millions of Eva smiths and John smiths’- universality of suffering
Threatens the characters and audience that no change will have consequences
-‘if men will not learn that lesson they will be taught it in blood and fire and anguish’- the syndetic list of blood and fire and anguish may be a reference to both War and hellfire- in the Birling’s case, no change induced two wars, creating fear in the audience that there may be another one if there is no change