Inspector Goole

Question 1

Intro

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Para 1

Answer 2

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,solidity and purposefulness’.- tricolon immediately sets him up as a focused, 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, but also a bright light that will expose their crimes, interrogation l, not ‘pink’ like before, suggesting the idea of the Birling’s idealistic view of the world through rose tinted spectacles- that will be destroyed as the light doesn’t go om
-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

Question 3

Para 2

Answer 3

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. Honest contrasts euphemisms
-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

Question 4

Para 3

Answer 4

He is (socialist) Antithesis to Mr Birling -capitalist (favourable impression of socialism)- mouthpiece for Priestley- christlike teachings
-speaks ‘carefully’ contrasts Mr B’s syncopated and hesitation ‘don’t stammer and yammer man’- 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
-‘[massive]public men, mr birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges’-
-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, scale of exploitation in society
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 (suffering + wars)