Inspector Goole Flashcards
The inspector need not be a big man but creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness…dressed in a plain darkish suit’ (pg11)
creates at once an impression’—shows how the inspector doesn’t need to assert his dominance as it comes naturally to him, unlike Mr Birling
• ‘Massiveness’—the fact that he creates a large impression without being physically big shows us that it’s the strength of his values and morals that are important
• ‘Solidity’—gives the impression that he’s sturdy perhaps inferring that he has a dense wall-like resilience
• ‘Purposefulness’—shows that the inspector is focused and so won’t be swayed by irrelevant things
• ‘Plain darkish suit’—the inspector’s clothes are very average. The use of ‘plain’ suggests that he doesn’t have
luxurious that upper classes might. Also the use of ‘darkish’ creates a sense of mystery which reinforces his
dominance.
• This description contrasts with Mr Birling who is described as being ‘heavy-looking’ and ‘portentous’
’He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking’
speaks carefully, weightily’—shows that the inspector considers what he says before he says it. Links to how he asserts dominance by what he doesn’t say and what he keeps to himself; antithesis of Mr Birling
• ‘Looking hard at the person’—this links to the inspector being a figure of surveillance and is a way that he may intimidate and assert authority over someone. Relates to the fact his name is ‘Goole’ with two ‘o’s that look like eyes
Because what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven her to suicide. A chain of events.’ (Pg14)
What happened to her’—this repeated phrase acts as a chain which links ideas of social responsibility together
• ‘A chain of events’—the structure of the passage reflects that of a physical chain
• The inspector talks about how things are interlinked which is reflected in the structure as the sentences are
linked through the recreated phrase ‘what happened to her’
Goole. G double O-L-E’ (pg16)
Goole’ is a homophone for ghoul which links to a phantom presence and omnipresent /his intimidating presence
• The ‘double O’s look like eyes which links to how the inspector is a figure of surveillance
Sharply) Your daughter isn’t living on the moon. She’s here in Brumley too.’ -pg37
‘She’s here in Brumley too’—the inspector gives Sheila her responsibility back when Mr Birling tries to get her out of the situation
- ‘Living on the moon’—could show that women back then were often excluded or kept separate from serious situations
Sharply - adverb relates back to logical and direct tone ‘bright lights’
‘(massively) Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges’ pg41
‘massively’—shows how The Inspector remains in command
- ‘Public men…’—the inspector again uses Mr Birling’s words against him as a way of showing how
ridiculous they are
- ‘Responsibilities as well as privileges’— almost like socialism against capitalism
One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us’ pg 56
Polysyndetic listing used to emphasise the sheer extent of people suffering without receiving any sympathy or support
- ‘Smith’, ‘Eva’ and ‘John’ we’re extremely common names in that time, therefore they are emblematic of the wider society
‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’ pg 56
Inspector embodies socialism through collective pronoun ‘we’
- Shows how everyone is connected in a deep level, where society is the result of everyone’s combine
actions
- ‘We don’t live alone’— Priestley presents a moral duty to look after others. He suggests ignoring this
is not only selfish, but delusional
“If men do not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” (pg 56) –
Can either been seen through a biblical perspective as a representation of hell in “fire and blood and anguish” or can be contextually interpreted by the audience as a reference to Act One.
- Since the Inspector relates to actual events that have happened, it makes hard words more credible to the audience since the two World Wars are still strongly embedded in their hearts and minds.
- Refers to later in Act 3 when Sheila vocalises the teachings of the Inspector by saying “Fire and Blood
and anguish. And it frightens me the way you talk…” Accentuates the strong repulse she feels towards the capitalist notions of the older generation as well as a direct copy of the Inspector’s words shows that the Inspector has made a profound impact on the younger generation.
