INSPECTOR GOOLE đź‘» ANALYSIS Flashcards
What does Inspector Goole mean when he says to Sheila “You were annoyed with yourself and you passed the annoyance onto her”
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/GENDER DIVIDE
He is being very ACCUSATORY towards Sheila as she got Eva Smith fired .
he is used as a figure to expose the upper middle class family and Edwardian Society. He is presenting the day of reckoning to the Birling family
What does inspector Goole mean when he says to Mr Birling “Public men , Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” (eva smith - pay request)
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Inspector Goole is telling Mr B that he owes society a dept. he owes a responsibility to society. to be kind (pay equally) if he enjoys his privileges he should also give back to society.
What does Inspector Goole mean when he says to MR BIRLING “You’re offering money at the wrong time , MR BIRLING” ?
SOCIAL CLASS
His sarcastic approach is tied to the death of eva smith wanting more pay but getting nothing . This is tied to MR BIRLING trying to protect their reputation from what might be a really terrible crime. inspector is being ironic and sarcastic because mr birling is BRIBING him
What does inspector goole do to all the Birling Family ?
He SYSTEMATICALLY goes through each member of the BIRLING family and SHOWS how they are IMPLICATED in the EXPLOITATION and ULTIMATELY the death of a poor WORKING CLASS LADY
What does INSPECTOR GOOLE mean when he says to the Birlings “There are MILLIONS… of EVA SMITHS… all INTERTWINED with OUR LIVES”
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
He is describing hw there are MILLIONS of people in EDWARDIAN SOCIETY who are INCREDIBLY POOR and are all CONNECTED (one element of society is reliant on another element of society e.g Upper class - lower class.
Inspector goole is making an OVERALL SOCIAL COMMENTRY , a CRITIQUE as to how there are MILLIONS like Eva Smith.
“We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.” What core message is Inspector goole making?
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Analysis: This is the core message of the play, ENCAPSULATING Priestley’s socialist beliefs. Inspector Goole serves as Priestley’s MOUTHPIECE, ADVOCATING for collective responsibility and the INTERCONNECTEDNESS of society. It contrasts sharply with Mr. Birling’s INDIVIDUALISTIC view
What is INSPECTOR GOOLE criticising here ? “It’s better to ask for the Earth than to take it.”
🔹 Point: Inspector Goole highlights how working-class women are exploited by men in power, exposing the gender divide in Edwardian society.
🔹 Evidence: “But after all it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.”
🔹 Explanation:
Here, the Inspector criticizes men like Mr. Birling, who hold power over working-class women like Eva Smith.
Eva was dismissed simply for asking for a fair wage, revealing how women’s economic security depended on male employers.
The phrase “take it” suggests that men in power exploit rather than support working women.
EXPLAIN:
In 1912, women had few employment rights and were paid less than men.
Priestley, a socialist, uses the Inspector to expose these injustices and challenge capitalist exploitation.
What does INSPECTOR GOOLE mean when he says “The time will come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Analysis: This CHILLING PROPHECY ALLUDES to the consequences of ignoring social responsibility, likely referencing the TWO WORLD WARS. It serves as a warning from Priestley about the dangers of selfishness and neglect.
“I don’t play golf.”
SOCIAL CLASS
THIS IS A DIRECT HIT ON THE UPPER CLASS . A SUBTLE REBUKE of Mr. Birling’s attempt to establish SUPERIORITY through SOCIAL STATUS . The Inspector’s DISMISSAL of such TRIVIALITIES reinforces his role as a MORAL FORCE, unimpressed by wealth or privilege.
What does Inspector Goole mean when he states “We’ll have to share our guilt.”
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Analysis: This statement EMPHASISES the play’s CENTRAL THEME of COLLECTIVE responsibility. It REJECTS the INDIVIDUALISM of characters like Mr. Birling and ALIGNS with the play’s call for SOCIETAL UNITY and REFORM.
Overall Themes in Inspector Goole’s Quotes?
Responsibility: The idea that actions have CONSEQUENCES for others, especially the VULNERABLE.
Social Critique: CONDEMNATION of class INEQUALITY and CAPITALIST EXPLOITATION.
Moral Authority: The Inspector acts as a VOICE of JUSTICE and REASON, often challenging the characters’ SELF-SERVING ATTITUDES
Prophecy and Warning: Many quotes serve as FOREWARNINGS about the consequences of SELFISHNESS and DENIAL l of responsibility. DRAMATIC IRONY FOR THE READER.
LIST OF ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE INSP G :
OMNISCIENT: he knows everything - questions the family
SOCIALIST: the voice of Eva - Mouthpiece for Priestleys opinions
MORAL: he highlights how we should all look after one and other
AUTHORITATIVE: he controls the room - light changes from “pink and intimate” to “brighter and harder”
INFLUENTIAL: influences Sheila to look from his pov
DYNAMIC: goes through each and every one of the family individual with queries
HUMBLING: he is able to make the upper class feel scared which for this time is unknown.
NOBLE:
ANTITHESIS: complete opposite of mrs b - capitalist - socialist
“And you think young women ought….
to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things?”
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF GENDER DIVIDE
POINT :The Inspector reveals how upper-class men exploit lower-class women,
This is spoken to Gerald, who claims that Sheila should be protected from the truth.
The irony here is that women like Eva are not protected at all, especially from men like Gerald, who use and discard them.
🔹 Link (A04 - Context):
Edwardian society was highly patriarchal.
Upper-class women were protected but controlled, while working-class women had little choice but to accept exploitation. PRIESTLEY QUESTIONS THE GENDER ROLES
