Inspector Goole Quotes [analysis]

Question 1

“a chain of events”

Answer 1

metaphor for Priestley’s insistence that we are all bound up together and responsible communally for everyone’s survival

Question 2

“they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”

Answer 2

Priestley uses the Inspector as a mouthpiece voicing his views on the social hierarchy of England

This can be read in two ways - a foreshadowing of the world wars in which men were taught in fire, blood and anguish and a pessimistic prediction of world war 3 OR a religious metaphor that men will be condemned to a hell on earth if they cannot live together.

Question 3

“it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it”

Answer 3

symbolises capitalism, class, equality with juxtaposing verbs ‘ask’ & ‘take’, showing how the upper classes can take but the poor are left to ask and hope

• socialistic views

Question 4

“apologise for what - doing my duty?”

Answer 4

rightfully-defensive nature gives him a presence

Question 5

“we don’t live alone. we are members of one body. we are responsible for each other”

Answer 5

doesn’t believe in class division, reinforced by pronoun ‘we’
- anaphora
- attacks capitalism, relates this to christianity as “we are members of one body” is in the bible and he is saying that if you are christian which a lot of his audience were then you should be apart of socialism as they have the same outlook on life