Key Quotes - Inspector Goole

Question 1

“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

Answer 1

‘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’.

Act 1

Question 2

’He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking’

Answer 2

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

Act 1

Question 3

‘(Cutting through massively) I’ve been round to the room she had…

Answer 3

‘(Cutting through massively)’—the inspector is now the person interrupting Mr Birling as way of dominating the conversation

The use of ‘massively’ shows how Priestley uses the semantic field of size to describe how the inspector acts; a way of reinforcing his importance and power

Act 1

Question 4

‘The inspector interposes himself between them an the photograph’

‘It’s the way I like to work. One person and one line of inquiry at a time’

Answer 4

inspector interposes himself’—shows that he is quick to manage the situation as he sees fit
Shows that the inspector has the authority in the room since he has control over who sees the photo or not

It’s the way I like to work’—won’t be told otherwise, which reinforces his control over the situation
‘One line of inquiry at a time’—the inspector is very driven by logic

Act 1

Question 5

‘But after all it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.’ (Pg15)

Answer 5

‘Better to ask’—the inspector talks about how requesting for things (a raise) should not be considered a threat

The use of the ‘earth’ again shows how the inspector uses the same terms as Mr Birling as a means to show that what he’s saying is ridiculous

Act 1

Question 6

‘Goole. G double O-L-E’ (pg16)

Answer 6

Goole’ is a homophone for ghoul which links to a phantom presence/ his intimidating presence

The ‘double O’s look like eyes which is reminiscient to how the inspector is shown as a figure of surveillance

Act 1

Question 7

‘(Sternly to both) You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt’ (p29)

Answer 7

‘Share something’—links to the values of socialism reinforcing how the inspector is a mouthpiece for socialist views

‘Share our guilt’—could allude to the fact that the play was written after the world wars; Priestley proposes sharing social responsibility is a way of coming together and a solution to conflict

Act 2

Question 8

‘(Cooly) We often do on the young ones. They’d more impressionable’ —pg30

Answer 8

(Coolly)’—shows how the inspector is very composed and not easily agitated

‘Young ones’—reference to the generational divide between the old and the young

‘More impressionable’—shows how the younger generation are easier to change and influence in terms of their beliefs

Reinforces how the younger generation are more aligned with socialism

Act 2

Question 9

‘(Sharply) Your daughter isn’t living on the moon. She’s here in Bromley too.’ -pg37

Answer 9

‘She’s here in Bromley 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

Act 2

Question 10

‘You mean you don’t choose to do, Mrs Birling

Answer 10

‘You mean’—shows how the inspector isn’t intimidated by Mrs Birling since he corrects her despite her being from a higher class

‘you don’t choose to’—reinforces the inspector as being perceptive as he recognises Mrs Birling’s unwillingness to accept social responsibility

Question 11

‘(massively) Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges’ pg41

Answer 11

‘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

Reinforces the need for social responsibility as well as the rich having the responsibility to look after the less fortunate

Act 2

Question 12

‘You know very well there was, Mrs Birling. You were in the chair.’ —pg42

Answer 12

‘You know very well there was’—alludes to the inspectors omniscience since he already knows what happened

‘You were in the chair’—places responsibility on Mrs Birling for her actions while being the judge of the situation

Shows how Mrs Birling was in power yet she abused it; links to how the upper class abuse their privileges in order to get their own way

Question 13

She came to you for help, at a time when no woman could have needed it more. And you not only refused it yourself but saw to it that the others refused it too.she was here alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate…’ —pg45

Answer 13

‘No woman could have needed it more’—the inspector tries to appeal to her maternal instincts and tries to evoke a sense of sympathy for Eva Smith

‘Saw to it that the others refused it too’— again shows how the upper class abuse their power in order to get their own way even at the detriment of others

‘Alone, friendless, almost penniless, desperate…’—the extensive use of adjectives is an attempt to make them a sense of sympathy for Eva Smith and a sense of remorse and regret at their actions

Act 2

Question 14

‘You’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I’ve gone.’ pg 54

Answer 14

Shows the essence of socialism

Suggests that sharing responsibility is a way of coping with the guilt of their actions

Act 3

Question 15

‘This girl killed herself—and died a horrible death. But each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it’ pg55

Answer 15

Eva Smith’s suicide is a symbol for the way the lower classes were blamed for their own suffering

The inspector gives Eva smith and the Birlings responsibility for their own actions as a way of preventing them rom scapegoating the poor.

Despite not being the direct cause of her death, Priestley wants the authorities to confront their own culpability in the poverty and suffering of the lower classes

Reiterates the importance of responsibility

Act 3

Question 16

‘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

Answer 16

Trying to evoke emotion from Mr Birling

He tries to underscore the fact that each of them had an opportunity to intervene and their actions are linked in a “chain of events”.

The inspector makes says the sentence bluntly to anchor the element of truth in the fact that she is “gone”. The harsh and bitter truth is an attempt to evoke a sense of empathy for Eva Smith.

Act 3

Question 17

‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’ pg 56

Answer 17

Inspector embodies socialism

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, Bu delusional

Act 3

Question 18

“If men do not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” (pg 56) –

Answer 18

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.

Act 3