Q8: “the inspector need ... solidity and purposefulness”

Question 1

“the inspector ____ ____ be a ___ _____ but he ____ at once an _____ of ____ , _____ and ___________”

Answer 1

“the inspector need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”

Question 2

who said it and when? who did they say it to? what is it about?

Answer 2

Stage directions. Describing Inspector Goole’s arrival to the Birling house.

Question 3

5 key points:

Answer 3

• illustrated as an authoritarian figure with an unwavering presence
• semantic field of omnipotence; presence has an overbearing affect on the atmosphere. character = not to be ignored.
• negation - juxtaposes Mr B with Inspector. “massiveness” simply overpowers Mr B and his capitalist rationale, as he feels the need to associate himself with his “business” as a “hard headed, practical man” in order to feel stable
• “purposefulness” = sense of moral duty is unwavering.
• sole purpose is to advocate for justice by debunking the capitalist rhetoric which implied that socialist “cranks” were the bane of society without being adversely influenced by the Birlings as he exudes “solidity”.