The Inspector Flashcards
Overview
Calm
Authoritative
Socialist
Paragraph 1
Quote 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)
‘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’.
Quote 2
‘(Coolly, looking hard at him) There might be.’
‘coolly’—shows that the inspector has control over his emotions, making him seem more powerful in that he is not easily unsettled.
‘Looking hard at him’—reinforces the inspector as being a figure of surveillance, furthermore it makes the inspector seem intimidating
‘There might be’—the inspector doesn’t feel the need to react and holds the power in what he doesn’t say, not giving them excessive information
Antithesis to Mr Birling as he thinks that he holds power by saying lots and always sharing information or ideas
Quote 3
‘(Steadily) That’s more or less what I was thinking…A nice little promising life there… and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it’
Again the inspector uses Mr Birling’s words as a way to mock what he is saying
The inspector is very quick to put the responsibility/blame back onto Mr Birling through the repetition of his words
The inspector is very blunt when he speaks and doesn’t make an effort to euphemise it.
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Quote 1
‘(Cutting in with authority) He must wait his turn.’ —pg33
‘‘He must wait his turn’ – won’t be commanded by Mr Birling, very methodical with his approach
Links to ‘One line of enquiry at a time’
Makes him more trustworthy as he sticks to what he said before
The use of the imperative verb ‘must’ reinforces the inspector’s authoritative demeanour in that he gives commands to the Birlings
Quote 2
‘(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
Reinforces the need for social responsibility as well as the rich having the responsibility to look after the less fortunate
Quote 3
‘You know very well there was, Mrs Birling. You were in the chair.’ —pg42
‘You know very well there was’—alludes to the Inspector’s 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; role of the Inspector to expose the abuse of privilege and power from the upper class.
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Quote 1
‘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’ were extremely common names in that time, therefore they are emblematic of wider society
Role of inspector is to act as a mouthpiece for the average working-class individual in society, who doesn’t hold enough power to challenge the misconduct of the upper class.
Quote 2
‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’ pg 56
Inspector embodies socialism
Shows how everyone is connected in a deep level, where society is the result of everyone’s
combined actions
‘We don’t live alone’— Priestley presents a moral duty to look after others. He suggests ignoring this is not only selfish, but also delusional
Quote 3
“If men do not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” (pg 56)
Can either be 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.
