The Inspector Flashcards
Authority
1) Whatever Goole is, his unsettling presence might just be down to confidence. He knows how to create an air of uncertainty and reel everyone in.
2) He makes sure everyone recognises that he’s
2) He makes sure everyone recognises that he’s in charge.
3) He takes control and leads the events. They’re confused, but Goole never is.
4) He “massively” interrupts which means that he cuts into the dialogue “with authority”, e.g. when he tells Birling that Eric can “wait his turn”.
5) His authority makes people take him more seriously and makes everything he says sound more important.
Priestly uses the inspector as a mouthpiece
1) The Inspector stands outside the class system of the Birlings’ social world - he is an outsider in the play.
2) But he doesn’t take a neutral position — he’s on Eva/Daisy’s side, and he tells the Birlings what he thinks of them.
3) Priestley’s own views are reflected in the opinions of the Inspector. You could say that the Inspector is Priestley’s ‘mouthpiece’ - Priestley’s voice in the play.
This is most clear during the Inspector’s final speech. He’s speaking to the Birling family, but it could also be Priestley’s speech direct to the play’s audience.
5) The play (and Priestley) has a strong message about looking after one another, and it’s the Inspector’s job to deliver it.
The inspector is classless
1) The Inspector seems to come from outside the class system that the Birlings live in. This makes him ‘classless
2) The Inspector doesn’t recognise any of the Birlings’ ideas about class. He treats everyone the same.
3) Instead, he says that “We are members of one body” so classes shouldn’t ignore each other’s needs.
Inspector goole is…
Moral: “We don’t live alone. We are member ol
Authoritative: “All in good time”
Mysterious: “Was it a hoax?”
An outsider: “The rude way he spoke to Mr Birling and me — it was quite extraordinary!”
“Their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness all our wined with
The listing of “hopes and fears,” “suffering,” and “chance of happiness” shows that working-class people like Eva Smith have real, complex emotions, just like the upper-class Birlings. It challenges the idea that the poor are somehow less human or less important.
The word “intertwined” is crucial — it suggests that our lives are linked, and what we do has an effect on others, whether we realise it or not. This reflects Priestley’s belief in socialism and the idea that we are responsible for one another.
This line also contrasts with the individualistic mindset of Mr. Birling, who claims “a man has to make his own way.” The Inspector rejects that, encouraging empathy and moral duty.
“Each of you helped to kill her, remember that never forget it.”
The direct address — “each of you” — makes it personal and accusatory. The Inspector doesn’t allow the Birlings (or the audience) to distance themselves from Eva Smith’s death. The verb “helped to kill” is blunt and emotionally charged, forcing the characters to confront the serious consequences of their selfish actions.
The repetition of “remember that. Never forget it.” gives the line a commanding, almost haunting tone — it’s not just a lesson for the characters, but for the audience, too. Priestley wants viewers to carry this message beyond the p
“We are members of one body”
The metaphor of being “one body” suggests unity, equality, and collective responsibility. It opposes the individualism and capitalism of Mr. Birling, who believes “a man has to make his own way.”
The Inspector is saying that no one can live completely independently; our actions affect others, especially those who are vulnerable like Eva Smith.
This line also has religious connotations — in Christianity, the idea of being “one body” reflects a moral duty to love and care for others. This gives the line emotional and ethical weight, making it feel like a final judgement.
“Yes, but you can’t. It’s too late she’s dead.
Here , Priestley uses short sentences and a terse triplet of expressions to convey an impactful message anc express the need for radical change.
highlights the finality of Eva Smith’s death and the inability to undo the harm caused by the Birlings and Gerald’s actions. It also underscores the Inspector’s unwavering pursuit of accountability, emphasizing that even wealthy and privileged individuals cannot escape moral responsibility for their actions, regardless of their social standing.
“Burnt her inside out, of course”
Priestley uses shocking imagery in an attempt to persuade the characters to change as he frequently refers to Eva’s death as “burnt her inside out.
• Destruction: “Burnt” also carries connotations of something being destroyed or annihilated. This could symbolize how Eva’s life has been destroyed—not just physically, but also emotionally and socially—by the actions of the characters. • Irreversibility: Fire is often associated with irreversible damage; once something is burnt, it cannot be undone. This links to the themes of irreversible consequences and guilt in the play. Once Eva’s life has been “burnt” by the actions of the characters, there’s no way to undo the harm they’ve caused.
“If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”
Therefore, the threat of “fire blood and anguish” could be the Inspector warning both the characters and the audience of the religious consequences for neglecting their duty of social responsibility. The religious connotation of
“fire” is hell and therefore the punishment for not following the message of both Christianity and socialism to love thy neighbour.
