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
Priestley continues to spread the message of socialism and the need for greater social responsibility as everybody’s lives are “intertwined”.
“Each of you helped to kill her, remember that never forget it.”
Despite none of the characters directly ending Eva’s life they have all had a part to play in her death and are therefore responsible for driving her to suicide.
“We are members of one body”
Priestley alludes to the Book of Genesis as “we are members of one body” is used in Holy Communion.
Therefore, through echoing the words of God, Priestley implies that the Inspector is speaking on God’s behalf.
“Yes, but you can’t. It’s too late he’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.
“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.
“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.
