Inspector analysis

• Analyse "I'm on duty"

  • means; refusing port offered by Mr Birling
  • alcohol connotations; Inspector is exempt from the immorality of corruption on society. Alcohol has connotations of unprofessionalism and immoral and unhealthy behaviours making the Inspector's refusal as symbolic of refusing to act corrupt and unethical.
  • cyclical structure; bribery through Mr Birling is rejected by Inspector multiple times throughout the play to demonstrate the consistency of Inspector's morals while simultaneously presenting Mr Birling as immoral and irresponsible.
  • motif of duty; moral lesson= significant
• "It's better to ask for the Earth than take it" analysis #1

  • means; Inspector is suggesting that it's socially thoughtless to be avaricious and 'take' things. This is a practice that the priviliged Birlings are used to.
  • metaphor; Inspector suggests that upper class has too much authority over working class and controlling aspects of their life that could potentially blemish and damage their lives. This could be targeted towards Mrs Birling denying Eva charity support while she was pregnant and vunerable.
• "It's better to ask for the Earth than take it" analysis #2

  • metaphor; relates to upper class who take from lower including time, money and work and this could relate to Mr Birling towards Eva by firing her as she 'asked' for a higher pay.
  • metaphor; this could also link to Eric taking money from his father to support Eva while she was pregnant when he could've asked him instead.
• "Don't stammer and yammer at me again, man. I'm losing all patience with you people" analysis

  • Means; Inspector is getting impatient with Mr Birling's interruption
  • Imperative; Ins shows a complete lack of respect for his social superior whom Priestley constructs to challenge the social class norms. Inspector is unbothered between power and class divisions. The lack of deference (respect) is also reinforced in the dismissive address of 'man' revealing his frustration to him.
  • Colloquial phrase 'stammer and yammer';  reflects the Inspector’s deep anger and disgust at the Birlings.
• Analyse #1 "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"

  • means; Eva is the reality of working class women
  • hyperbole; emphasises magnitude of people struggling
  • polysyndeton (repetition of and, and); further exaggerates amount of individuals who are marginalised (treated insignificantly) and exploited at the hands of ignorant capitalists.
  • microcosm; Eva Smith is a microcosm for the dehumanising treatment of the lower classes, reveals the size of suffering that ceaselessly goes on that is encouraged and permitted by upper class capitalist ideologies.
• Analyse #2 "There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"

  • names; common first and last names reveal how common the prejudice and magnitude of people that have been marginalised and abused by Birlings.
  • names; common names also reveal a personal sense to the audience as they most likely will know someone of the name so they can feel a personal association with the suffering of individual
• "We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other" analysis #1

  • means; we all live in the same society and it's our duty to help.
  • metaphor; promotes unity and community through the 3 declarative sentences which shows a sense of desperation but also how assertive the Inspector is to show he's certain.
  • Contrasts to Mr B's 'bees in a hive' quote.
  • Repetition of collective pronouns; reinforces collective responsibility.
• "We are all members of one body" analysis #2

  • 'Body'; limbs of body, cannot survive efficiently without it all suggesting upper and lower classes are crucial in making society and cannot function without each other which foreshadows the impending doom Birlings may face if they don't change their views on society.
• "..then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish" analysis

  • means; inspector is warning family that they must change their ways in a sense of urge and authority.
  • religious connotations; hellish, eternal punishments because of their wrongdoings and represents 7 deadly sins of pride, envy, wrath, sloth, avarice, gluttony and lust.
  • foreshadowing; foreshadows war, damages many innocent people's lives just like the Birlings have so war mirrors their actions. WW1= not changing from 1st Inspector and it foreshadows WW2 comes from not listening to the 2nd Inspector.
  • Morality play