Inspector Goole

• Priestley uses the Inspector as a vehicle to catalyse change in perception to social responsibility. He encourages the younger generation to break away from the older, more traditional and individualistic generation.
• The Inspector's omniscience forces the Birlings & Gerald to recognise the immorality of their actions and change their attitudes towards social responsibility.
• [pink and intimate...brighter and harder]

  • Idiom → 'rose-tinted glasses' - symbolic of the upper class' ignorance to society. The Birling's are lavishing in their lifestyle & privilege, separated from the struggles of the working class. They live in blissful ignorance, blind to societies woes - lacking in social conscience.
  • Change to an interrogative atmosphere - forceful & impactful.
  • Light is a symbol of realisation. The Inspector comes and shines a light on each of their indiscretions
• [massiveness, solidity and purposefulness]

  • The Inspector is assertive without being physically or verbally intimidating. His knowledge is what makes him powerful, not his physique.
  • Mr Birling was the most dominant figure in the house until Inspector Goole arrived and immediately asserted his dominance. Symbolic of Priestley's view that socialism should overpower capitalism (as Mr B is the epitome of capitalism)
  • The Inspector is Priestley's mouthpiece - deeply set morals that are immovable - contradicts the chaos and fragility of the family.
• "We are members of one body"

  • Allusion to the Book of Genesis - through echoing the words of God, Priestley implies that the Inspector is speaking on God's behalf
  • "Body" is symbolic of society
  • Creates a sense that everyone belongs and has an equal place - hinting that society is dysfunctional because of the lack of communication and togetherness
• "Better to ask for the Earth than to take it"


  • Symbolic of how the upper class systematically strips the working class of their rights