INSPECTOR GOOLE

• What does Inspector Goole represent?

  Serves as Priestly's mouthpiece for social responsibility, exposing the moral failings of the upper class and forcing the audience to reflect on their own complicity in systematic injustice
• Proxy

  A person who is authorised to act for another
• [pink and intimate] to [brighter and harder] THEMES

  Stage directions indicate the change in mood; interrogating

  RESPONSIBILITY
• [pink and intimate] to [brighter and harder] THEMES

  'Pink and intimate' illudes to a world of privilege and comfort, overlooking the harsh reality of their surroundings

  'Brighter and harder' Interrogating atmosphere that signifies the harsh realities of their actions uncovering their facade
• ''We are members of one body.'' TECHNIQUE

  Inclusive pronoun ''we''

  • Emphasises unity and shared humanity not only in the play but within the audience
  • Removes the divide of class, gender, etc
  • Contrasts Mr Birling's individualistic attitudes 'a man has to look after himself'
• ''We are members of one body.'' TECHNIQUE 2

  Metaphor

  • Compares society to one body
  • Just like organs that operate together to function, people in society must support and care for one another
• ''We are members of one body.'' CONTEXT

  • Draws appeal to Christian moral values - such as compassion , unity and care for the vulnerable
  • Christian church is described as the 'Body of Christ'
• ''We are members of one body.'' PRIESTLY'S INTENT

  In 1945, after WWII, this metaphor would strongly resonate with a population that had experienced collective sacrifice and was beginning to support social reforms like the NHS and welfare system.
• ''fire and bloody and anguish'' EXPLAIN


  • Not the tone of a police inspector but rather teaching a lesson
  • Acting as Priestly's mouthpiece to deliver a message
• ''fire and bloody and anguish'' CONTEXT

  • Biblical connotations of hell, evidence of the Inspectors omniscience
  • Refers to the battlefields of World War One which occurs 2 years after
• ''fire and bloody and anguish'' TECHNIQUE

  Syndetic list of violent nouns

  • Clear warning to the Birlings and to the audience that horror lies ahead of them unless they change their ways.
• ''Burnt her inside out, of course'' EXPLAIN

  Investigating an incident, Inspector Goole establishes the victim and the nature of her death
• ''Burnt her inside out, of course'' TECHNIQUE

  Graphic vocabulary

  • Distinguishes the brutality of the death, alluding the audience to wonder who the culprits are
• ''one line of inquiry at a time''

  Controls the pace of the story by interviewing one person at a time to truly digest. He is a dramatic device used by Priestley to expose the crimes of Birlings and the Crofts in a methodical, ruthlessly efficient manner.
• ''Don't stammer and yammer at me, man. I'm losing all patience with you people'' TECHNIQUE

  He shows a complete lack of respect for his social superior, Mr Birling, through his use of the imperatives. This lack of deference (respect) is also seen in the dismissive address of 'man'.
• ''Don't stammer and yammer at me, man. I'm losing all patience with you people'' TECHNIQUE 2

  The colloquial phrase ‘stammer and yammer’ reflects the Inspector’s deep anger and disgust at the Birlings. This use of North-Eastern dialect helps create a sense of a real person.