Inspector Goole

• Who is Inspector Goole?

  • The driving force of good in a house of sinners.
  • A foil for Mr Birling - Their stark differences highlight the differences between capitalism and socialism.
  • A catalyst for change.
  • Antithesis for Birling to paint socialism in a favourable light.
• '[The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder]'

  • Indicative of the rose tinted glass the birling view their lives as they are sheltered by/ blinded by their upper middle class privellege.
  • The harsh light emmulates an interrogation room in whixh the Birlings will be scrutinised until secrets are exposed.
  • The stark contrast in lighting forshadows the change the inspector will bring with his presence and influence.
  • Bright light alludes to an angelic presence - Inspector is God's representative advocating for equality.
• '[We hear a sharp ring of a front doorbell. Birling stops to listen.]'

  • Inspector interrupts Birling's capitalist rant/speech in which he chastises the notion of 'community and all that nonsense.
  • Inspector's presence symbolises a contendor for capitalism as he is the first to challenge Birling.
  • The interruption represents the disruption of the capitalist ideology in the Birling household.
  • The adjective 'sharp' indicates that this will not be a pleasant encounter, the violent connotations emmulates the Inspector's arrival popping the Birling's ideological bubble and the war waged between
• '[The Inspector need not be a big man]' '[Dressed in a plain, darkish suit]'

  • Clothes do not portray class as he advocates for equality - a blank canvas to represent the lower class + more can identify with him.
  • Inspector does not need to dress lavishly as Mr Birling does to overcompensate for his insecurity and portray a facade of power.
  • Unlike Mr Birling, the Inspector's authority is not superficial.
  • The strength of his values are more important than his appearance.
  • Intensifies his natural built in power and presence.
• '[He at once creates an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness]' '[He speaks carefully, weightily]'

  • Immediately, the Inspector generates and intimidating atmosphere of authority, effortlessly evoking respect, unlike Mr Birling.
  • Contrasts to Mr Birlings constant fractured speech - indicates he is secure and assured in of hiss message -portrays socialism as a better alternative to capitalsim.
  • Lexical field of solidity - Inspector ia the moral bedrock on the which the play is built upon.
  • Connotation of sturdiness gives him a wall like resilience as he cannot be swayed + block
• 'It's better to ask for the earth than to take it.'

  • Hyperbolic metaphor - Indicative of Mr Birling's greed and how he takes very important things for his own benefit.
  • 'Eva's job = lifeline = earth.
  • Warning Mr Birling about his selfish attitude.
• 'Your duaghter is living on the roo. She's here in Brumley.'

  • Hyperbole highlights the absurdity of the parents attempting to shelter and infantalise sheila.
  • Inspector reminds the Birlings that they cnnot protect sheila from reality, vontrasting the social responsibility needed in the real World with the sheltered, ignorant fantasy of 'living on the moon'.
• What was the purpose of the inspector's monlogue?

  • To leave the audience with an everlasting impression of Priestley's message of socialism
  • As if the Inspector is a Pastor leading a sermon to spread the gospel of socialism and if the family does not take heed they will be condemned to hell for thir sins.
• 'There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths'


  • Repetion + Hyperbole to emphasise the vastness of suffering citizens, evoking sympathy.
• 'All intertwined with our lives' 'We are members of one body' 'We are responsible for each other'

  • Biblical Alllusion - Holy communion
  • Metaphor - suggests that all individuals are interconnected, emphasises the play’s central theme of social responsibility, highlighting the idea that neglecting or harming one part of society affects everyone.
  • Warning the Birlings that their actions have an impact e.g Chain of Events.
• 'They will be taught in fire blood and anguish'

  • Bbilical Allusion - Inspector warns that if there is no change, the family will be condemned to hell for internity.
  • The metaphor of "fire and blood and anguish" represents the catastrophic consequences of ignoring social responsibility, alluding to war and suffering.
  • This metaphor underscores the urgency of the Inspector's message and foreshadows the global conflicts and social unrest that could result from continued ignorance and inequality.