The Inspector

• Birling: "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own".. ring of doorbell

  • dramatic device
  • arrives at a critical time
  • interrupts Birling and his selfish views
• Inspector: "we don't live alone. we are members of one body. we are responsible for each other "

  • meaning we aren't isolated, obliged to care for others
  • repetition of "we" shows the the inspector is highlights we are a community
  • inspector= utopian idealist who believes in personal improvement
  • division- (inspector uses 'we')(Birlings use 'I')
• Inspector description: "an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness"

  • immediately takes charge
  • remains in control
• Inspector: "One person and one line of inquiry at a time"
• Inspector: "it's better to ask for the Earth than to take it"
• Inspector: "Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as priviledges"
• Inspector: "Each of you helped to kill her"
• Lighting:

  Before- "lighting should be pink and intimate"

  After- "lighting should be brighter and harder"

  • dramatic device
• Inspector "If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish"

  • foreshadows suffering of 2 world wars
  • biblical imagery- gives spiritual dimension