Inspector Goole

    Cards (98)

    • The Inspector
      • Dressed in a minimal "plain darkish suit"
      • Seems to be an ordinary police Inspector
      • Supernatural nature becomes apparent as the play progresses
      • Priestley leaves the Inspector's physical appearance as vague and unimportant due to his message of social responsibility being more important
    • Avenging angel
      A spiritual moral force for good
    • Socialist values and ideology

      Channelled through the Inspector
    • The Inspector
      Catalyses change in perceptions of responsibility and encourages the younger generation to break away from the older, more traditional and individualistic generation
    • The Inspector
      • Opposed to and exempt from the immorality and corruption of society
      • More akin to a moral policeman than a regular police Inspector
    • The Inspector
      Refuses a drink of port, symbolising his refusal to act immorally
    • The Inspector
      Rejects Mr Birling's attempt at bribery, demonstrating the consistency of his morals
    • Rational
      (in classical economic theory) able to consider the outcome of choices and recognise the net benefits
    • Rationality in classical economic theory is a flawed assumption as people usually don't act rationally
    • The Inspector's views
      • Too progressive for the pre-suffrage 1912 society, more aligned with the contemporary audience
    • The Inspector
      Sees Eva as an individual, not just a "girl" due to her lower social status
    • The Inspector's morality
      Due to his awareness of social responsibility and the impact of individuals' actions on society
    • Omniscience
      The supernatural element to the Inspector's character, as he appears to have all-knowing powers
    • The Inspector's physical appearance

      • Modest, in a "plain darkish suit", suggesting he has no interest in attracting attention to himself, only in promoting socialist values
    • The Inspector
      In direct contrast with the heavy, portentous appearance of Mr Birling, demonstrating the strength of the Inspector's socialist values
    • Priestley utilises the Inspector's final speech to warn the audience of the consequences of continuing in a capitalist and individualistic fashion
    • The structure of the play
      Mirrors the two world wars, with the Inspector's arrival representing WWI and the phone call at the end representing WWII
    • Priestley suggests the world wars were a direct result of humanity not heeding the need for greater social responsibility
    • The Inspector
      Used as a mouthpiece to present Priestley's views on the need for socialist change
    • The Inspector's departure

      Tests the characters to see if they have learned their lesson, mirroring the interwar years between WWI and WWII
    • Omniscient, yet not omnipotent
      The Inspector is all-knowing but not all-powerful, as Priestley's message would be less effective if the Inspector forced the characters to change
    • The Inspector
      Portrayed as an agent of God, with similarities to the Judeo-Christian God in terms of omniscience and moral authority
    • The Inspector
      Presented as the antithesis to Mr Birling, allowing Priestley to portray socialism as a favourable alternative to capitalism
    • The Inspector
      Has the greatest impression on Sheila, who becomes symbolic of Priestley's intended audience response
    • The Inspector
      Exposes the hypocrisy of the upper-classes and their determination to avoid responsibility, as seen with Gerald's fabrication
    • The Inspector
      Causes Mrs Birling to make vain attempts to halt the inquiry, demonstrating her desire to avoid responsibility
    • Exposure of Gerald
    • The Inspector
      • Causes the hypocrisy of the upper-classes to be revealed
      • Exposes the upper-class for shunning responsibility
    • Gerald, despite knowing that Eva Smith is indeed the same girl that was wronged by all the characters, suggests that they were in fact different girls
    • Gerald validates Sheila's story as Eva "said something about the shop too" and also had to leave Mr Birling's employment "after a strike"
    • Gerald knows, beyond reasonable doubt, that Eva is indeed the same girl
    • Gerald fabricates the claim that Eva is not the same girl to partially excuse his responsibility for her ultimate suicide
    • Priestley uses the character of the Inspector to condemn the upper-classes' lack of responsibility and determination to avoid it
    • Mrs Birling's vain attempts to halt inquiry
    • The Inspector's accusing tone causes Mrs Birling to condemn Sheila for expressing empathy towards Eva and the guilt that she feels for her role in her suicide
    • Mrs Birling silences Sheila as "your behaving like a hysterical child", right after she expresses how responsible she feels for Eva's death
    • Mrs Birling refers to the disorder hysteria, which was essentially constructed by the patriarchy to oppress women and prevent them from gaining positions of power
    • Mrs Birling uses this against her own daughter in an attempt to dismiss her views, which are becoming aligned with the Inspector's progressive view of socialism
    • Supporting Eric
    • Priestley ensures that Eric is portrayed as redeemable and that the Inspector reveals his capacity to change
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