Inspector

• it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it - A1


  Responsibility

  The Inspector utilises the syntax of "ask" before "take" to illustrate the hierarchy of necessities that must prevail for society to be collectively culpable: instead of taking for one's own advantage, as is the case with capitalism principles, we must "ask" and share.
• [cutting in, with authority] - A2

  Responsibility

  His stage directions are indicative of his power and affirmative nature as Priestley utilises him to showcase the serious and desperate need for responsibility. His intolerant and brutal demeanour is used by Priestley to ironically show how it is the upper- and middle-class members of society who require to come down harshly on these people (Mr Birling: Act 1) - Their wilful ignorance and oblivion can only be shattered with forcing them to face the bleakness of reality.
• as if she was an animal, a thing, not a person - A3


  Responsibility

  The degrading triple simile is used by the Priestley as the Inspector is his dramatic vehicle and his mouthpiece - uttering the views of Priestley himself about distributing responsibility. The beatific image on "an animal" highlights their blatant disregard of her humanity through their dehumanising and exploitative treatment of her. The neglectful noun “thing” intensifies how, as she belonged to a lower class, she was not regarded with any form of compassion as a living being.
• "If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish" - A3


  Responsibility

  Polysyndeton (repetition of 'and'): reflects the perpetual torment awaiting those who shirk (avoid) their moral and civic responsibilities

  • ALT, it may allude to the Second World War, "anguish," symbolises humanity's failure to learn from past mistakes, leading to further "blood and anguish".

  Biblical allusions: Inspector could be portrayed as an agent of God through the hellish allusions. He is trying to bring the Birling's back to the foundation of morality - religion.
• we are all members of one body - A3

  Responsibility

  He also directly relays the biblical teaching, used in baptism, that we are "members of his body" in Christ. This is parallel language to his lexis he uses. Thus, the inspector, alike to Jesus, promotes the union of society and togetherness- reinforcing his spreading of Christianity and its foundational teachings (especially in regards to responsibility).
• remember that, never forget it - A2


  Responsibility

  Alike to Jesus providing salvation for mankind, the Inspectors final speech can be seen as being the salvation for the Birlings - he reminds the Birlings that responsibility for others cannot be forgotten and that they should lead with compassion and benevolence.
• [sternly to both of them] - A2

  Gender

  His description of Eva's suicide and is affirmative and confrontational in addressing their abandonment of morals. He does not allow Sheila's docile expectations as a woman, nor Gerald's untouchable higher status, to prohibit him from harshly delivering the message of responsibility. In society, both would typically be exempt from serious responsibility for these

  reasons.
• [cutting through, massively]

  Socialism vs Capitalism

  The inspector, the embodiment of socialism, is presented as the antithesis and a foil to Mr Birling, the embodiment of capitalism When the Inspector arrives, Mr Birling's monologues are shortened through the Inspector's interruption, this breaks Mr Birling's egotistical dramatic monologue where he expresses his self-proclaimed omniscience that the "titanic is unsinkable”
• "It's better to ask for the earth than take it" - A1


  Socialism vs Capitalism

  The idea of to "take" connotes to "steal", an idea that is scorned in the bible as it is a mortal sin. As the Edwardian era was highly religious, the religious teachings would be seen as integral to society. Thus, capitalists ideals completely dismiss these teachings- socialism could be seen to be bringing society back to its moral foundations
• quite so - A1


  Guilt/Morality

  The Inspector's speech is short and concise such as "Quite so", yet his few words cause Mr Birling's speech to shorten. This suggests the Inspector has shifted the power balance, despite not being from an established social class, this elucidates that social status (symbolised through Mr Birling) is weak in the face of morality (symbolised by the Inspector)
• We often do on the young ones. They're more impressionable - A1


  Older v Younger gen

  The Inspector makes a mockery of Mr Birling here. He brands the younger generation as 'more impressionable', perhaps implying they're more gullible and malleable. This serves to later be ironic as the negative connotations of being 'impressionable' are positive traits in helping Sheila and Eric rid of their capitalist oblivion.
• plain darkish suit -A1

  Capitalism v Socialism

  Perhaps Priestley is implying that the Inspector has little desire to attract attention to himself; his objective is to promote socialist concepts while denouncing capitalism's commercialism and superficiality. This modest appearance contrasts starkly with Mr Birling, who is "heavy looking" and "portentous" and owns a "substantial" house. Through the disparity of these two individuals, Priestley illustrates that the Inspector's socialist beliefs outweigh Birlings' capitalist ones.
• A1 Key Words

  Omniscient

  Composed

  Unpeturbed

  Virtuous

  Objective

  Austere

  Enigmatic

  Mysterious

  Ambigous