Inspector Goole

• Inspector Goole is presented as a prophetic figure to warn the Birlings who are unwilling to change of possible consequences.
• "If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish."


  • Foreshadowing WW1 and WW2, which are event that happened and the audience, having just come out of WW2, helps increase the Inspectors credibility.

  • Hellish imagery:

  • Suggests punishment for those who will not learn that lesson.

  • Perhaps through uprising:

  • Socialist revolution, calling for power for local trade unions

  • Warning
• Sheila: "Why - you fool - he knows. Of course he knows."


  • "Of course":

  • Finality, elevates Goole

  • Using euphemistic language "he", cannot say his name, makes him appear more Godlike

  • "You fool":

  • Ridiculing those who do not believe in Goole

  • Mirrors those who ridicule others who do not follow their religion
• Priestley uses Inspector Goole as a mouthpiece for his socialist views
• "There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"


  • Use of everyman terminology to highlight importance

  • "Millions and millions:

  • Sheer number of people highlights the extreme minority the Birlings are in

  • Suggesting they have no real power when compared to the working class

  • Socialist principle - power of the people
• "All intertwined with our lives."

  "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other."


  • If people do not work together, society begins to fall apart

  • Symbolic of people in society

  • "We are members of one body":

  • Plural "we" -> singular "one":

  • We all need to work together to function as a body