Inspector Goole

• "it's better to ask for the earth than to take it."


  syntax (word order) of "Ask" being before "take" shows Priestley's socialist ideology that we must help others and share resources than to take advantage of others for personal gain. It represents the importance of social responsibility rather than greed and continuing the cycle of discrimination and poverty.

  "take" has connotations of theft in the bible which was seen as one of the ultimate sins. Pristley uses this to show how capitalism takes individuals away from religion and makes peopl commit sins therefore socialism is better as it unites people.
• "We are members of one body, we are responsible for each other."


  Priestley creates a biblical allusion as used in baptism that we are "members of his body" in Christ. Through this Priestley reinstates the foundational teachings of christianity and morality and therfore socialism too. Alike to jesus providing salvation for mankind it can be thought to as the inspector providing salvation for the birling family and therefpre it can be seen as socialism is the only chance of salvation socity has.

  The singular image of "one" serves as a constant reminder of the belief that socialism connects evryone together. Also how there are organs and cells which make up the whole body asnd if these did not all work together we would simply perish just as society is with the capitalist ideology manipulating and corrupting minds.
• "As if she were an animal, a thing, not a person."


  The beastly image of "Beastly" symbolises the dehumanising treatment that individuals at the bottom of the social hierarchy have to face such as innocent people like Eva smith.

  The listing represents the countless amounts of marginalisation and exploitation she had to endure because of those with more power like Mr Birling. Priestley trurns the inspector into his mouthpiece to vocalise his own disgust to hoiw women were exploited and objectified
• "If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish."


  The repetition of "and" highlights the torment for those who shirk from their responsibilities as well as those who free themselves from any guilt. The Inspector's omniscient presentation further intensifies and heightens the seriousness of the situation.

  "fire and blood and anguish" creates a semantic field for hellish imagery which acts as a warning for the highly religious audience at the time that if people falter to change for the better and don't undergo this metamorphosis from capitalism to socialism then they will have to go to hell.
• "Public men Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privilleges"


  The synatx with "responsibilities" being placed before "privilleges" reflect Priestley's socialist views as our duties and moral responsibilities to help others in society should always be prioritised before our personal gain and exploitation of resources.
• Inspector Goole


  The inspector's name 'Goole' os a homonym of the word ghoul which signifies that the inspector represents an omniscient supernatural spirit. This could symbolise a spirit of god due to the fact that he is omniscient and is seen to be dispersing the fundamnetal values of Christianity throughout the play to represent socialism. Alternatively, this could also represent a supernatural spirit to make the audience fear the consequences of their sinful actions as the omniscient inspector foreshadows a dwindling future in the quote "fire and blood and anguish".