The Inspector

• Socialism


  Values such as sharing, equality, community/the greater social good, and cooperation
• Priestley proposes that people should aim to fulfill the values of Socialism in all their actions, ensuring they are looking out for their community
• Inspector


  Priestley's mouthpiece to show the importance of universal responsibility in protecting the vulnerable and benefiting everyone
• Priestley uses the Inspector to show that the values of Socialism can be applied outside of economic theory
• The Inspector


  Teaches the family to split responsibility between them
• The Inspector understands that the Shared blame...


  will make the guilt easier to bear
• The Inspector tells sheila: '"You're partly to blame. Just as your father is,"'
• The Inspector holds Sheila responsible...


  ...Without pardoning Mr Birling of his role in Eva's death
• This introduces the idea of shared blame
• The Inspector tells them: "We have to share something. If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt" (Act 2, pg 29),


  -Demonstrating how sharing responsibility brings communities together and comforts people.

  -The longing to "share" and reference to "guilt" may be an allusion to the two World Wars, suggesting social responsibility will help the country recover.

  -Through this, Priestley presents the Inspector as compassionate and

  understanding, encouraging his audience to side with him.
• Taking responsibility

  • The Inspector's teachings of shared responsibility criticise the laissez-faire government that was in power in 1912.
• • Mrs Birling believes it wasn't her responsibility to help Eva because she wasn't the father of the child.
  • But the Inspector tells her, "That doesn't make it any the less yours. She came to you for help," (Act 2, pg 45).
• People should take responsibility for others regardless of their own involvement.
• Priestley suggests failing to offer support is itself an act of cruelty.
• Those who are capable of giving help have a responsibility to do so. This includes the government's responsibility to set up a Welfare State.
• Throughout the play we see the Birlings, particularly the parents, blame Eva Smith for getting herself into trouble and killing herself.
• Their prejudices lead them to believe she was foolish and self-destructive. Her suicide is a symbol for the way the lower classes were blamed for their own suffering.
• > The Inspector's declaration that, "This girl killed herself - and died a horrible

  death. But each of you helped to kill her," (Act 3, pg 55) contradicts this culture

  of scapegoating.
• > Just because they didn't personally make Eva drink disinfectant, it doesn't mean

  they are innocent in her death. Priestley wants the authorities to confront their own

  culpability in the poverty and suffering of the lower classes.
• Sense of duty

  • Priestley contrasts the parents' view of duty with the Inspector's. Because Mr Birling feels a duty to himself and his business, and Mrs Birling is hypocritical, Priestley implies their sense of duty is empty of meaning.
• Sense of duty

  • The Inspector takes his role in society seriously and successfully fulfills his duty of care to others.
  • His first action is to decline Mr Birling's offer of alcohol because he is "on duty" (Act 1, pg 11),
  • Priestley establishes a distinction between the Birlings and the Inspector.
  • The Birlings are unconcerned by rules, whereas the Inspector is strict and mindful.
• The Birlings are unconcerned by rules, whereas the Inspector is strict and mindful.


  • The Birlings protest to his "manner", he asks, "Apologise for what - doing my duty?", (Act 2, pg 41),
  • he overstays his welcome so that he can wait for Eric's return and "do [his] duty" (Act 2, pg 49).
  • He is dedicated to his job, even when it is controversial. This is the ideal of duty that Priestley supports.
  • He shows that people should be loyal to others and do what is right even if it means going against authority.