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• The Inspectors powerful message of Socialism regarding distributing responsibility catalyses a profound change in both malleable members of the younger generation, Sheila and Eric. Once the Inspector leaves the Birling household, both Sheila and Eric emulate his mannerisms and views by attempting to hold their parents accountable for their injurious actions.
• The Inspector serves as a moral agent of God within the play. His prophetic and omniscient nature is utilised by Priestley to emphasise how Capitalism has caused a digression from the foundation of religion. Thus, he uses the Inspector, the mouthpiece of Socialism, to try and provide salvation and redemption for the Birlings.
• The Inspector directly indicts the Birlings in his final phrase 'if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. The use of polysyndetic listing highlights the perpetual torment awaiting those who avoid their moral and civic responsibilities, like Mrs. Birling. The Inspectors prophetic and omniscient presentation imbues this message with heightened gravity and significance.
• Additionally, it may allude to the Second World War, as Priestley utilises the Inspector as his mouthpiece to utter the word 'anguish', this symbolises humanity's failure to learn from past mistakes, leading to further 'fire and blood'.
• The phrase 'fire and blood and anguish' have biblical illusions to hell. This the Inspector could be portrayed as an agent of God who is trying to bring the Birlings back to the foundation of morality. The Birlings, a microcosm of the upper class, will suffer if they do not accept the Socialist message. Perhaps Priestley is calling for a social revolution.
• The Inspectors soliloquy embodies a semantic field of religion, specifically in 'We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other'. The use of anaphora of 'we' encapsulates that we are all one collective, and urges the reader to take social responsibility and how we are all united together, alike the parallel of Eva and Sheila being 'pretty.
• Alike to Jesus, the Inspector promotes the union of society and togetherness, reinforcing his spreading of Christianity and its foundational teachings. The singular image of 'one' serves as a poignant reminder of the profound interconnectedness that binds humanity together. He teachers the Birling's to recognise and fulfil their duty to care for their community and members of society.
• Marxist theorists may argue that the Inspector hints at social revolution when he speaks of 'fire and blood and anguish' if the bourgeoisie do not change their behaviour.