INSPECTOR

• Priestley's omniscient presentation of the Inspector makes him appear enigmatic and ambiguous. This compounds the immense power of his moral messages as he does not acquire respect through his known social status, instead he acquires power and respect through his composure and omniscience.
• The Inspector acts as a foil to Mr Birling, the embodiment of capitalism, as he is intolerant to Mr Birling's superciliousness and pompous nature. Most significantly, the Inspector is not preoccupied with social status and ranking, what Mr Birling defines a person by, thus remains focused on the unscrupulousness of the Birlings' opposed to being clouded by their social stature.
• The Inspector is affirmative when propagating the message of socialism as the upper class members of society are so wilfully ignorant and resistant to their desperate need for change- the Inspector's brutal awakening and shattering of their [pink and intimate] setting is used by Priestley to highlight how upper classes need to be forced to recognise the need for socialism within their lives.
• The Inspector is used by Priestley to highlight the stagnancy and obstinance of the Birling's that have been indoctrinated by capitalism. He uses the Inspector's ability to catalyse a change to exacerbate their reluctance to embark on their own reformation- the Inspector serves as a moral example to the audience, thus reinforcing that socialism is a moral example for society
• Priestley utlises the Inspector as dramatic vehicle to carry his compelling political message of socialism. By utilising him as his mouthpiece, it allows Priestley to directly indict the inhumane, dehumanising. and exploitative nature of capitalists.
• • The lnspector 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 O digression from the foundations of religion. Thus, he uses the Inspector, the embodiment of socialism, to try and provide salvation and redemption for the Birlings
• The Inspector's 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