How Does Priestley Present The Inspector In An Inspector Calls

This is evident in “We are responsible for each other.” The inspector implies that everyone is responsible for one another, utterly contradicting Mr. Birling’s speech before he came in. The inspector is the most conflicting character in the entire play as he stands cool and hard before the Birlings and the audience and unveils the consequences of their actions on those below them. The dramatic irony reinforces that the inspector is in fact voicing Priestley’s message out, therefore emphasizing the effect. Furthermore, the inspector is presented as the figure of authority in the play. This is reinforced in "massively taking charge as dispute erupts between them." He is the only character that calms down the household when an argument breaks. He also expresses no interest towards Mr. birling’s authoritative friends and disregards his threats. The stage directions reinforce that when capitalism destroys everything, socialism is the only answer. Both contemporary and modern audience is left in a conflicting situation as he creates conflict in the play between other

he a question he will now answer it, he will just ask a question back.

In this essay, I am going to discuss how the character Eva Smith in the play An Inspector Calls by JB Priestley is treated in the play and the relation of this to the socialist views of the playwright. I will look at the historical context of when the play was written and when it was set, describe what happens to Eva Smith throughout the play and then link this to a socialist viewpoint.

Social responsibility is one of the main themes in ‘An Inspector Calls’ play. J.B. Priestly wrote the play in 1945, but set it in 1912, at the time when there was a strong class division within the society which affected attitudes towards social responsibility. Priestly portrayed this in his play through different characters and differences between lower and upper classes as well as the younger and the older generation in the play. Priestley and the character from the play, Inspector, were in favour of socialism while in contrast, Mr Birling represents capitalism which affects his sense of responsibility.

In 1944 the play ‘An inspector calls’ was created and was set in 1912. During this time period men were noted to be superior to women, as they represented the family as their last name would be the family’s surname. Priestly explains the idea of inequality in the play ‘an inspector calls’ through social statuses and classes. The head of the family Mr Birling, has a bourgeoisie-like attitude meaning that he is of a high status and most presumably right wing. Inequality is shown when Eva Smith and her work mates ask for a pay rise, Mr Birling rejects as he does not want increase their wage even though he can afford to do so as the cut will not intervene with him financially, in fact Arthur Birling feels the need to repress the workers of his company otherwise he believes they will develop class consciousness and become greedy and they would soon be ‘asking for the earth’, and in the theory of Marxism they would be classed as proletariat, which was theorised by Karl Marx.

The moral of the play is that everyone is part of a community, and everyone is responsible for each other, it does not matter whether they are lower class or upper class (‘[W]e don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.’). Priestley believed in socialism, he uses the Inspector to express his thoughts about this. This is the main message that he wanted the audience to take away.

Priestley’s Main Aim in An Inspector Calls JB Priestly wrote ‘An Inspector Calls’ to enhance the message that ‘we don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’. This is something Priestly felt strongly about and he succeeded in representing his views through the character of the Inspector in the play itself.

command at the end of Act I and the start of Act 2, and the end of Act

For instance, it is as if he is waiting for everyone to confess to his

this is his role in the events of the play. This, and the fact that

By constructing the Inspector as just and omniscient, Priestley encourages the audience to view left-wing values as morally virtuous. Through the Inspector's authority, commanding presence and stature Priestley makes a direct jab at the audience with the Inspector's last

see that this is true by looking at his speech and at the manner in

In the play 'An Inspector Calls', many contrasts and paradox's are present and at the centre of them all is the character known as Inspector Goole. However, the inspector is not any ordinary inspector. I believe that the inspector is used as a device by Priestley to explore the wider themes of the play and to depict other characters true personalities. This essay will explore some of the techniques Priestley presents the inspector in An Inspector Calls.

The inspector right from the moment he is introduced is commanding of the situation and already has that authority he displays later on in the play. “at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”. As the play progresses the inspector continues to make this impression on the family by his interrogations and speeches. The inspector does this by keeping composed

The Inspector is presented in slightly different ways depending on which character he is focusing on. When Mrs Birling continues to lie and deny what she does, the Inspector is a lot harsher and has no empathy towards her whereas for Sheila and Eric he was a lot more calm and patient knowing that they won’t lie and will give in. This suggests the inspector treats you the way you treat him, This shows that the Inspector is fair and just.For example, he knows Eric “needs”a drink despite Birling attempting to stop