This essay will explore the functions of inspector Goole in the play "An inspector calls" and the techniques uses to express the views of the playwright.
What is the function of Inspector Goole in J.B Priestley's 'An Inspector Calls'?
Introduction
This essay will explore the functions of inspector Goole and the techniques he uses.
This essay will explore the functions of inspector Goole in the play "An inspector calls" and the techniques uses to express the views of the playwright.
Tm he play "An inspector calls" was written at the end of world war two by J.B Priestley who was a socialist. The new labour government proposed a National Health Service. At the end of world war two women started getting more equal rights because during world war two, women did most of the work that men did, so they were accepted to do jobs because they did most of the work. The play was set in 1912 because J.B Priestley wanted the audience to support the socialist government so people could build a better future through social responsibility.
The inspector's character in the play is used to examine the lives of Birling family which is wealthy and find faults in the class system. This shows how all of the members are involved in the downfall of Eva Smith a young women who is treated unfairly and lack of social responsibility in the working class. Then eventually is driven to secede due to their selfish and arrogant attitudes.
The functions of inspector Goole are revealed in his physical appearance. The inspector Goole is described in the stage directions as
,"(...The inspector need not to be a big man but creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness, he speaks carefully ,weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person before actually speaking)",
The inspector is not bothered about the social class he is not intimidated and not afraid of the wealth and status of the family. This gives an impression of a powerful man, Inspector Goole use these techniques like closely examining them to get to the bottom of the situation.
Similarly the lighting changes when he arrives showing that the characters and their privileged ways of life is under scrutiny.
,"(...Inspector's arrival, lighting becomes 'brighter and harder'...), Priestley uses this way to create tension in the play for the Birling family and the audience. This makes the mood dramatically change.
The Inspector carries out an investigation like a ' whodunit ' by using certain techniques to interrogate the family. One of his techniques is questioning the characters one by one ,"... One person and one line of enquiry at a time...", Inspector Goole uses this technique to treat the Birling family as murder suspects, by questioning them one by one. He also does this because he wants to get to the bottom of the situation so it's quicker to question them one by one and so the inspector knows their role in Eva Smith's death and the audience understands the role also. By doing this he makes the Birlings feel uncomfortable and confused which also allows him to keep in control.
Inspector Goole is not concerned about the social class of the family Mr. Birling says," Perhaps I ought to warn you he's chief constable and good friend of mine and that I see him fairly frequently...", Mr. Birling is trying to threaten the inspector Goole by saying he knows the chief constable, but this don't bother Inspector Goole because he wants to get to the bottom of this situation and the inspector is not intimidated because of the Birling family's social status and wealth. J.B Priestley is trying to show that even the wealthy have to be accountable ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
Inspector Goole is not concerned about the social class of the family Mr. Birling says," Perhaps I ought to warn you he's chief constable and good friend of mine and that I see him fairly frequently...", Mr. Birling is trying to threaten the inspector Goole by saying he knows the chief constable, but this don't bother Inspector Goole because he wants to get to the bottom of this situation and the inspector is not intimidated because of the Birling family's social status and wealth. J.B Priestley is trying to show that even the wealthy have to be accountable for their actions.
Inspector Goole Interrupts the Birlings when they are having a conversation. ,"(Cutting through massively)", the inspector uses another of his techniques of cutting through when one of the members of the Birling family are speaking. He does this for discomfort and control over the family. He also does this for the Birling to face the reality. The Birlings are not very serous about the inspector but later on in the play some of the characters change. Normally the Birlings are treated with respect in society because they have a high status. The Inspector does not want any stories or excuses on the situation he wants to get to the bottom of the mystery. The inspector is trying to get a message across of social responsibility.
In the same way Inspector Goole uses emotive language to make the Birling family to face up to the truth and harsh reality of the situation ,"...Will be taught in fire and blood and anguish...",The inspector says this speak at the end of play. The inspector is trying to say that if the Birling families don't learn now sooner or later they will be taught and punished for the situation. The audience knows that they suffered in world war two later on.
J.B Priestley uses the inspector to represent an important message. The Inspector wants the Birling family to have social responsibility and wants then to take responsibility for their own action,"... It's time you learnt to face a few responsibilities...", J.B Priestley creates an awareness of social responsibility between different classes and wants the class boundaries to become less rigid .The Inspector is creating that awareness and making the class boundaries less rigid by getting across to the audience as well as the Birling family in the play he creates the awareness by using emotive language.
The inspector wants the Birling family to see the truth and reality and wants them to help other people in Eva Smith's position ,"...One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions of Eva Smith's and John Smith's still left with us , with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness...",
The inspector is the voice of social conscience in the play he is trying to say there was one Eva Smith who dead because of social responsibility but there are more Eva Smiths in the world that you can help.
Mr. Birling only cares about himself and his status and family so he turned Eva Smith out of her job without considering himself how she will survive. ,"...We were paying the usual rates and if they didn't like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else...",
Mr. Birling didn't want to raise the rates of labour because the money coming home would decrease because of high labour rates, so he said to Eva Smith and the other ring leaders that if you want to go some where else your free to go. So Eva Smith decided to leave but Mr. Birling didn't have any feeling for Eva Smith and just cared about his wealth and losing money because of his workers.
Mrs. Birling felt that she should decide who needs help and who 'deserves it' in her view. Mrs. Birling says ,"...I think it simply a piece of gross impertinence-quite deliberate-and naturally that was one of the things that prejudiced me against her case.", Mrs. Birling didn't except Eva's case because Eva called herself 'Mrs. Birling' so Mrs. Birling thought she did it deliberately, she didn't help her in anyway and just refused to help. Even thought Eva Smith was pregnant because of Mrs. Birling's son Eric Birling.
The inspector makes the family and the audience put themselves in Eva's shoes. Sheila says,"... I remember what he said how he looked, and what he made me feel. Fire and blood and anguish. And it frightens me the way you talk, and I can't listen to any more of it.",
Eric says," I agree with Sheila. It frightens me too",
The inspector has taught the youngsters a lesson but Mr. and Mrs. Birling don't care and don't think they will ever be put in Eva's shoes, but Sheila and Eric are frightened and don't want to be put in Eva Smith's shoes.
In the play the audience would have put themselves in Eva Smith's shoes if they were a high class audience because they would have understood if they were a little warm hearted like Sheila and Eric but if they were selfish and cruel like Mr. and Mrs. Birling they would have understood when they are punished.
In the play J.B Priestley uses Inspector Goole to create dramatic tension.
The inspector is a mysterious character in the play because of his name 'Goole'.
,"...Goole. G. double O-L-E", The Inspector draws attention to his name .By doing this he makes the characters in the play think about his name 'Goole' this can mean a ghost or a creature who is interested in death.
In the play Mr. Birling uses dramatic irony by this the audience already know Mr. Birling s views are wrong ,"...Why , a friend of mine went over his new liner last week-titanic-she sails next week-forty-six thousand eight hundred tons-New York in five days-and every luxury-and sinkable ,absolute unsinkable...", Mr. Birling says this in his capitalist speech but the audience now know that this was wrong what Mr. Birling said because the titanic did sink.
Similarly in act two the inspector lets Mrs. Birling trap herself when she demands that the father of Eva' child should be brought to justice. Mrs. Birling says,"...And if you'd take some steps to find this young man and then make sure that he's compelled to confession public his responsibility...", Mrs. Birling traps her own son and makes the inspectors work much easier even though Sheila knows what the inspector is going to do and she knows he is going to blame her brother Eric.
In the play the inspector accuses Mrs. Birling of lying because she doesn't recognise Eva Smith's picture, Mr. Birling outraged and is surprised as well because a police inspector like inspector Goole wouldn't ask questions to a high status family like the Birlings but Inspector Goole says he is only doing his duty.
The arrival of the inspector affects the views of the members of the family.
The inspector influences Sheila and Eric. Firstly Sheila at the beginning of the play she is self centered and immature
,"...You knew it was me all the time ,didn't you ?", in the quotations she is blaming herself of Eva Smiths death but later on in the play she realises social responsibility and is sorry for Eva's death and accepts her family is responsible for Eva's Death. Similarly Eric at the start Eric is childish and greedy boy he had no sense of responsibility because when he made Eva Smith pregnant. Later in the play he realises his responsibilities and thinks he is responsible for Eva's death. Priestley shows the only hope to a better future is the younger generation.
Turing to Mr. and Mrs. Birling they don't have a change after the inspector they are still selfish and care about their reputation .When inspector Goole leaves. Mr. Birling treats it as a joke,"...Nonsense you'll have a good laugh over it yet. Look, you'd better ask Gerald for that ring you gave back to him, hadn't you? Then you'll feel better", M r Birling doesn't care he says it's just a joke and get over it to Sheila. But after Gerald confesses to the inspector I don't think Sheila would like to marry him. Mr. Birling is just bothered about the crofts because they are a wealthy family and have a higher status then the Birlings.
Priestley shows how their views are damaging and difference between the younger and older generation. The audience is shocked at their attitudes.
The inspector is used by J.B Priestly to get a message from the future and warn both the characters and audience to take more care of each other if they don't start taking care of each other they will be great suffering.
"We are members of one body. We are responsible of each other. And I tell you that the time soon will come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Goodnight."
The inspector is the voice of J.B Priestley he is getting a message across to help the poor and needy who need help but people like the Birling families just are greedy and money to go high in status.
The inspector forces the audience and the characters to examine themselves.
"He was our police inspector all right."
Eric says this quote at the end of the play when the inspector leaves he is trying to say what the inspector wanted to say to the Birling family he got everything out of them. At the end of the play Eric and Sheila have faced their responsibilities but their parents have not changed at all. Mr. and Mrs. Birling are mostly bothered about their reputation in the social society.
We do not know if the inspector was a ghost or a real human because when he left a police inspector had rung and said he was on his way.
"That was the police. A girl has died- on her way to the infirmary -after swallowing some disinfectant. And the police inspector is on his way here- to ask some-questions."
In the play we don't know what he was but he had obviously come from the future like the ghost in the 'Christmas carol' he had taught some lessons and make Eric and Sheila face up to some social responsibility.
At the end of the play the audience are left unknown what is going to happen at the end because after the inspector goes the phone rings and Mr. Birling answers it he say there is another police inspector on his way.
Zanib Nasim 10D