The Inspector comes to the Birling house interrogating them about the death of a girl. He speaks to them one at a time and shows them a photograph of Eva Smith the girl who has committed suicide. He comes with the intension of making the Birlings aware of their mistakes and wants to teach them a lesson, However once again we get to see the difference in opinion between the two generations when Eric and Shiela regret what they’ve done but Mr and Mrs Birling do not want to be held responsible for anything that has happened as Mr Birling states ‘I can’t accept any responsibility.’ Inspector Goole's name is an obvious pun on 'ghoul' a spirit or a ghost. The name makes him sound ghostly and he seems very confident when he speaks. When he walks in the room he isn't a big man but made to seem big "he creates an impression of massiveness and purposefulness." So we know that he has come for a specific reason. He doesn’t neccesseraly want them to feel guilty but wants to make them aware of their responsibilites as a part of society.
I believe the two people with the most interesting reactions are Mr Birling and Sheila. Priestley presents the character of Sheila in such a way that we sympathise with her more than her father. Mr Birling and Sheila react differently as she is morally sound than her father, she points out that ‘these girls are no cheap labour they’re people’ this clearly shows her views are not similar to her fathers. Later on when she realises that she has also played a part in Eva’s death she is distressed and admits she is wrong ‘so I’m really responsible?’ Sheila is very regretful and learns from her mistakes she immediately becomes more likeable and seems less at fault. Whereas Mr Birling is not willing to take any responsibility towards others ‘A man should look out for himself, and his family if he has one’ or even Eva’s death. He represents the older people, perhaps Priestley is implying that he believes older people are less likely to change their views, as they’re more set in their ways than younger generations.
The setting of the scene in Act one when the inspector comes is a very detailed naturalstic setting. The family are celebrating a special occasion and are pleased with themselves. The inspector causes major tension in the house and changes the mood of the scene. J.B Priestley uses the inspecor as a spokesperson to get his own views across to the audience that we shouldn’t all ‘Look out for our own’ which is how Birling describes it. The Inspector’s aim in the play is to change the thoughts and opinions of the Birling family and the audience viewing. One of the ways he attempts to do this is by questioning each one of the Birling’s in turn. Priestley wants the audience to think about the issues of socialism.
The playwright uses a variety of different dramatic devices to influence the audience. At the start of the play the stage lighting is meant to be pink and intimate to show the cosy mood, however when the Inspector comes the light becomes harsh and white this reveals all the pretences world revolving around the Birling’s. Dramatic irony is also used in many ways as a dramatic device. It is used to promote the Inspector yet mock Mr Birling. In Mr Birling's speech at the beginning of the play, he proudly states that ‘as a hard-headed businessman’ he thinks that ‘there isn't a chance of war’ and that the Titanic is ‘absolutely unsinkable’. With the play being after two world wars and the sinking of the Titanic, Priestley makes the audience think that Birling is a fool. Whereas the Inspector, who states in his final speech that "they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish" indicating that there will be a war, is elevated by the use of dramatic irony. This makes the audience believe the socialist views of the Inspector instead of the 'foolish' views of Mr Birling. Birling makes a speech about how "a man has to make his own way" and how "a man has to mind his own business and look after himself" Priestley uses this opposition in order to dishonour capitalism and promote socialism.
Priestley conveys a message to us about how we must be more aware of our actions and take responsibility over them. The audience feel shock, regret and guilt for the Birling family who have in some way or another been responsible for a girls death. Knowingly and some unknowingly they made mistakes however the younger generation seem to learn frm their mistakes whereas the older generation just deny any responisiblity and regret nothing. Priestley also emphasises the difference between the upper and lower classes very strongly throughout the play. He uses the Birling family as a representative of the Upper Class and Eva Smith as a representative of the Lower Class. Priestley shows how in 1912, Upper Class citizens, such as the Birling’s had no respect for Lower Class citizens. He uses this class divide to convey his message and to show that the rigidity of the class system is incompatible with his views on community and responsibility. We are taught the moral values of life and the beliefs and motivations of Priestley serve as a message for social change, in the end the audience is conscious of the advantages of Socialism over Capitalism. At the end of Act 1 we know that there is a lot be revealed yet and there is a big mystery behind the death of Eva Smith’s death. Sheila realises the motive behind the inspector calling however Mr Birling doesn’t or rather he doesn’t want to ‘there’s nothing mysterious- or scandalous about this business.’