Eric, Gerald and Shiela all realise and admit their wrong by the end of the play, unlike Arthur and Sybil Birling who stay disobedient till the end. They cannot admit their wrong and say what they did was ‘duty’ and right. Although they say they are right, they probably know they were wrong. This means that the goal for the inspector’s role was accomplished.
The inspector is shown as a mysterious character throughout the play. Firstly he does a surprising and sudden visit to the Birling’s home. A powerful sense of ‘massiveness’, ‘solidity’ and ‘purposefulness’ surrounds the atmosphere as he enters. He speaks in a very professional and cautious way, he very effectively intimidates the Birlings, making them feel more fear and more likely to confess. E.g. His habit of staring hard at a person before talking to them.
The inspector is in his mid-fifties and looks smart and respectful, this gives an impression that he is very professional. He interrupts the Birling’s dinner party right at the important part of their conversation, this shows that what the inspector is going to say or do is more important; this was probably did on purpose by the author. In the play, the inspector is described as ‘rude and asserted’ this suggests that the inspector is a very strong-minded person and is determined to get his job done.
Throughout the play Priestley very intelligently uses the inspector to symbolize his feelings towards society. E.g. ‘We don't live alone...members of one body...responsible for each other’ this is one of the major principles of socialism. Everyone is equal. You can see that the Inspector is a passionate socialist by the way the Inspector line of enquiry alters, it turns to a more personal line- as though he believes entirely in what he is saying.
During the play when Birling discovers a problem, his first priority is to reach for his chequebook. ‘I’ve got to cover this up’. Priestley is stirring up the audience, making them realise how some people really are. Money and power are privileges, not a weapon to ‘cover’ things up. The author uses this play as an example as how society shouldn’t be like.
The inspector has an efficiency of controlling the conversations throughout the play. For example when needed he speaks very coldly and sharply, ‘(Dryly) I don't play golf" and "Stop!’ Also words and phrases Priestley has used for the inspector such as "stop", "I don't want", "sharply" and "harshly" help to show this.
Throughout the play Priestley creates many different emotive atmospheres, for example ‘don’t yammer and stammer with me man!’ Priestley creates outrage in the audience, to stir up the emotions and to put aside the difference in classes.
If I were the director of this play the inspector would be a tall muscular man in his fourties. He would have many wrinkles on his forehead and cheeks. The eyebrows would be thick, his nose would be big and round and he would have a moustache. On his head would be a dark brown hat and he would be wearing a dull grey suit. He would always have a cigar in his mouth with a screwing (cross) facial expression.