An Inspector Calls: examination of Inspector Goole

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An Inspector Calls: examination of Inspector Goole

After watching and reading ‘an inspector calls’, it is clear to anyone that the inspector is a very special and unusual character. Throughout the play the he questions all of the Birling family and Gerald Croft trying to make them confess the horrible things they have done and making some of them regret their deeds. This shows that J.B priestly represents him as a ‘collective conscience.’

‘Goole’ the name of the inspector, gives us a clue that the writer intended for him to be thought of as a spirit or ghost (Goole resembling the word ghoul which means an evil spirit.). The inspector is used as a representative of justice, his only purpose is to make the Birling family and Gerald Croft confess their wrong doings and make them feel sorrow for the events that happened. The inspector tries to show them what’s wrong and make them reflect on it so they don’t make the same mistakes again.

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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 ...

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