When the Inspector first enters he is described as having 'massiveness, solidity and purposefulness' (p.11); this symbolises how he is an unstoppable force within the play. His 'disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before speaking' (p.11) gives the impression that he looks deep beneath the surface impression of people, and maybe can see into their real thoughts and feelings.
The Inspector arrives just after Birling has been talking of his views on life and how each person must look after only themselves and their family. The inspectors role is to contradict this and throughout the play tries to prove to the family that everyone is a “member of one body”
Goole manages to make each character to confess to their actions, which helped lead to the death of Eva Smith. Each person also takes a punishment bought about by his or her own revelations. Birling fears for his family's reputation and a public scandal. Sheila feels shame and guilt for her selfishness. Gerald has his affair revealed in front of Sheila. Mrs Birling has her illusions about the respectability and innocence of her family shattered by Eric; and Eric is revealed before his indulgent parents as an alcoholic spoilt young man willing to steal from them.
The inspector is more concerned with what is right and wrong rather than with what is illegal.
Inspector: “But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone-but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do… We are responsible for each other... if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.”
He walks straight out, leaving them staring subdued and wondering. Sheila is still crying and Mrs Birling has collapsed into a chair. This speech would have been very powerful to the audience watching at the time it was produced. They were recovering from the 2nd World War and the Inspector is implying that people have not learnt anything from it. It is through this last speech that the Inspector comes across as an embodiment of conscience most strongly. The way he speaks is as if he knows what is to come.
In conclusion I think that the Inspector is as real as every one else in the play but I think that he represents a conscience of justice and truth and is a form of angel or ghost or something similar.
