The first time when inspector Goole enters he creates suspense. Firstly his name is a pun on ghoul, similar to ghost. As well as we never learn the first name for him. This makes it even more suspicious. Suspense is created by the fact that he breaks up the family party and takes all the joy and excitement away. Somehow he knows it all, what the truth is and what a lie is. His character is constant throughout the play and he never changes. He is looked at as God as he some how points the finger at their conscience “One Eva smith has gone but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva smiths and john smiths still left with us.
Priestly develops the suspense in two ways, firstly by the way Inspector Goole speaks so slowly and spoon feeds us the story line bit by bit, secondly by how he has a disconcerting habit of starring hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking. It makes the characters feel uneasy and it creates tension for us because we as the audience want to know why and we want to know what he knows. Somehow Inspector Goole manages to shut the conversations against him down and keep control “don’t worry Mrs Birling I shall do my duty” No one challenges his version of events. If he was to reveal his identity this would take all the suspense and tension away. By inspector Goole entering it also creates dramatic irony because just a few moments before that Mr Birling had just given a speech to Gerald and Eric saying “that a man has to make his own way, has to look after himself”
Then he starts to interview everyone one by one. Everyone pretends they don’t know who Eva smith is but when me birling sees the photo of her everything starts to unwind. And the story begins. A sort of domino effect. The fact that only Mr Birling can see the photo raises huge curiosity. This creates tension for the family because everyone starts arguing. “Just keep quiet Eric”. He makes them acknowledge their own guilt. The parents don’t seem to admit it though unlike the kids which shows no real connections between the younger and older generation. The older members of the family worry about public reactions, whereas the younger members care more about the girl.
Priestly uses the inspector to create tension for other characters. For example Mr Birling, he states the obvious that Sheila and Gerald are engaged and he says to Gerald “ids prefer you to stay” and Mr Birling replies in somewhat impatiently. There are also various points in which the inspector manages to wind up Mr Birling by the way he talks and these results in Mr Birling losing his temper.
The inspector creates suspense when he shows Mr Birling the photo, the stage directions are for this part are as follow (both Gerald and Eric rise to look at the photograph, but the inspector interposes himself between them, and the photograph. They are surprised and rather annoyed) we as the audience are shocked too that the inspector does not let them see the photo it creates suspense for us as we want to find out more.
Another point is when the inspector says slowly “are you sure you don’t know?” the stage directions are (he looks at Gerald and then at Eric and then at Sheila) not only is it this dialogue but several others where he just stares firmly at the characters. With a face as if he can see right through them. This creates a lot of suspense as we can not tell what the inspector is thinking but we know that he knows the truth.
A similar situation to when he stares again is when he shows Sheila the photo the stage directions are (stares speculatively after her) we become more and more curious and suspicious when he does this. But this also creates tension for the other characters because they also do not know what the inspector is thinking.
Tension is created through the inspector in how he always cuts in the middle of conversations. The stage directions are (cutting in) this creates tension for the characters towards the inspector as they never get to finish their speeches or express their thoughts. The inspector manages to keep control of the subject of matter.
The inspector is very rude when speaking to the characters (sternly…harshly) this creates suspense as we do not know how the characters are going to re-act afterwards to his tone of voice. Also this creates suspense as we do not suspect this from an ordinary inspector. They are normally well mannered with no aggression spoken softly when interviewing someone.
The inspector is very good at building up the suspense on page 28 when he is talking to Sheila his stage directions are (massively taking charge) this just makes the audience and characters very eager into what the inspector has to say.
The inspector is very blunt towards Mrs Birling (very plainly) “ yes I do and she’s right” this creates a bad start off between the two characters like he has done to all of them and creates tension between them as well.
The way the inspector is so blunt creates tension and suspense. “The girls dead” he creates suspense because we as the audience want to see the characters reactions and tension because Mrs Birling starts to get worked up and be rude.
In the story the inspector keeps saying “I haven’t much time” this creates suspense and puts a halt to the conversation being reared off the tracks.
When he is interviewing Shelia he says to Shelia “but you’re partly to blame. Just as your father is” this creates tension for farther and daughter.
When he is interviewing Gerald the whole truth comes out about Gerald having an affair. This causes the break up in the marriage. This creates suspense because we want to know what will happen to them and how they will resolve their problems. “No not yet it’s too soon I must think” this leaves us in suspense as we want to knows what happens to the couple and if they can ever resolve their issues and engaged again.
As the story unravels we learn more about the violent life Eva passed through and this creates suspense as we are eager to know what happened after to her. After having no job no social status.
When he comes to interview Eric he creates tension for him and his family. Especially his mother as she finally opens her eyes and sees the true alcoholic son she has. “No of course not he’s only a boy”. This shows us that she presumes she knows her son but in actual fact she can’t see the real truth about his drinking habits.
By the end of the play the inspector last words are “and I tell you ….blood, fire and anguish” he refers to the war and is making a predicament. This is suspense to us as we know that the war did actually happen. This also makes us tense as the inspector predicts things that actually did happen.
The ending would have to be the most suspense part of it all as they finally start questioning the character of the inspector. When they ring the infirmary and discover that no one is actually dead and inspector Goole does not actually exist. We all as the audience and characters in the book are shocked and confused. We all want to know who this man is.
From the time the inspector enters and leaves he manages to change the whole mood of the environment. It started off all cheerful and happy because of the marriage of Sheila and Gerald. Then changes to an environment or murder and guilt. All through the way the inspector interviewed them one by one. It all turned out that each character had a part to play in Eva Smiths death.
