“(Sternly to both of them) you see we have to share something. If there’s nothing else we’ll have to share our guilt.” There he shows an uncanny ability to understand Sheila’s feelings. Sheila knows exactly what the inspector is doing and she knows that everyone will soon fall into his game. “No, he’s giving us the rope – so that we will hang ourselves.” The inspector already knows everything but wants the characters to admit it to themselves.
The inspector knows he is making an impression on Sheila and Eric. “(Coolly) we often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable.” He also knows that it is going to be harder to have the same effect on the adults.
He comments on things that really aren’t anything of his concern. “(Gravely) we’ll see Mrs Birling.” The Inspector is saying this because he knows exactly how she is connected to Eva Smith. He also knows the truth will be revealed very soon, “No, I can’t do that yet. I’m sorry, but he’ll have to wait.” This shows that the inspector has got his own way of doing things and that’s the way it’s going too be done. No questions asked. “You’re not telling me the truth.” Here he is protesting against Mrs Birling. This shows this pushy character, he knows exactly what Mrs Birling has done but wants her to tell the story not him.
This quotation expresses his attitude towards society and his point he is trying to make “(very deliberately) I think you did something terribly wrong – and that you’re going to spend the rest of your life regretting. I wish you’d have been with me tonight at the infirmary. Normal police inspectors do not express their views so strongly. The inspector is trying to make Mrs Birling feel guilty and when Mr Birling irritates him by trying to protect her he snaps at him.
When Mr Birling tries to take charge the inspector straight away regains it by cutting in abruptly saying, “(Turning on him sharply) why should you do any protesting? It was you who turned the girl out in the first place.” The inspector reminds Mr Birling about his act of selfishness so he can’t shift all the blame on somebody else.
His moral attitude is shown when he says “Public men, Mr Birling have responsibilities as well as privileges.”
The other characters in the play have a bit to say about the way this Inspector conducted his investigation. For instance, “. . . but I must say that so far you seem to be conducting it in a rather peculiar and offensive manner...” This shows that Mrs Birling does not approve of his behaviour and the way he is carrying out the investigation. “. . . I don’t understand about you.” This is what Shelia says to the inspector she doesn’t understand the way the he expresses his moral views as a man of his profession. Mr Birling says, “(angrily) look here, inspector, I consider this uncalled for and officious. I’ve half a mind to report you.” Mr Birling has the same opinion as his wife does.
The Inspector is very important; he is the catalyst of the play, he controls everyone and their actions, and makes sure things are done his way. Inspector Goole creates an impression of someone who is both an outsider and omniscient; all powerful and all knowing. He appears incomprehensible, mighty and vigorous. He has strong moral views and demonstrates how people are responsible for how they affect the lives of others. He looks at the world as one big family where everyone should be looking out for and helping each other and expresses this view very robustly. He is the conscience of the other characters, he makes them admit to their mistakes and feel guilty about their sins. The character of the Inspector grows more massive and distinct as the play continues.
Throughout the play the Inspector connects each individual to the girl’s death and tries to get them to accept their responsibility. However, when the inspector leaves, Mr Birling forgets everything the family has learnt. He only thinks about his knighthood. When he finds out that the inspector is a fake he suddenly realises that his chances of gaining a knighthood are back. “It doesn’t matter to you. Apparently nothing matters to you. But it may interest you to know until every penny of that money you stole is repaid, you’ll work for nothing. And there’s going to be no more of this drinking round the town – and picking up women in the palace bar –“ this quote shows he feels nothing for Eva, all he cares about is the money getting repaid. He also says, “There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did” which shows that Mr Birling will not accept any blame for Eva’s death and tries hard to keep the blame away from him. “Then look at the way he talked to me. Telling me to shut up and so on. He must’ve known I was an ex – lord. . .” Here he talks as though no one should talk down to him because he was mayor! This again shows no respect for Eva and no blame taken.
Mrs Birling – is just the same as Mr Birling. They both think the same things. For example; “Alright. But it doesn’t make any real difference y’know.” This is Sheila speaking; she is saying that the Inspector being a hoax doesn’t make any difference but Mrs Birling’s reply to this is,” Of course it does.” She thinks that their all playing a part in the young girl’s death doesn’t matter as long as nobody knows. This shows that Mrs Birling doesn’t feel a bit guilty about what she has done and hasn’t got any remorse. She thinks that because the Inspector was a fake no one will find out what the family has done and they will still be respected.
She starts to think that Sheila and Eric are hysterical and thinks that they are on his “side”, “really, from the way you children talk you might be wanting to help him instead of us...” She shows here that she thinks Eric and Sheila are wrong for having guilty feelings. Mrs Birling believes that if no one finds out no harm has been done. She doesn’t connect herself with the young girl’s death and thinks she was justified in doing what she did.
The inspector creates a massive impression on Sheila. He brings her into the real world, and shows her some reality. Sheila is badly touched by how she played a part in the girl’s death and she shows remorse instead of ignoring the fact that a young girl has died as a consequence of her actions. “I suppose we’re all nice people now.” Sheila makes this sarcastic comment when the Inspector leaves and makes the point of how she feels that it doesn’t matter if the in inspector was real or not. Sheila tries to bring alive the fact that it happened no matter who or what the Inspector was. “But that won’t bring Eva Smith back to life will it?” You can tell the death of the girl has shocked Sheila greatly because everything she says refers to the fact that Eva is dead. Sheila knows that she did wrong and she isn’t trying to hide that.
Eric gives the same impression as his sister. He knows and admits to what he has done wrong. He doesn’t care whether Inspector Goole was an inspector or not, he has still realised that he has done wrong and feels guilty. “What’s the use of talking about behaving sensibly? You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing has really happened at all. And I can’t see it like that. . .” Eric is deeply saddened by the girl’s death and is disgusted by his parent’s behaviour. “. . . the fact remains that I did what I did . . . it’s the same rotten story whether it’s being told to a police inspector or somebody else . . . and I still feel the same about it, and that’s why I don’t feel like sitting down and having a cosy chat.” Eric has learnt from what he has done. He tries his best get his parents to feel the same.
Gerald has the same views as Mr and Mrs Birling and feels that because it was a hoax it doesn’t matter. Mr Birling says,” This makes a difference; in fact it makes all the difference.” Gerald replies to this, “Of course.” This shows he agrees completely with what Mr Birling says. Sheila says,” . . . Between us we drove that girl to suicide. “Gerald does not believe that they did and thinks that there isn’t enough evidence to show that it is the same girl they all interacted with, “Did we? Who says so? Because I say – there is no more real evidence we did than there was that that chap was a police inspector. . . But how do we know it’s the same girl?”. . . “Alright, you all admitted something to do with the girl but how do you know it’s the same girl?” Gerald believes strongly that it wasn’t the same girl and shows this by repeating these quotes several times.
The Birlings are a clear example of an upper class family. They dress elegantly and are respected in society. They all watch out for each other and protect one another. They have family dinners and discuss their family business which is the source of their money. The upper class families had elegant houses with luxurious furniture, and did not hesitate to hide the fact that they could afford these things. They had accounts at their favourite clothes stores and had the shop assistants waiting on them hand and foot for their every need. As a contrast to this, Eva represents the working classes who are exploited by people like the Birling’s. Priestly puts forward his political views through the inspector. He believes in socialism, not capitalism and this is seen in the inspectors last speech,
“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 don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire, blood and anguish. Good night. (He walks out, leaving them staring, subdued and wondering.)” This is Inspector Goole’s last words before leaving the Birlings to reminisce and think about what the Inspector was trying to say. These words show him to be not just an inspector but some sort of agent or moral force. This last speech is all about morals and the Inspector’s beliefs. “But just remember this,” here he says this so they listen, do remember it and maybe it will have some sort of effect on them. “. . . millions and millions and millions . . .” he says millions three times to emphasise the fact that there is a lot more not just a few but a lot. “We don’t live alone. . . we are members of one body,” Here his point is that they are part of a community, they should look out for each other and help each other like they do within their household and not live in separate social classes. “ . . . Eva Smith’s and John Smith’s . . .” these are common names and show ordinary people are affected by the likes of the Birling family. “All intertwined with our lives . . .” he is expressing inter-relationships which are demonstrated by the Birlings’ connections with Eva.
When he walks straight out this is an abrupt departure, he has been and done what he had to do, he leaves the family to reflect and hopefully learn something from the events of the evening. The effect of the last words left the family amazed, “starring, subdued and wondering” The end of this play gives you no answers it leaves you asking your self questions; who was he? What was he? How did he know the things he did? Was it really only one girl?
The Inspector was sent to the family to make them realise how unfair they were being to people less wealthy than them. J.B Priestley, through the Inspector, gives a very important message, message of socialism.
