Analyse the role that Inspector Goole plays in conveying Priestley's social message.

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Catherine Sweetman

Analyse the role that Inspector Goole plays in conveying Priestley’s social message.

        In the play, the final words of the inspector indicate clearly Priestley’s message. The purpose of this speech is to leave the Birlings with an overwhelming feeling of guilt, so they realise what they have done and mend their ways before another tragedy like this occurs again. He says that everybody is “responsible for each other” and that the “millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths” all count as people.  This is Priestley’s social message to the audience and to the Birlings.  The Inspector tells the Birlings that if man will not learn this lesson “then they will be taught in fire, blood and anguish”  

                 The events led by the inspector between the two speeches, and the last speech together give the audience a clear idea of his message

One of the methods the inspector uses to reinforce J.B.Priestley’s message of the play is the way that the inspector repeatedly comments and reminds us of the horrible ordeals Eva Smith went through.  “Burnt her insides out of course” The inspector here emphasises the point that Eva died in “great agony”.  

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        This allows the Birlings and the audience to create sympathy with Eva, helping them to realise what it was like for a working class woman to succeed in society.

                After Eva had finished with Gerald, we are told that she went to a seaside resort “to make it last longer” and she felt “ that there would never be any thing as good for her ever again”.  This shows the audience that she was a smart, down-to-earth girl, who knew her position in society and realised that she would never have anything as good for her ever again, so she ...

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