Mr Birling is a very strong capitalist, narrow minded he does not think of each worker as individuals and cares a great deal about money (opposite to the Inspector). The Birling parents represent the older generation who follow dated ideas, Birling is often wrong ‘there isn’t a chance of War’ and he states the Titanic is ‘unsinkable’. This is an example of dramatic irony as the play was written in 1947 and set in 1912. Priestly wanted the audience to have a low opinion of him as he was trying to dissuade capitalism and to show that people like Birling to be guilty. The Inspector encourages Birling to talk by pretending to share Birlings attitude to class as Birling thinks that he is not someone that would dispute him. The Inspector says things like ‘like a lot of these young women that get themselves into various kinds of trouble’. The Inspector comes across to be powerful and important by the way that he speaks, he rarely gives Arthur any respect such as when he says ‘don’t stammer and yammer at me again man!’. Birling seems intimidated by the Inspector and tolerates the disrespect. It is ironic that Birling seems quite weak, as he does not know how to act when treated this way, even though he Is a character that believes strongly that people should look after ones self.
It is recognised that Sheila has more moral fibre than her father, she points out ‘these girls aren’t cheap labour- they’re people’. The Inspector probably has more respect for Sheila because of this and she can admit when she is wrong ‘so I’m really responsible?’. The Inspector still talks to Sheila harshly as he does not forgive easily, although when the questioning turns to Gerald he is hospitable with her. He also understands that she would want to know about Gerald’s affair and insists that if she left she would ‘feel she is entirely to blame!’.
Gerald tries to be domineering in order to impress his future wife and in laws, he also shows exasperation when the Inspector refused to let him see the girls picture. He is not treated with warmth nor disrespect as the Inspector notices ‘he at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time’. While Gerald is telling his part of the story he is mainly questioned by Sheila.
Mrs Birling like Arthur is not used to accepting criticism and whilst absent for the majority of the questioning she is unfamiliar to the Inspectors discourteous manner. The Inspector treats all the characters with the same disregard they gave Eva Smith.
Eric like Sheila is quick to give socialist substitutes to what his father says. Eric gives away little information at one time; he only answers questions that he is asked. This could be because he wants to keep his problems to himself. The Inspector is benevolent with him as he obviously is upset and guilt ridden. Eric sees the Inspector as the father figure he is missing, the Inspector notices that he is going to need a drink to get him through even though Birling does not.
The characters cannot hide from the truth, the Inspector acts almost as a conscience as he already seems to know the truth. As the Birlings have not committed a crime that is punishable by law, the only way for the Inspector to revenge Eva’s death is to make people feel guilty. The Birling parents and Gerald refuse to accept any responsibility for their part in Eva’s death and try to justify their actions. Whereas Eric and Sheila show a lot of regret and guilt for their actions. This was to show that ideas were changing among the younger generation and the society is moving towards socialism. The play is used to show what can happen if we are ignorant to the feelings of others.
As the play progresses Sheila changes her perspective of how to treat people, she is appalled that her parents have not done the same. Eric behaves like Sheila, Eric and Sheila are there to give the audience hope for the future: the younger generation have better attitudes and can improve society. The play leaves us feeling that the Birling parents and Gerald are at fault because of their dated Edwardian ideas of social standing and capitalism do not change. Priestly suggests that it is those who forget their responsibility that cause social problems.
It is implied that throughout the play that both J. B. Priestly and the Inspector think that the people who are at fault are those who utilise and hold onto thoughts that one should only think of ones self. Just before the Inspector leaves he turns the blame onto the whole of society and that the problem was not just with either and one particular family but the whole of society. This leaves the audience feeling guilty for who they may be hurting or hurt in the past. The Inspector is a medium for Priestly’s views to be spoken through.
It is unimportant that the Inspector was real for Priestly to communicate his message. Leaving the Inspectors identity a mystery could be a tactic that Priestly employed to ensure that the audience would continue to think about the play and the ideas of socialism. The Inspector does get justice in a way for Eva as he makes the family feel worse about themselves. As the Birling parents and Gerald are still as oblivious to the need of others as they were at the beginning they’re shown to be small minded. Whereas Sheila and Eric are seen as mature because they learn from their mistakes and realise him not being a real Inspector changes nothing.
As the audience we expect the characters to learn from their mistakes and admit when they are wrong as we are used to looking for the well worn formula where bad characters recognise their faults and convert to good- this is not the case in An Inspector Calls as the older generation feel that if no-one knows about their problems there is no need to address them. As the audience we should still learn a lesson from the play even though the Inspector was not real.
In the Inspectors speech he makes a reference to the forthcoming War with the idea that if people do not learn that ‘we are members of one body…then we will be taught in fire and blood and anguish’. This is a very powerful statement and the Inspector is implying that the war was sent to punish people for not working together, and at the same time forcing people to do so. Birling also spoke about war in his speech, which would make the audience suspect the play, was about to become troubled. This is an example of dramatic irony as the play was written in 1947 but set in 1912 so the audience knew that 2 world wars were about to happen.
Priestly used different techniques to keep the audience interested, as soon as the audience began to get comfortable there is a revelation or a twist in the tale. He used these changes in the play so that the audience’s concentration would not diminish.
The hoax Inspector was there to punish the characters on a moral level and try to get them to change their behaviour. This was achieved with the younger generation (Eric and Sheila) but not with the elder ones (Mr and Mrs Birling and Gerald). The real Inspector was introduced to ensure that the older generation would get punished on a level they would understand.
The Inspector’s main purpose throughout the play was to teach. As for the whole of society, he communicated Priestly’s opinions that no progress can be made if we do not work together. Those watching or reading the play today would not benefit so much as the audience as in 1947 did, as the majority of people accept the advantages of socialism over capitalism nowadays.
In reference to the question to what the Inspector was there is not enough evidence for a fact supported theory to be produced, let alone an answer.
I think Priestly meant for the Inspector’s identity to stay a mystery forever.
Stephanie Moss