Examine the function and symbolism of the Inspector

Examine the function and symbolism of the Inspector in the play – ‘An Inspector Calls’, and explain how Priestly makes him ‘dramatically effective’

Throughout the play ‘An Inspector Calls’, by J.B Priestley, the audience sees the role of a mysterious investigator who interrogates a powerful and upper-middle class family: The Birling's. Priestley uses the role of the Inspector to expose the characters in the play, and to put his own views across about the Birling’s and their conservative beliefs. The play was written in 1946 and set in the spring of 1912. This means that the audience would have known the future events (the two world wars). Therefore they are in a position to judge the characters beliefs.

At the start of the play, Priestley describes the Dining room, in which all of the acts in the play take place. He writes, ‘the dining room of a fairly large suburban house, belonging to a prosperous manufacturer. It has good solid furniture of the period. The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike’. This tells the audience that the Birling’s are wealthy as they live in a presumably large and expensive house. It also shows that the setting of the play is very formal by saying that the effect of the room is not cosy and homelike. The description of the furniture acts as a metaphor for the family, being ‘solid’ and not loving and affectionate. Priestley writes that before the Inspector enters the lighting, ‘should be pink and intimate’, and that once the Inspector does enter the light should be brighter and harder. Priestly has written this to try and show that no one can hide secrets under the spotlight, and to try and portray how the mood changes once the inspector arrives.

Mr Birling is the patriarch of the family. He is very aware of social standing and believes that the marriage of his daughter Sheila to Gerald Croft of Crofts Limited, will boost his status to make him even more powerful. Birling is repeatedly referring to himself as a ‘hard headed business man’, which tells the audience that he thinks a lot of himself and is quite arrogant. It shows that money and business is a key element in Birling’s life. Birling also refers to the ‘community and all that nonsense’, which suggests that he is selfish and believes in the term ‘every man for himself’. Mr Birling also makes comments about the socialist writers George Bernard Shaws and H.G Wells. Mr Birling says ‘we can’t let these Bernard Shaws and H.G. Wells do all the talking. Priestley has included them in the text, as these are two writers who Priestley greatly admired, and he is showing how people such as Mr Birling looked upon them. Throughout his long speeches at the start of the play, before the inspector arrives, the audience learns that he is foolish. Mr Birling plays down the rumours that war is about to breakout by saying ‘Just because the Kaiser makes a speech or two, or a few German officers have too much to drink and begin talking nonsense, you’ll here some people say that wars inevitable. And to that I say – fiddlesticks!’ This is an example dramatic irony, as the audience knows that the war does take place.

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When the Inspector enters Priestley writes that he creates ‘at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’. This is demonstrated in the stage directions, which describe him as speaking slowly and impressively. The investigator introduces himself as ‘Inspector Goole’ Priestley has used the word ‘Goole’ as a pun on ‘ghoul’. This is significant as it adds a sense of mystery to the character, which is in effect throughout the play. At once Mr Birling attempts to intimidate the Inspector by mentioning, ‘I was an alderman for years – and Lord Mayor two years ago – and I’m still on the Bench’. The Inspector however is not unnerved by Birlings manipulative manner. Patiently and calmly the Inspector moves on to mention that a young girl committed suicide that night in the infirmary by swallowing strong disinfectant. Rather than being shocked, Mr Birling seems rather annoyed and says impatiently ‘But I don’t understand why you should come here, Inspector’. This shows once again that he is only concerned about himself. Already the Inspector seems to gain control of the situation, as Birling is beginning to get agitated and impatient in the face of the Inspector’s assertive and powerful manner. He sees the Inspector as officious and resents the questions that he has to answer, as he has never had to answer to anybody other than himself. He is not used to being treated like any other person. As the conversation moves on Birling becomes increasingly more impatient with the Inspector’s ‘hard’ intimidation and once again attempts to unnerve the Inspector by saying that the chief constable is an ‘old friend of mine’. The Inspector however is still not fazed and continues to break down Birlings defences by questioning Birling’s attitude. When Birling carelessly says ‘if we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody then it would be very awkward wouldn’t it?’ We sense the inspector getting slightly but quite unnoticeably annoyed. He responds gravely that ‘public men, have responsibilities as well as privileges’. The Inspector is telling Mr Birling that although he has a lot of money he shouldn’t use his wealth to intimidate and abuse the poor, but should treat them with respect and just like anyone else as they can be just as good and decent people as those with a higher social status. It is the first time in the play that the audience gets an idea of the inspector’s true feelings towards the Birling’s.

The Inspector is aiming to show to the Birling’s that the poor are not any better people than they are, and are not unwanted and unworthy citizens. Priestley has used the Inspector to represent ‘cold, harsh, reality’. He breaks down and exposes each of the characters in turn in order to gain power and awaken their consciences to what they have done. The Inspector grows angry when Birling refuses to accept any responsibility for the death of the young girl – Eva Smith. The Inspector does gain the upper hand upon Birling by turning his children Eric and Sheila against him. He mentions that the younger ones are ‘more impressionable’. Eric and Sheila are more prepared to listen and accept the Inspector’s views, as they are not as bound to tradition and selfish as their father. Eric and Sheila begin to question the actions of their father, which annoys Birling. Eric seems to think that Birling was wrong to sack Eva Smith, and says he thought she was a ‘good worker’ and ‘would have let her stay’. The Inspector is slowly turning the younger generation of the family against the older generation, and using it to his advantage.

The audience is reminded of the Inspector’s assertiveness and power as Sheila Birling is introduced into the storyline. The inspector has realised that she is vulnerable and more sensitive to inquiry and sees her as an opportunity to gain more power and makes her realise her and her father’s guilt. He unsettles Sheila by appealing to her morality and through using emotive language. Sheila mentions that the sort of girls her father sacked ‘aren’t just cheap labour, they’re people’. This portrays how different the attitudes are between the generations and how she can sympathise with the young girls situation. Sheila seems to begin to understand the Inspector and believes him to be ‘omniscient’. The audience is shown this when Sheila enters and says ‘you knew it was me all along, didn’t you?’ Through Sheila’s confession we learn that she feels remorse for what she’s done, and that one of the inspector’s aims has been achieved. Sheila co-operates with the Inspector by understanding that she abused her social status by getting the girl sacked. She admits her remorse to the powerful inspector. Sheila understands and accepts her guilt, showing the reader that she does have a conscience. As Sheila continues to express her ‘desperate sorrow’, the audience sees that she learning more of the Inspector’s power. Sheila says to the rest of her family that he is, ‘giving us rope – so we can hang ourselves’. From this sentence the audience learns of how Sheila fully understands what the Inspector is doing and realises that he is not questioning them about just Eva Smith, but about how all of them live their lives in general. The audience learns later on in the play that the Inspector respects Sheila for her honesty and regret. The Inspector is using Sheila as an agent through which he can convey his opinions and thoughts.

The ‘well bred’ Gerald Croft is the next perpetrator to be introduced into the text. He co-operates fully with the Inspector’s questions in the belief that he will be treated more rationally than Mr Birling. However as the Inspector continues to question Gerald about his relationship with Eva Smith, or as he knows her, Daisy Renton, the reader begins to see Gerald’s hypocrisy and pretence of being a moral man truly revealed. As the Inspector uses his power to make Gerald increasingly more uncomfortable, Gerald says ‘I think Miss Birling ought to be excused of any more questioning’. This shows that Gerald is ashamed of himself and doesn’t want Sheila to listen to his account of Eva Smith, as he believes it will be, ‘unpleasant and disturbing’. The Inspector however cunningly forces Gerald to reveal all when he asks him as to whether or not Gerald believes, ‘young women ought to be protected against unpleasant things’. Eva’s, ‘gallant’ display when Gerald finally leaves her advocates the Inspector’s argument that not all people of the lower class are unworthy, and although Eva was weak and powerless she still managed to act more sensibly than Gerald. Gerald, like Sheila, admits he feels remorse and sympathy towards Eva Smith. The audience begins to see a pattern in which the younger generation begin to realise their actions were uncalled for, and may have resulted in a young girl ending her life.

Once Gerald has left, Mrs Birling is the next member of the Birling household to be swept up into the storyline. The entry of Mrs Birling helps to emphasise the fact that the older Birling’s still believe they have done nothing wrong and will not accept that they have played a part in the death of the young girl. Mrs Birling is very much like her husband; she is, like him, very arrogant, prejudiced and ‘stuck’ in tradition. Mrs Birling immediately believes herself to be untouchable and not responsible for any of her actions. She is prejudiced against the inspector and believes herself to be better than him. She, like Mr Birling, accepts no responsibility for the young girls death. She dislikes being made to account for her actions and believes they should go uncontested. Mrs Birling moves on to state that, ‘I did nothing I’m ashamed of’ and believes her actions were ‘justified’. When Mrs Birling reveals to the inspector that she used her influence ‘to have Eva Smith refused’, the audience is shown just how low Mrs Birling’s thoughts of the poor really are. Mrs Birling, unlike Sheila or Gerald is convinced of her innocence, and admits to feeling no guilt or sorrow whatsoever. Ironically, Mrs Birling attempts to place all the blame on the father of the unborn child and claims he should be made ‘an example of’. As well as making things much worse for Eric, the father, she lowers her image by being so stubborn. This is another example of dramatic irony.

As the text moves on to Eric Birling, the audience is given another example of a member of an upper-middle class family who has abused their position in the social hierarchy, believing that their wealth and status will protect them from punishment. Once again, like Gerald and Sheila, Eric freely confesses without argument that he has done wrong. He also expresses his sorrow and regret for what he has done, and for the death of the young girl. When it is revealed that Eric had stolen money from his father, all Birling seems to care about is how he can cover it up, this reminds the audience once again about how much Birling is obsessed with social standing and reputation. With Eric’s comments such as ‘you’re not the sort of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’, the audience sees once again the division, which is between the young and old generations. Although Eric committed one of the most serious crimes of all, he has shown that he too has a conscience as he realises and accepts that he has done wrong. Neither Mr nor Mrs Birling is proud enough to admit they have done wrong as they are too afraid of the consequences it will bring. Mr Birling only seems to care about the illegal acts whereas the Inspector is more concerned about the principles and the morals. This once again shows the audience how selfish and arrogant Mr Birling is.

In the inspector’s significant fire, blood and anguish speech he tells the Birling’s that ‘there are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still with us’. This tells the Birling’s that Eva Smith was not just a one off, and that they still all have time to change their ways and learn to treat people equally. Priestley has used the role of the inspector to show the audience how everyone should live, and all should share that kindness, justness and equality. The last speech is made at an excellent time as it shows what any of the Birling’s lack of responsibility can do, and how it can harm people’s lives. The Inspector’s aims have been achieved in getting through to Gerald, Sheila and Eric, the younger generation, whilst the older generations still have a lot to learn.

When Gerald returns and they learn of the Inspector being a fake, Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and Gerald begin, ‘to pretend that nothing’s really happened’. Eric and Sheila however are still in deep regret and criticise the others. Sheila is especially angry with the others and even though she believes the Inspector’s a fake, she still has learnt her lesson. ‘But you’re forgetting one thing I still cant forget. Everything we said had happened really had happened. If it didn’t end tragically, then that’s lucky for us. But it might have done.’ From this sentence the audience can plainly see just how much Sheila has learnt, about you should treat people all equally, and should not use the fact that you are wealthy to make other peoples lives miserable. The reader begins too see that the Birling’s all have very superficial values, and that without the inspector they would probably have gone on remaining abusing and hypocritical forever. As the family continue to argue lightly, the final twist in the inspector’s role comes into light. With the announcement, ‘a girl has just died, on her way the infirmary’, we see the Birlings worst nightmare become reality. They stand there guiltily as the play draws to a close.

Throughout the play ‘An Inspector Calls’, JB Priestley uses the role of the inspector to try and show how the rich can abuse their position and how community should be respected so that all people can be treated equally. The inspector plays the role of a Freudian analyst, in the sense that he gets people to reveal their inner motivations that are hidden even to themselves. The inspector shows how everyone should live, and we should all respect and value one another. It is not important that he was not a real inspector; he was an example set for everyone to follow. Through the inspector we have been shown Priestley's beliefs on honesty, equality and being just. The inspector has shown that everyone lives in one big community, so we should treat one another with the respect they deserve.

Luke Guinness 10G Page of