“Yes, yes horrid business. But I don’t understand why you should come over here inspector”
On the inspectors arrival to the Birling residence Inspector Goole name is read out by the Birlings made Edna and later on is spelt out, and is continually repeated there after. The reason for this constant repetition I believe is to emphasize the inspectors name so it is clear in the readers mind.
“GOOLE G double O-L-E”
The Younger charcters in the play are horrified by the news of the girls death especially Shelia.
“Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about that girl destroying her life so horribly “
The sudden news of death effect Shelia’s mood. She goes from being cheerful about her engagement.
“Oh-it’s wonderful! Look-mummy-isn’t it a beauty?”
To feeling unpleasant and having feelings of guilt about her role in the death of Daisy Renton.
“ Oh how horrible! Was it an accident?”
All through the play Priestley is projecting hidden messages through to the reader one of the most important message that he conveys is that we all share responsibility for other peoples wealth fare and that even wealthy people have responsibilities to look after those less fortunate than themselves. Not only is Mr Birling a typical example of selfishness, and begins to pass on his opinion to his offspring.
“But the way some of these cranks talk and write now you would think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were together like bees in a hive – community and al that nonsense”
Priestly uses Inspector Goole as a way of sending his socialist message to the mainly middle class audience of the time, who the play would have been targeted at back when it was first produced in 1934. This would make Priestley’s play a success, as people would be able to relate to his story lines.
In the play we can see a situation of conflict between rich and poor society. Priestly uses Birling to represent the typical factory owner; Eva Smith is the stereotype of the abused working class girl. The inspector has come to stand up for her rights, and others from her social class. Priestly uses dialog to show the difference in attitude between the two social classes:
(Birling) “ Rubbish! If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.
(Inspector) “ They Might. But after all it’s better to ask for the earth than take it”
Once the inspector leaves the Birling residence there are different feelings between the family about the inspector being a “Hoax”. Eric is probably the most affected, it does not matter to him that the inspector was a fake he has realised what the inspector is trying to show the family.
“Whoever that chap was, the fact remains that I did what I did. And mother did what she did”
Gerald is somewhere in the middle, besides him revealing that inspector Goole wasn’t a real inspector he doesn’t really say much in the play. He does however ask Shelia to reconsider their engagement; this may indicate that he is willing to forget everything and has not learned anything from the experience. Mrs Birling on the other hand wants to forget the whole thing happened calling the other family members ‘silly’ stating that unlike them she was not fooled or affected by the inspector’s comments or actions. This lack of concern shows she hasn’t learned anything and will carry on he selfish ways. These reactions are very important. Priestley may be suggesting that there is no hope for the younger generation (i.e. Shelia and Eric) whilst the older generation will forever be ignorant and over proud.
