Birling also predicts that the titanic will be a success. “New York in five days- and every luxury - and unsinkable”. This shows he has a bad sense and prediction for the future.
The audience is reminded about World War 1 and 2 when the play is performed in 1945 just after World War 2. Birlings comments say, “There isn’t a chance of war”. This shows the audience that he is incompetents. During this period of the suffragettes, titanic and world wars the credibility of Mr Birling is reduced yet threw him the effect is made to the audience.
The arrival of the inspector automatically changes the whole play. He is a catalyst and an agent of change. He provokes disturbing responses in the family He disturbs the balance, which exists
between the characters. By this the whole atmosphere changes. At the beginning of the play you can almost imagine the play to be conventual. Now a more disturbing element is introduced to the play. This transition is gradual and apparent as the play goes on. Therefore, this is dramatic irony. This is evident even in the way the Inspector talks to the Inspector. The stage directions immediately indicate the inspector is a weighty figure, literally, “He creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness” (pg 11). It is obvious that something focused about the inspector that contrasts with the family.
Mr Birling has a great influence on the family as he tries to impress the inspector with his powerful connections but the inspector is not impressed. Mr Birling talks to inspector as if he is a subordinate. “Well what is it then” The inspector is then calm and composed and replies, “I would like some information, if you don’t mind, Mr Birling… burnet her insides out of course (pg 11). The casual speech continues throughout the play. This for the dramatist the arrival of the inspector creates dramatic tension and introduces conflict and a problem around which the play may work. This disturbing effect of this on the family also affects the audience who become aware of the characters discontent.
There are a number of ways in which the identity of the inspector changes. Sheila for instants says, “There was something curious about him, He never seemed like an ordinary inspector”. Birling reinforces this by saying “then look at the way he talks to me”. It is Gerald who then puts in the strongest argument “That man wasn’t on the local police force at all” (pg 62). He reveals that he phoned the police office and there is no inspector Goole on the police force. The doubts about the inspector’s identity add another element to the play at the end. The issue of the inspector’s authenticity is left unresolved. It adds another element of realistic drama. The effect on the audience is huge in disbelief as they are told in on e of the last few lines “A girl has just died…a police officer is on his way here to ask questions”. This unsettles the audience in to thinking is he, a ghost, a fraud. This will make the audience think harder about what has just happened and things are not as they seem and should not be taken for granted.
The language of the play reinforces the sense of conflict this is shown in the way the inspector paraphrases what he is told. The inspector turns the different accounts into an ironic and bitter paraphrase “She came to you for help… and you not only refused it yourself but you sore to it that others do to” (pg 6). Mrs Birling later refers disparagingly to the girl getting above herself and her position. “The inspector replies that she now lies with her insides burnet inside out” (pg 46). The inspectors paraphrasing become to develop into a dramatic irony.
The inspector also acts as a vehicle for ideas about equality and responsibility. At times, he becomes like a politician, acting a certain way. “One Eva Smith has gone... However, millions still remain… We do not live alone we are part of a body… If we don’t learn this lesson then it will be taught in fire and blood”. These quotes show that the inspector believes in a whole community and not every man for himself. I also think that the Inspector was ghost who was put there to teach the Birlings about right and wrong as shown in the final sentence of his speech. “But each of you helped to kill her remember that never forget it.
