The play is structured in a rather sinister way, it is a murder mystery / a detective fiction / morality play this is because as well as it is trying to find out about the girls death it is also a play which is heavily based on morals the function of the inspector is to add the mystery and add the suspense to play which he really magnifies and peoples principles and this is very important in Arthur’s speech. Before the inspector enters the mood was happy and Arthur was talking to Gerald and Eric offering some fatherly advice and the speech which is extremely significant in this play is being said…
“But this is the point. I don’t want to lecture you two young fellows again. But what so many of you don’t seem to understand now, when things are so much easier, is that a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course, when he has one - and so long as he does that he wont come to much harm. But the way some of these cranks talk and write now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense. But take my word for it, you youngsters - and I’ve learnt in the good hard school of experience- that a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own - and…”
This adds irony ass the inspector has a speech which goes against this one function of the inspector is to show that we are meant to look after each other as our behaviour affects a lot of people directly or indirectly but still may cause substantial changes in someone’s life.
Immediately after the doorbell rings and the lights change, brighter and harder this shows maybe that he is supernatural and also to intimidate the family when he enters. I can tell this is a murder mystery / detective as the inspector is trying to find out how this girl died and what part each of the members of the family had in driving her into suicide. The inspector conducted his questioning like an interrogation he only asked one person at a time but there was some suspicion about when he showed the picture to the family two people never saw the photo at the same time, so this may leave the reader to believe that he is not showing them the same picture he may be tricking them by showing different photos and just saying it was the same girl. The act also concluded in such a way that it is like a drama or a murder mystery novel as each actor ends with a cliff hanger this causes a lot of suspense and builds tension, the inspector is doing this by asking very clever questions which will make the family make mistakes and reveal another part of the story which when the act changes builds enormous suspense in the audience. Also the use of dramatic effects for example as soon as Arthur makes his speech about being on your own and living for yourself and how everyone is responsible for themselves the inspector rings the doorbell and starts to disprove what he has said which brings me to my question as he shows the family that he is wrong by thinking like this.
The role of each character plays and important part in this play as they all somehow have some sort of relationship to the young girl and they all contribute to the girls death in their own way. Arthur fires her which leaves her with no money then she gets a job at Milwards and Shelia gets her fired then she has an affair with Gerald and that ends mutual but leads her up for an even bigger fall next time as she felt happy. Eric had a relationship with her but it ended and she became pregnant and she asked money from Mrs. Birling but she refused as Eva was using the Birling name as her own which insulted Sybil. They also have different opinions about the situation and they each react differently after, some change and others go on as if nothing has happened. Arthur is used to represent selfishness and heartlessness he shows this when he says “if you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth”. When he finds out about Eva for the first time he isn’t bothered and doesn’t regret his decision on sacking Eva he still sees it from an employer’s point of view and does not show no emotion or sympathy. But when the inspector finds out about things that the whole family has done he is wishing this never happened, and when he finds out that the inspector really isn’t an inspector he goes back to normal again as if it never happened this shows he is a cold and selfish person and the inspector really magnifies this. Sybil is also a very cold hearted and feels as if she is superior to everyone else; this is due to her coming from a rich and high class family. When she finds out about this girl she shows no emotion and isn’t sympathetic in what she says “but I think she has herself to blame”. She is so heartless and when the inspector asks her about when Eva came to ask for money when she was pregnant she declined her because of two reasons; one would be she used the Birling name this outraged Sybil and made her decline her. The second is she claimed that the father of the child should give support and that he is irresponsible when she doesn’t even know it’s her own flash and blood who she is speaking about; when this happens she regretted what she said showing that she is not opinionated. This was a weakness in her story she showed that she was bias and she showed that she has no sympathy for anyone. Sheila can be seen as someone who really turned themselves around as she at first was arrogant and spoilt she shows this when she says “when I was looking at myself in the mirror I caught a sight of her smiling at the assistant, and I was furious with her. I’d been in a bad temper anyhow.” She becomes truly sorry for what she did and admitted to it, she later saw that she was being spoilt and selfish and saw that, that may have changed her life and did for the worst, she saw that she was wrong as showed extreme sympathy “I jus cant help thinking about this girl – destroying herself so horribly” this shows she is sympathetic and is truly sorry. She begins to see that her family are cruel and heartless and she tells them but they don’t listen she has seen that she has done wrong and has recognized it but she is trying to make her family see the same. Her weakness was that she couldn’t take the pressure when she knew what she had done she gave in, the inspector got into her head and eventually she cracked. Eric is a very shy and timid person he is like this at home but he likes to drink he has a problem and the family does not know about it apart from Sheila as they don’t talk much. He is a secretive person and shows this when he says “You told her. Why, you little sneak!” he is obviously hiding something.
He leads a different life outside as he is often in town at bars getting drunk he is very indulgent when it comes to alcohol and Priestly shows this by writing “I was rather far gone by the time we had to go.”
However does not show this side at home as he is shy. He is sympathetic as he has a relationship with Eva he and he offered to help her in everyway possible he saw she was down and tired to help he also said “well, she hadn’t a job – and didn’t feel like trying again for one – she had no money left – so I insisted on giving her enough money to keep her going – until she refused to take any more” he stole money in order to help her stay on her feet so that she may be happy. He stuck with his opinion the whole time and did not change he saw that she was crying out for help and he helped her, he showed his parents this but they didn’t hear none of it. Gerald Croft is a very good hearted person when he sees Eva in trouble he comes to her aid, he saves her by giving her a place to stay and mentally saving her by showing he cares about her and showing she is not alone in this world; he gave her food, a place to stay, and a friend. He is remorseful “sorry I’ve just realised – taken it in properly, that she is dead” he is showing that he has recognized her death and it truly affected by it he is also secretive about his affair with Eva this is shown by Priestley when Gerald says he is busy at work to Sheila when he is really with Eva. This is showing that all these events lead to her death but if everyone looked after each other this would not have happened and the inspector is really trying his best to show this. His only weakness was that he was too good hearted he was drawn to this girl like a moth to a flame he couldn’t help but help her, she was in need and he offered it to her. The inspector is described as “a vehicle to proclaim the virtues of socialism.” The inspector is a very perceptive person he sees everyone for what they are and uses to his advantage he quickly swayed Sheila’s opinion and made her on his side so that he can use her to get to the family; he is very clever in his questioning too.
This play heavily affects the audience through suspense and tension building. They can see that the inspector is a strong character; he is also seen as supernatural, because his actions affect the stage. The language used for his name is very clever by using Goole as his name it makes him seem supernatural like a Ghoul which is a person who derives pleasure from loathsome acts or things. Also when he enters the lighting changes and that is to intimidate the family. Eva Smith is a representation of any working class girl and Priestley shows this when the inspector says this before he leaves “but just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone – but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives and what we think and say and do. We don’t live alone we are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And ill tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire, blood and anguish. Good night.” This is showing this by using common names for example John Smith to show that this is everyday life and we need to be responsible for each other because everything that happens may affect us. The function of the inspector is to show what he said above is true and proves it, because everyone contributed to her death, and he is making them aware that they should look after each other and learn from this mistake.
I think that Priestley is trying to send a message through the inspector’s character he is trying to put the message that in society this is common; people don’t account for each other, we don’t think that by us doing one thing it may lead to someone else getting affected and that in life we are responsible for each other. The inspector got through to everyone except Mr and Mrs. Birling they are too proud to admit they are wrong and are hard headed. When he ended with the phone call about a girl dying he is giving out the feeling that they have been let off and they now should recognise to do things differently from now on, the inspector was trying put a message through, I think especially to Mr. Birling as the inspector said before he left the exact opposite to Arthur’s philosophy on life. I think that the ultimate function of the inspector is to change Arthur’s ways and to show the rest of the family to be aware and make sure that they care for everyone as everyone is responsible for each other and that by sticking together we are stronger.
