Inspector Goole takes the role of a police detective. This role is enforced by the tone Goole speaks in and the phrases he uses. “I’d like some information if you don’t mind.” This information is spoken in act one to Mr Birling in a firm tone often perceived as a policeman or detective.
The name Goole is a parody of ‘Ghoul’ meaning spirit. Goole takes on the role as a spiritual confessor so his name fits well. Goole asks simple leading questions to receive the information he wants. “I think you remember Eva Smith now, don’t you, Mr Birling?” Goole is the voice of social conscience and in act three he reminds the Birlings “We don’t live alone. We are members of one body.” This is supposed to make the Birlings feel more guilt for what they have done but Mr Birling is only worried about getting his knighthood.
In act one we are first introduced to Goole whilst the Birlings are “having a nice little family celebration,” this creates a spiritual element to the play. Goole ‘is a man in his fifties’ this suggests experience at this job. The Inspector wears ‘a plain darkish suit of the period’ causing the audience to realise that he is an important character with a purpose to fulfil and the dark colour of the suit suggests mystery.
There are many dramatic effects. Inspector Goole interrupts in act one with the doorbell whilst Mr Birling telling Gerald and Eric “a man has to his own business and look after himself and his own.” This is J.B Priestley’s way of telling us that he does not agree with what Mr Birling is saying. At the very start of the play ‘the lighting should be pink and intimate’ this is because the Birlings are living in a sense of darkness by not seeing what goes on around them. Edna who signifies the working class turns the light up when the inspector enters. This is a dramatic effect that signifies the Birling family being able to see consequences of their actions and begin to take responsibility for them.
There are many references to time throughout the play and the audience has no interval in the play this is to create a sense of urgency. Sheila picks up on the urgency ‘We don’t have much time’ she begins to realise this because she is one of the younger Birlings and is ready to take responsibility for her actions. The Inspector reflects on the past, the present and the future by telling of Eva’s past that is an event in the to come. The Inspector uses the photographs to create power and control over the Birlings. The audience does not get to see the photograph, this creates uncertainty whether it is the same photograph but either way the message created is still the same.
Goole structures the text by having “ one person and one line of enquiry at a time.” This shows Goole has planned the order of questioning beforehand. The Inspector questions the family in chronological order except for Mrs. Birling and Eric who are swapped around, this causes each revelation to be more shocking than the previous one. The order of questioning causes tension and anticipation within the audience because we are waiting to discover Eric’s involvement with Eva. The structure gives a chance for Mrs Birling to condemn Eric without realising it.
“He should be made an example of. If the girls death is due to anybody, then it’s due to him,” this then causes Eric’s revelation to be even greater.
Personally, I feel that Priestley introduced his views and ideas through Goole well, but the ending was very confusing. When looking at how Goole structures the play I noticed how well the play comes together as a dramatic text from the 20th century, I couldn’t really se this when we were just reading through it. The dramatic effects such as the order of questioning was a good idea and creates a feeling that you understand the Birlings mistakes.
