“ A man has
make his own – has to look after himself
- and his family of course.”
However, by this it could be said Birling puts family and business above everything, including his workers. So this attitude may have contributed to Eva’s death. This may make Birling look like a self-centred, obnoxious, business man,
When the Inspector arrives, it is just when Birling has finished his verbal assault on community. It is ironic as the Inspector embraces community. It is clear to see the Inspector has character, good-manners and is good at what he does. We know he has good manners when he says,
“Thank you,” with when he gains some information/
The Inspectors immediate effect is visible very early on. Before he arrives, Birling is the figure of authority, the alpha-male of the house. Now that the Inspector has arrived, Birlings position is being challenged; and is eventually captured. An example of this is when Birling states the Inspector will be leaving soon. The Inspector replies by saying “I’m afraid not.” Signalling he is in charge of the situation.
The Inspector has a unique manner of treating each of the family members in a different way; he uses their emotions against them. Birling is very stern and doesn’t give much away, so the Inspector speaks in a deep toned, stern voice,
“(Sharply) Your daughter isn’t living on the moon.
She’s here in Brumley too.”
Equally Sheila is very emotional and she feels guilty about Eva’s death. The reason being because she had got Eva fired for Millwards – an expensive shop where the women of the Birling family shop. So if Sheila is reluctant to give information, he reminds her of how Eva drank weed killer, burnt herself inside out so she committed suicide. He is also kinder to Sheila than he is to Birling. With this method Sheila is always breaks down and as a result the Inspector gets the information he requires. The Inspector does this with all the characters, and gets the evidence. By doing this he also reinforces the fact that he is in control, by getting answers, when he asks the question.
Despite all the questions, the Inspector seems to know the answers to the puzzle, with extra information gained. This is clear when Mrs. Birling says she doesn’t know who Eva Smith is, the Inspector reminds her that she
“ …spoke to and saw her
only two weeks ago.”
This would make him seem like he knows everything about the Birlings and Eva. It’s as if he is a ghost who knows the movements of them all. As well as creating anxiety, tension and questions during the scenes, he creates a dramatic climax at the end of each act – even when he has left. At the end of the first act, he creates a climax by asking Gerald how he knew Eva – remember Gerald is Sheila’s fiancé and the answer to this question may jeopardise their relationship. The penultimate act ends with the Inspector saying that if Eric is guilty, then they should punish him by the means Mrs. Birling described,
“ this young,
man and then make sure that’s he’s compelled to
confess in public his responsibility-“
It is emerging that Eric supported Eva financially and he was the father of Eva’s baby – though not born yet. So this created tension with the audience asking themselves – what will the punishment be? With what Mrs. Birling was saying it created the expectation and climax that may show the Birling empire crashing down. The final act at the end – even though the Inspector is not there, another question is raised in the audience’s minds. That question is will the Inspector return, and will they be charged? The Inspector creates the climax at the end of each scene because he is in control. Everything is controlled by him, what they say is under his all-seeing eyes, as if he is some supernatural figure.
In the final act, the Inspector leaves after the Birlings worst nightmares have come true. Eric admits he supported Eva financially, and he slept with her and as a result it was his baby. A baby who was also killed when Eva committed suicide, so Mr and Mrs Birling helped kill their own grandchild. After the revelation, Birling attempts to bribe the Inspector, so the scandal doesn’t get out,
“(unhappily) Look, Inspector – I’d give thousands-
yes-thousands-“
Birling would hate for this to go public. The Inspector refuses and gives a final speech; in which he says the rich people should look after the less fortunate, urging a sense of community; which Birling was dismissing earlier. The Inspector emphasizes the amount of people, who need help through repetition,
“… there are millions and millions and millions…”
The final line in the speech is very dramatic, the Inspector says if a sense of community isn’t reinstated, people will learn, they will be,
“…taught in fire and blood and anguish.”
He is referring to the wars that happened before this play was written. The rich and poor fought together, as one body. The audience could instantaneously relate to this, and it may make them consider their views. As at that time it wasn’t guaranteed there wasn’t going to be a third war shortly.
As soon as the Inspector leaves, Birling is back to being the dominant figure, and the family begin covering their tracks.
Everyone except Eric and Sheila begin to make excuses of why they did what they did. They continue to do this until it becomes clear that there was no real Inspector, they make some inquiries and realise there is no Inspector Goole. So they feel a weight has been lifted as their social reputation wont be dented, but then they receive a phone call. They are told a woman has died in the same circumstances as Eva – and an Inspector is on his way to “Inspect” them.
The Inspector, from when he arrives to his departure is in control. He interrogates, questions and makes everyone confess to his or her crimes against others. He creates dramatic climax and he seems to be the voice of the audience, by asking the questions they want to know the answers to. In my view he is the voice of Priestly, conveying his message of community, social harmony and trying to end inequalities.