Out of all the characters there is always one who takes the leading role. This person is the Inspector. He is a very mysterious character, as the audience never learn about his first name and his real Identity. He never changes or develops unlike the other characters so he seems to be slightly abnormal and maybe he is a result of a supernatural cause. He is very strange and enigmatic, as nobody knows what he is up to. To demonstrate this idea he seems to puzzle the other characters by repeating things. “I haven’t much time” This suggests a sense of uncertainty given to the audience. This makes them feel to believe that he is an unusual and very exceptional person brought into the frame of mind to make the story very intriguing and enjoyable to watch. Priestly brings dramatic power to not just one part of the play but the whole of it as the Inspector is almost on stage all the time. For example if we knew who the character of Inspector Goole actually was then it wouldn’t be as interesting or exciting as it would with the uncertainty and the anxiety if the audience did know.
The fact that he seems to be all knowing proves the point that he is unique and very mysterious. This suggests that the audience are confused and bewildered about the actions of this important character. There is something very menacing about him, mainly because he seems to know everything about the characters even before they speak to him. “ You know very well there was, Mrs Birling. You were in the chair” This quote is showing that he knows what everybody does and Mrs Birling replies; “And if I was what business of it is yours.” This shows that she is shocked and thinks how could he have known. After that is said she stops for a small pause.
He also proves the point that he may be slightly supernatural because firstly his name is a homophone. ‘Goole’, which sounds the same as ‘Ghoul’ a ghost like character. This may suggest that he is from a supernatural nature. He also knows what happens in the short future which supports this point even more. “I think I have just heard your son come in. (door slams) Yes, come in Mr Birling.” This shocks the characters and makes them feel even more suspicious about the so-called Inspector. This has a great and important impact on the audience as it also confirms that he is a weird and uncanny character. This technique of making the audience anxious is very effective. It makes them think what would happen next and if the family find out the real truth about the Inspector.
When the Inspector talks about the death of Eva Smith he make s out that each member of the family are extremely guilty but as such they haven’t done anything directly wrong. Neither of them has taken part in a crime or direct attack but the Inspector makes them feel that they have. This makes it easier to put forward Priestly’s main point as it suggests the audience that it could happen to anyone and little things that the audience may have done in the past could lead to something larger and more serious. This makes them realise that they should be cautious of their actions because they are shown the consequences that have happened to the Birlings.
When the audience have witnessed what could happen to any normal family they feel sorry for the young girl Eva Smith who had her whole life ahead of her which was taken away gradually by other people. Although she committed the crime of suicide herself it could have been prevented by certain individuals but not directly one person. She gets sympathy but yet she can be frowned upon, as most people believe that taking your own life away is a terrible deed.
The play in performance is very clever and well thought out. In the Daldry production he is dressed dark concealing clothes so that his true identity is not really revealed. This makes the audience anxious and they want to find out what and who he actually is. His actions on stage are very slow and time wasting. He moves slowly but most of the time not at all. He stands still under the lamppost where the characters come down to him instead of him going up to them. This shows that the Inspector wants to make clear that although they are rich and very successful they are not as superior to everybody else in society.
In the Alistair Sim film he is put forward as a very murky and almost sad character as he acts almost very mysteriously throughout the play. He is very unpredictable and sometimes outrageous when he is approached by Mr Birling. He talks in a low voice and gives the impression that he is smug and knows what he is on about.
When the devious character of the Inspector intriguingly confronts each member of the Birlings and Gerald Croft about the tragic death of Eva Smith, mixed responses come from each individual. He makes them confess and some deny the fact that they had been involved with the young lady and some accepting and owning up for the full consequences. For example Mrs Birling denied anything to do with Eva Smith but mysteriously the Inspector knew that she knew her from the women’s society. ”And if I was, what business is it of yours.” She refused to aid Eva Smith any help whatsoever apart from blaming the whole ordeal of Eva being pregnant and isolated on the father which to Mrs Birling’s despite was her own son Eric. This makes it exciting for the audience as the anxiety when Mrs Birling blame the whole thing unknowingly on her own son Eric.
“I discovered that she knew who the father was, she was quite certain about that, and so I told her that it was her business to make it him responsible. If he refused to marry her – and in my opinion he ought to be compelled to – then he must at least support her.”
When the family discovered that the Inspector was probably a fake then Mr Birling especially thought that everything would have to go back to normal and everything would be fine. Otherwise Eric and Sheila thought that they must learn a lesson from this ordeal instead of putting it over one shoulder. This is the direct approach of putting forward the point of learning the lesson used by Priestly just to make sure that the audience notices it. Gerald on the other hand chose to have opposite feelings and was with Mr and Mrs Birling. This may not be his true feelings because he just confessed to Sheila about his affair and Mr Birling must think less of him so he is trying to get back in his good books.
The death of the young girl shocked everybody and it just showed what the characters were actually like just in that short space. Their reactions showed their personality gave a strong impression to the audience of what they were like.
The final twist when the family find out that the Inspector is not who they presumed is a very effective way to conclude the play. It is a ‘cliff hanger’, meaning that the audience will be amazed and very anxious of what is going to happen when the play actually finishes. This starts them thinking that the point that it being put forward is very important and that they should take notice to that. To add to this the Daldry production uses the set to underline the way the Birlings live and their attitudes. The dramatic collapse of the house at the end of the play symbolises that the Birlings lives have collapsed as well. At the start of the play everything was so perfect and socialised with the Birlings eating and dining in style and authority which is a complete contrast of what happens at the end of the play. This makes the audience realise that the difference and affect that has come upon the Birlings is very significant and a major point that will be thought upon deeply. It can just show to the audience of how a small split second decision by each individual of the family could conjure up such a palaver and inconvenience to other people such as Eva Smith.
In conclusion I think that this play was very effective of achieving J.B.Priestly’s aim. He made it clear of what his point was and the ways that he did achieve it were entertaining and exciting. I thrived off the fact that the small things that all the characters did could produce the kind of chaos and sadness that occurred. It just makes me realise that I must think more about the actions that I take and what I would do about it. It proved to me that not one family is perfect and has a perfect lifestyle. Every body is the same and you have to face the consequences for other people’s actions sometimes.
