What is the function of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls?

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What is the function of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls?

The play was written in 1945 but surprisingly, J.B. Priestley decided to set it in 1912, as capitalism is the strongest before the war and poor people have to rely on charities; due to the class system. Priestley is trying to convey to the audience a message that we are all equal and we have to look after each other in order to survive. He gave us a clue before he departed, he said if we don't learn it now, we will have to learn it in 'fire, blood and anguish'. This is a hint to us for what is going to happen in the future, this is also dramatic irony as we knew the 'fire and blood' is from the soon coming war. Dramatic Irony is also used again when Mr Birling said 'the Titanic – she sails next week – forty six thousand eight hundred tons – forty six thousand eight hundred tons – New York in five days – and every luxury – and unsinkable' The truth is the Titanic has sinked, and as a audience we know this whilst the narrator or the characters don't. Also, by repeating the weight of the ship we can interpret that Mr Birling is extremely proud of his country and this new ship, during that time, this is common as many people are nationalists then. In 1945, much of the capitalism and class discrimination has gone because of the war, and because we know this it's emphasis the proud and great feeling Mr Birling has for his country.

The play begins as a simple and thrilling detective play, but it unfolds eventually. Due to the crimes and the responsibility the characters learnt to take, the plays unfolds into a mortality play and teaches us something. This is the struggle of Good and Evil.  The Inspector reflects Priestley’s ideas and thoughts and voice them out, Priestly himself is a socialist even before he has fought in the two major world wars and realises the importance of everyone and life. At the end of the play, the Inspectors final comment warns Mr Birling,because of his nature, the Inspector wanted him to change and to respect everyone and treat them equally. The name Goole - Inspector Goole – sounds mysterious and a bit sinister, this is supported by the fact he seems to know a wide variety of things and all these knowledge and understanding is the truth, which makes it even more sinister.

 Mr Birling is a successful business man, he portrays the role of a strong capitalist, portentous man and heavy looking. He is a magistrate and some who is active in the local politics, therefore well known and respected. He is also the Lord Major of Brumley, and his dream or wish is to get a knighthood in order to be socially accepted by Sir George and Lady Croft. They are Gerald's parents and because his mother does not appear at the party, it suggests she is unhappy about her son marrying someone beneath their class. Birling is extremely happy that his daughter has been engaged to a high classed gentleman whose father happens to be one of Birling''s business rivals, and therefore this marriage has secured a business partnership between the two families. This is both socially and privately good for his name and reputation. His attitude to life is to 'look after his own' and this is essential to the play and a theory which is discredited by the Inspector. He claims he is a 'self-made man' and business is always priority to him – 'it is my duty to keep labour cost down' thus making more money. When the Inspector asked him why he decided to keep labour costs down he was stunned and surprised because he strongly believes 'a man has to make his own way', and in order to do that, is to give poor wages to inferior workers. He doesn't care what his actions may cause to other people and he believes that they are 'socially incompatible' with him. Mr Birling will also do whatever he can to make his business prosper, therefore he considered himself as a 'hard headed business man'. His optimistic views about the future and that 'Nobody wants war, except some half-civilised forks in the Balkans' and this creates dramatic irony because we know World War One is coming. This clearly shows him as a capitalist. He also threatened the Inspector about his friendship with the chief Constable, as social class was important to people, and friends with a Chief Constable is a great advantage. Near the end of the play he grudging accepts responsibility, but stills thinks of money, 'look, Inspector – I'd thousands', he is obviously trying to bribe the Inspector now. During the Inspector's visit, Mr Birling was anxious and rather annoyed about the Inspector's noisiness in their business. He despises the Inspector and wanted him out, but after the Inspector has gone he continues to ignore the shameful things his family has done. After he realises the Inspector was a hoax, he pretended nothing has gone wrong and even said to Eric and Shelia, 'the famous younger generation who knows all'. Mr Birling represents Priestley's hatred of business men who are capitalists and not only is interested in only making money, but doesn't care about his workers and the agonising life they go through. And because in reality they never learn to take responsibility, in Priestley's novel, Mr Birling in the end disregards what the Inspectors says and continue as normal.

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Shiela is in her early twenties and is describes as 'fresh, young and pretty.' At the party she was the centre of attention as excitement was surrounding her because of her recent engagement to Gerald. At the beginning of the play she was 'very pleased with life'. She doesn't have any responsibility and till hasn't lost her innocence. She was very young and attractive. The audience would regard her as 'superficial', however this dramatically alters as she becomes more caring and sensitive when she heard of the girls death and acknowledges her potential part in causing the suicide. She ...

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