Priestly uses a lot of different language to ensure that Mr. Birling’s character is disliked. In the scene of the engagement there is a great sense of unease. Mr. Birling insists on making an insanely, inappropriately long speech regarding capitalism to ‘celebrate’ his daughter’s engagement. He puts forward his belief that ‘there isn’t a chance of war’. This play was shown in 1945 and after two wars, the audience is strongly inclined to dislike his pompous character. Mr. Birling also interrupts Gerald when he is making his speech which shows that he thinks what he has to say is highly superior. This makes him appear rude and arrogant. He also insists that the Titanic was ‘unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.’ Priestly uses repetition to reinforce what Birling is saying. Because the play is shown after the titanic sunk, Priestly intentionally makes Birling appear ignorant and pretentious. As Preistly continues to use dramatic irony he is making Mr. Birling’s character more unlikeable. He also disagrees with the notion of a labour strike. “There is a lot of wild talk about possible labour trouble in the future”, yet in 1962 ‘The General Strike’ arrived. Mr. Birling an extreme capitalist and his character is so strongly disliked, the audience is instinctively inclined to disagree with what he says. “A man has to mind his own business and take care of his own” It encourages them to think negatively about capitalism and consequently this capitalist comment is discredited.
The Inspector is portrayed as a respectable and kind man. He is not selfish but thinks a lot about other people. When he has finished questioning Sheila he notices that she is feeling guilty “She feels responsible” and he makes a point of protecting her feelings by explaining that it is the entire families fault and not only her own. “Public men, Mr. Birling, have responsibilities of their own.” This makes his character likeable to the audience. As the audience likes his character and he is socialist, they’re subconsciously encouraged to support socialist views.
One of the main themes in the play is this idea of social responsibility. The inspector makes numerous references to it in his final speech. “We are responsible for each other”. Here, Preistly is talking with reference to the upper classes taking responsibility for the lower classes and providing them with financial support.
Priestly highlighted the fact that there were a lot of poor women who needed help by including the Brumley Women’s Charity Organisation in his play. This organisation not only funded and run by the upper class, but they also had the power to decide who did or did not deserve to be helped. This shows a paternalistic society emphasizing the upper classes’ belief that they are more powerful and knowledgeable than the lower classes and therefore should have power over them. Priestly tries to change this view. He uses the word ‘we’ a lot to illustrate the idea that we are all members of one body and to make the characters feel that they have a responsibility to the welfare of society. The inclusive pronoun ‘we’ suggests that the inspector is also talking to the audience. He wants to tell them that everyone has responsibility to society and upper classes shouldn’t disregard other classes. The point is made more poignant as Birling has risen through the class system suggesting he is even more dislikable and hypocritical. Preistley also uses a naturalistic setting for his play so the audience can relate. He wants the audience to believe it could happen to them to make it more relevant and significant.
A writer called Max Atkinson spent some time analyzing political speeches to see which techniques were used. Some of the techniques that he noticed are deliberately used in the Inspector’s final speech. This suggests that Priestly definitely did want his political views to be put forward by his characters. For example, the inspector explains that there are many other lower class people out there just like Eva Smith/Daisy Renton who are desperate for help. Priestly uses repetition of three “There are millions and millions and millions”. This has a big effect on both the audience and Mr. Birling. The Inspector wants the characters to feel bad for what they’ve done. “You can’t do her any more harm. And you can’t do her any good now.” Here he uses a contrasting pair for big impact.
Another message about society that Priestly is trying to convey is the idea that society is changing. The younger generation of characters in the play begin to accept that they have a responsibility to society. “I behaved badly…I know” Not only do they realize they are partly responsible for the death of Eva Smith/Daisy Renton; they also change their views about what they should contribute to society. However, the characters from the elder generation are determined to stay stuck in their ways and are unable to agree with socialism. “You’re the one I blame for this” Mr. Birling is insistent that none of it is his fault and continues to point the blame at other people.
The Inspector finishes his final speech by saying: “… they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish”. He is suggesting that anyone who doesn’t adopt the socialist view will be severely punished. As fire, blood and anguish all have connotations to war or hell, that is what he foretells will become of their future. Once he has finished his speech, he abruptly walks off which leaves the characters speechless and in turn makes the scene more dramatic. “He walks straight out, leaving them staring subdued and wondering.” It makes the audience take more notice of what the inspector has said because the characters are so stunned at his departure.
The Inspector asks a lot of questions and unearths a lot of secrets. He is used as a device to tell the story, like a narrator. His role is to ask questions “it is my duty to ask questions” and to encourage the characters to reveal their secrets and misdeeds. He doesn’t give us any information but without the Inspector, neither would the characters. The characters admit to their actions and by doing this they are given the chance to question themselves, society and their responsibility to society. In this way the Inspector is promoting honesty and introspection.
