Priestly wanted a place where responsibility for all is shared as he was a strong supporter of socialism.
There are many themes linked which form the character of the inspector such as symbolism. Priestly’s intentions of the play is to teach the audience about social responsibility and uses the inspector to get the message across to the other characters and the audience reading it.
Throughout the play the inspector shows that he has control over the Birlings and has the right tom say what he likes to them.
“It’s my duty to ask questions” This shows his role of being an inspector, his authorisation and he uses power to make the characters listen to him.
The power of the inspector is also reflected in his physical appearance. He creates an impression of “massivness ” , solidity and purposefulness and looks down on the Birlings to show that he is higher than them and has power over them.
“No wait a minute Miss Birling” This quote from the play shows that the inspector has control over the Birlings and they should do as he demands and should not leave the room until he says so.
“No let him go” This is showing that the inspector has finished with them and they are free to go.
All of this shows that the inspector has power over the Birlings he has influence over the young one’s Sheila and Eric who he succeeds with, he makes them think of other people and not to be selfish.
The inspector is also very controlling he makes people wait and says they cannot leave the room until they are given his permission.
He shows photographs one by one to each family member this shows that it is entirely up to him how he carries out this investigation and if he wants to show them individually then he shall. He is able to manipulate the characters and control his characters therefore this has an impact on the audience who may see themselves reflected in the characters.
The inspector had pre-knowledge of the Birlings activities as he had read Eva’s diary.
“I’ve been round to the room and she’d left a letter there and a sort of diary” This quote shows how the inspector had pre-knowledge of their activities.
“But you took her home again” The inspector said this to Eric which shows that he knew his actions and what took place that night.
Throughput the play the inspector is very mysterious. We learn very little about his personality, he doesn’t talk about himself or show what sort of person he is he just fires questions at the Birlings and in this way manipulates them.
The inspector also has a photograph of the supposedly Eva Smith. But its mysterious in the way he shows the photographs to the Birlings he shows them one by one starting with Mrs Birling. Is he showing them the same photograph? He could be showing them different.
Another question you could ask is, is he a real inspector? He doesn’t really act like one he is very mysterious and has a “dark side” to him, he knows more than he is saying. But does it really matter? As he is still teaching social responsibility, not to be selfish and to care about the people around you. Also it shouldn’t matter if he is real or not as the Birlings were not really guilty of Eva’s death.
The inspector’s purpose in the play is to force the Birlings to tell the truth by manipulating them and putting words into their mouths.
“I think you remember Eva Smith now don’t you Mr Birling?” This shows omnipotence and puts words into Mr Birlings mouth to make him tell the truth.
He also manipulates people’s consciences to make them see. The inspector also times his questions carefully like who he questions first and last and leaves the others waiting until he thinks its time to question them.
The whole meaning of the play is to teach the characters and the audience social responsibility they should be responsible for their own actions and care for other people not just themselves, which is shown during the inspectors final speech
“We don’t live alone. We are members of the same body. We are responsible for each other.”
Which shows that there are other people in this world not just themselves so care for them. Therefore this is why the inspector visited the Birlings as they don’t really care about anyone else but themselves as you can see from the way Mr Birling acted.
“A man has to make his own way- has to look after himself and his family of course.” So because of their selfish attitudes they needed to be taught a lesson.
Priestly uses dramatic irony to great affect which helps the audience to see that Mr Birling is a bigoted, pompus snob.
‘I say there isn’t a chance of war. The world’s developing so fast that it’ll make war impossible.
Priestly uses this quote to make Mr Birling look stupid in the audience’s eyes as the war had already happened.
Priestly may have set this play at this time because this was the time when the lower class people did not count, were not important and the upper class thought they ruled over the lower class.
‘Eva Smith was one of them. She’d had a lot to say, far too much – so she had to go.’
By saying this Mr Birling is implying that she’s a trouble maker, has too much to say and she shouldn’t be able to express her own opinions because she was considered to be lower status.
Priestly has therefore used the inspector to teach the Birlings that they have to be responsible by the roles he plays these include: The role of a teacher, a god like figure, a symbol of law and order and a confessor. The inspector has many roles but his main function is to teach the audience about social responsibility and to be aware of their actions or else face the consequences.
