Throughout the play there are several examples of how the Inspector acts as their conscience. An example of this is shown by the way he makes them think about what they have done. He asks them the questions, although he already seems to know the answer. An example of this is shown when the Inspector first questions Mr. Birling about Eva Smith:
INSPECTOR “Do you remember her, Mr. Birling?
BIRLING No- I seem to remember hearing that name…
INSPECTOR She was employed in your works at one time.”
By asking Mr. Birling the questions, he allows him to explain what he did. He also does this with the other characters and pieces each of their stories together to make them feel guilty for what their actions have led to.
After questioning all of them, the story has been fully told and the Inspector begins to show more examples of how he acts as their conscience. He mentions morals and tries to change the way they act towards other people by showing them how their actions affect other people. An example of him doing this is shown just before the inspector leaves in Act Three:
INSPECTOR “But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.”
Here the Inspector is saying that Eva Smith could act as anyone who would be affected by the characters’ stupid actions. He is saying that they should think twice before acting like this in the future. He is also implying them to change and warns them of wider consequences if they continue to act like they have.
After the Inspector leaves, the characters are joined once more by Gerald who had left earlier who informs them that there is no such Inspector by the name of Goole in the Brumley Force. He then remembers how the Inspector showed each of them a photograph of the girl at different times and that he may of showed them different photographs. He pieced these facts together to realise that they had been had. Until the end of the play when they get the phone call to say that a girl has died this would also agree with the fact that the Inspector had acted as their conscience and that he may be trying to stop them from doing stupid little things which may add up to a tragic happening like the death of a girl.
After they get the phone call, the Inspector could then be said to act as other roles. One of the better other roles is that Inspector may also act as Priestley as he tries to get his views across throughout the play. There are many other roles which he could undertake like how he acts as God in the way he controls the story.
