The fact that the inspector has no interest in Birlings social position unnerves Mr Birling because his normal defence has no effect.
When the inspector starts to question the family he dose so in a manner which is very unlike any other or normal inspector would conduct himself. He begins by announcing the shocking death of a young girl by suicide and he states:
Inspector: I’d like some information, if you don’t mind, Mr Birling. Two hours ago a young women died in the infirmary. She’d been taken there this afternoon because she’d swallowed a lot of strong disinfectant. Burnt her inside out, of course. (Act one)
The inspector has enormous impact on the family at this point by stating the gruesome death of the girl, which a normal inspector would gloss over, he ‘shakes up’ the family at once leaving them open to his questioning. The way in which the Birling family are unsettled by the inspectors questioning by them spilling there story’s and actions to him, especially the younger generation, are fruits of certain skills in the inspectors manner, timing and vocabulary.
The timing of the inspector is key in his overall impact on the Birling family. The way the inspector turns up just as Mr Birling finish’s his projections of his capitalist views and was on a ‘pompous high’ and the inspector seems to arrive as a figure of justice to combat Mr Birling’s views. This coincidence or non coincidence has a symbolic meaning of this ‘correcting of views’ and seems to bring an ending effect and impact to Mr Birling’s actions as ‘teacher of the younger generation’ and instead of him the inspector steps in. Also the timing of the way the inspector cuts in and cuts down other characters, especially the older generation, in mid speech cows certain members of the Birling family, such as Mr and Mrs Birling, means that he asserts his authority over them so they put up less of a defence when questioned. For example:
Birling: (rather impatiently) Yes, yes. Horrid business. But I don’t understand why you should come here, inspector-
Inspector: (cutting through, massively) I’ve been round to the room she had…etc.
The manner that the inspector takes up is very self confident, bordering on rudeness, makes judgements on the other characters behaviour and also seems or pretends to know everything about each persons case before they tell him. The way the inspector makes statements which are extremely offensive when questioning the characters who are not convicted and are in there own home is a show of overwhelming self confidence. This rudeness has the impact on the family that they are so astounded by it they seem so surprised they are shaken. For example:
Mrs B: (angrily) I meant what I said. (Act 2)
Inspector: You’re not telling me the truth. (Act 2)
Mrs B: I beg your pardon! (Act 2)
The impact that the fact that the inspector seemed to know everything about each characters case even before they had told him, is that they were afraid of what he knew about them so they told him the whole truth with out lying, most of the time.
For example:
Inspector: (Sharply turning on him) Mr Croft, when did you first know her? (Act 2)
Gerald: Where did you get the idea that I know her? (Act 2)
All of these bits of the inspector investigation are calculated by him to bring maximum impact and effect on the Birling family and to slowly break down each individual characters to arrive at the truth. His cleverness of breaking down his toughest challenge, Mrs Birling, into making her condemn her own son for the girls death, always leading her on into that inescapable pit, sums up his powers.
At the end of the play he gives a quaking moral speech to the Birling Family after he is angered by Mr and Mrs Birling refuse to take any responsibility for the girls death. This speech which is said by the inspector in anger and exasperation frightens and completely unsettles the older generation of the Birling family so that they seem to cower before him.
Inspector: If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night. (Act 3)
This speech is given even more impact in a recent production of ‘An inspector calls’ were the point is bellowed by the inspector in uttermost furry at the stubbornness of Mr and Mrs Birling.
The inspector seems to have been the Birling family’s ‘moral inspector’ he rooted out there actions and bought them out in a new and embarrassing light. In some instances he seemed all most ghost like from his name to his magical appearance at the Birling’s house, or possibly some angle of justice for the poor unfortunate girl. What ever the inspector was he had a large impact on the Birling’s because they had never known anything like him, they were the upper class, they never did anything wrong, they were above the law and when they were confronted by a man from the lower end of the social standings who pointed out there wrongs they did not know what to do.