The first entrance is of the Inspector, creating a feeling of “massiveness, solidity and purposefulness” as he enters. This enhances the image of him being powerful and in control. It is an immense entrance as Mr. Birling indulges in self-satisfaction and boasts about how he is a great ‘businessman’ and celebrates the achievements of his life, ‘increasing prosperity’. However, Inspector Goole is about to take their happiness and glory away from him. This entrance also leads to dramatic irony as Mr. Birling claims that Eva Smith’s death ‘has nothing to do with him’, but he is actually partially to blame for the events, which lead to her suicide. Also, the inspector says to The Birlings and Gerald, ‘it is better to ask for the earth than to take it’. This shows dramatic irony furthermore because the audience later discover that Eric himself has stolen from his father.
Sheila later returns and enters into the dining room where she finds the Inspector with her father Mr. Birling, and Gerald. Sheila is feeling very happy and when she is informed about Eva Smith’s death, she is overcome with guilt. This shows the contrast between Mr. Birling and Sheila, as Sheila is aware of her guilt straight away, whereas Mr. Birling is too arrogant to consider it. She knows that her actions have led to the death of Eva Smith although Mr. Birling still feels that he has nothing to do with it. Mr. Birling patronises Sheila and talks down to her. This illustrates that Mr. Birling wants to bring the questioning to an abrupt end so he can protect his business, ‘there’s nothing else’. Therefore, he tells Sheila it is ‘nothing to do with you, run along’; for fear that she may say something that could destroy his career and reputation as a ‘hard-headed businessmen’. Thereafter, Sheila rushes from the room with dismay, showing her guilt.
After the Inspector has spoke to Mr. Birling and Gerald, Sheila returns. She shows great remorse and sympathy towards Eva Smith. This again reflects the different characteristics between Mr. Birling and herself, ‘father didn’t think it amounted to much-but I felt rotten’. Sheila, having had time to think about what has happened, starts to change character and shadows the Inspector. She begins to imitate his actions and think in the same way he does. It is vital to the play that Sheila starts to change character and develop into an inspector herself, as she then helps Inspector Goole with his inquiries.
The Inspector knows that he has won over Sheila and made her think like him and consequently he leaves. This is an important exit as Sheila can now interrogate Gerald on how he knew Eva Smith. An indication to us that shows that Sheila has changed is when he leaves; he simply looks from Sheila to Gerald, knowing that he can trust Sheila to question him. He does not need to ask. This also shows his vast knowledge in everything and hints at his supernatural ability to know things.
After Sheila has had time to interrogate Gerald, the inspector enters. This creates dramatic tension as he has entered at a crucial moment, knowing that Gerald has something to confess. The Inspector walks in and asks a question; ‘well?’ he knows that he has triumphed over Gerald and because Sheila is now on his side, he need not ask her anything that Gerald said, he is all-knowing in that Gerald will tell him himself. This also develops the image of him being very different.
The beginning of Act 2 also enhances the Inspectors all-knowing ability. As Mrs. Birling enters, she makes herself look inane, ‘I’m Mrs. Birling’, as the inspector already knows who she is, and so this illustrates her arrogance. Mrs. Birling also creates dramatic irony as she informs the inspector, ‘I don’t think we can help you much’, whereas in fact, they can and do help him with his inquiries about the death of Eva Smith.
The next exit is when Gerald leaves the dining room. It is imperative that he leaves at this point, as he is the person who discovers that Inspector Goole is not “real”.
The following exit is also essential and very important. Eric must leave the dining room in this situation, as his family are about to find out that he, in truth, is the man who made Eva Smith pregnant. If Eric were not yet to leave then the dramatic irony would be lost. This is due to Mrs. Birling not realizing that her son is to blame, and therefore she condemns the father of the child and says that ‘he ought to be dealt with very severely.’ Eric’s exit again builds up the image of the Inspector being supernatural and additionally all knowing, as when he leaves and ‘the front door slams’ the family assume it to be Gerald returning. The inspector suggests ‘your son has just gone out’, which in truth he has. Mr. Birling later confirms that it was Eric, which once more implies that the inspector has a mind of the supernatural and that he is more than a ‘simple policeman’.
Eric makes the next entrance at the very end of Act 2. This is the most substantial of them all as it creates massive, dramatic tension. Eric’s family have just discovered that he is responsible for getting the girl into trouble. The whole scenario demolishes the Birlings’ own perfect world as everything they would like to hide away is now becoming open to the outside world. As it is at the end of an act, it dramatises the play and it captures the audience’s interest and attention because they want to know what the consequences will be for Eric, edging them to edges of their seats. This timing is perfect stagecraft by Priestley.
At the beginning of Act 3, Mrs. Birling and Sheila leave the dining room after being disturbed by what has happened, only to re-enter minutes later. Their entrance is important as it enhances the ignorance and arrogant assumptions of Mr. Birling. Eric confesses to stealing money from his father and for putting the girl in her condition. Whilst Mrs. Birling tries to come to terms with this, Mr. Birling is arrogantly asking for his money to be immediately repaid. This enhances his selfishness, as a young girl; Eva Smith has taken her life and Mr. Birling only cares about his wealth. This characteristic of Mr. Birling is made clear to the audience, causing further abhorrence towards him.
Before the Inspector’s final exit, he enhances his own image of being of the supernatural. This is when Eric, startled, asks the Inspector if Eva Smith had told him about the stolen money, and he replies ‘I never spoke to her’. This build-ups the picture of Inspector Goole being supernatural as it makes you wonder how he knew about all the events that have occurred, if he never spoke to anybody about them.
After dramatising his illusion of the supernatural to the highest peak, the Inspector leaves. However, before doing so, he gives a speech to The Birling family, leaving them with powerful words, which he knows will stay with them. He tells them how ‘none of you will forget’ and makes them think about the consequences in which their actions have led to. He comments on how ‘one Eva Smith has gone’, but there are millions of Eva Smiths and John Smith’s still left, and that we do not live alone and if man will not learn that lesson, then they will be ‘taught in fire and blood and anguish’. These important words have an effect on The Birlings, all except Arthur Birling, who is quick to blame all on his son in that there will be ‘a public scandal’. This enhances his arrogance. The Inspector tries to warn the family to treat people equally, just like their maid Edna, who symbolically resembles Eva Smith. The Inspector exits, increasing the dramatic tension and leaving the Birlings to give thought to what he said.
The final entrance is at the end of Act 3, which is made by Gerald. His entrance builds astonishment throughout the audience as he informs the Birlings that Inspector Goole was ‘a fake’, maximising the drama of the play. However, before the curtain falls, there is the denouement in which the audience find out that another Inspector is coming round to investigate the Birlings, leaving much imagination to the audience. This is also well-structured stagecraft as it adds to the dramatisation of the play.
When the phone rings, the Birlings believe it to be Gerald but find out that it was an inspector who rung, confirming that there was no suicide therefore there was no Eva Smith.
Sheila and Eric have changed whereas Mr and Mrs Birling haven’t. To enhance a dramatic ending, the phone rings and the Birlings are told that an inspector is coming round. This shows that it is a morality play, as it seems to the audience that the Inspector is going to keep returning to investigate the Birlings about Eva smith until they have changed into better people.
