“Role of facing conscience” the inspectors last speech was, powerful and dramatic similar to political speeches. It is so dramatic and powerful because of the use of strong-minded words, which are memorable phrases like “we don’t live alone, we are members of one body and I tell you that the time will soon come when if men will not learn that lesson they will be taught fire and blood and anguish” (act2, pg56)
Overall JB Priestly is trying to put across that we need to use collective responsibility, in order to maintain peace in the world. If we don’t then it could result in a war, because personal suffering or as in this case someone committing suicide. JB Priestly has shown that each theme in the play was to, bring awareness to the characters and the audience.
Act 1 opened with a conversation between Birlings family and Gerald. The family are celebrating the success, of their daughter’s engagement. Mr Birling appears to be showing a “hard-headed” businessman, who is more concerned with high profits than the welfare of his employees. He is seen to be thinking very highly of himself, as he believes he will do things his way. JB Priestly has revealed early on Mr Birlings selfishness as a businessman, who is only interested in profits only. I think JB Priestly intended to symbolize Mr Birling as an upper middle classed, man of the time. As Mr Birling believes that through experience he knows that there will be no war, he claims the Titanic is “unsinkable” (act1, pg7) the audience can understand his foolishness and how dense he is.
The inspector build tension up tension between the Birlings family at a early stage, by questioning each character and making a clear justified point, to their unlawful acts of selfishness used on Eva Smith. JB Priestly uses the inspector to show his audiences, how problematic and arrogant middle class men and women were during that period of time. The inspector in the play has an important role, in the play which can be identified as the person who encourages each character, to acknowledge their guilt for Eva Smith’s death. Which leads some character to face up to what they did.
The first appearance of the inspector in act 1, it is seen that the inspector is hovering over the characters. As the audience reading the book or watching the play it is seen, that the inspector is creating an impression of, solidity and determination to get to the bottom of this incident. This is shown by the inspector refusing to let, Gerald see the photograph. The inspectors eagerness in making sure that Gerald sees the photograph, he says that he likes to work this way (act1, pg12) “One person and one line of inquiry at a time”. His spoken language is spoken attentively with a intriguing tone and a confusing look. “Takes a photograph about a postcard and goes to Mr Birling” (act1, pg12). Once he has shown the photograph he stares firmly at Mr Birling then begins to question him, by giving his new information such as hinting out that she worked for him. In act 2 when the inspector has questioned Sheila, he turns to Mrs Birling he speaks to her with a controlled steady tone, but gradually it changes negatively and becomes more challenging as you can see by his approach “She came to you for help, at a time when no woman could have needed it more” (act2, pg45). The inspector is trying to force Mrs Birling to admit her part, in Eva Smith’s death. The inspector speech to Mrs Birling is powerful and persuasive.
JB Priestly has shown many ways to how the Inspector helps to build tension, up amongst the characters when questioning them. The inspector helps the character to confront their own weaknesses, which makes them feel shocked and guilty. At the beginning of the play the atmosphere at the Birlings is lively, because of Shelia and Gerald’s engagement do. With great amazement it is suddenly changed, when there is a knock on the door. Before the appearance of the inspector the audience can tell Mr Birling acts a very self-confident and smug. He believes strongly in a capitalist world. JB Priestly has shown that the Mr Birling can be a well spoken, confident person who likes to speak and share his thoughts, to society but what he does not know how his actions affect others. You can tell this from his speech, before the inspector makes an appearance. (act1, pg9, 10) “Man has to make his own way, has to look after himself and his family too” he does not consider the harm he causes to other people with his attitude.
In act 1 Mr Birling refuses to accept any responsibility, for Eva Smiths death. He becomes increasing annoyed by the inspectors questioning. (act1, pg14) “Still I can’t accept any responsibility” shows that he has an honest approach to life he, tells the inspector that he wouldn't listen to Eva Smith's demand for a wage rise 'I refused' and is surprised why anyone should question why he refused. (act1, pg15) JB Priestly has shown what Mr Birling is like, and to what approach can be effective towards him to see his real personality this was done by the inspector questioning him briefly.
In the beginning Sheila is seen as an, immature girl who follows others. She is 'very pleased with life' (act1, pg2) She is young attractive, her happiness is soon to be destroyed, as is her faith in her family. I think she had been accompanied all her life and she followed others, but once the inspector makes an unexpected appearance it all changes. She realises that she has some sort of connection with, Eva Smith and that’s when the guilt starts to rule over her. She begins to feel distressed and sympathetic towards the death by wanting to accept the blame. Sheila seems really focused unlike the other characters, in wanting to know what happened to her and is willing to help by being honest to the inspector.
Once the inspector has questioned Shelia, he says to her “So you used the power?” (act1, pg24) Sheila says “Oh I wish you hadn’t told me” (act1, pg17) this shows that he is pulling Sheila down. When the inspector speaks to Sheila, he speaks to her by giving her a lot of guilt and self-doubt, which makes Sheila re-question her integrity, to what she did and thought. For instance the inspector says to Sheila “cheap labour” (act1, pg19). Her response to that is very touching and makes the audience think twice, about Sheila as she replies “girls aren’t cheap labour”. At that point Sheila begins to argue and show some thought to what the inspector said, and responds thoughtfully and supportively.
JB Priestly has shown Sheila as the only one who sees and understands, what the inspector is trying to do. Her response to the tragedy is one of the few encouraging ones. She is genuinely upset when she hears Eva Smiths death, and learns from her own actions. She is distressed by the girl's suicide and thinks that her father's behaviour was unacceptable. She agrees that she behaved badly and insists that she never meant the girl any harm. Sheila shows that she is prepared to admit her faults, she appears to be keen and anxious to change her behaviour. The inspectors appearance to the scene has developed and affected everyone in the play, over all the characters in the play tend to deny that they don’t care and it has not hurt them as much by playing the, role of denial.
The final scene when the inspector says his “good-bye” the speech is an important scene, because this is where the inspector shows the true colours, of what he thinks of the Birling families action to Eva Smith’s death. This was done by stating the true facts “ We are all responsible for each other I tell you that the time will come when if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” (act3, pg56). This basically reflects on to meaning that we all do bad things to people, at the end within time the truth makes us face reality which is painful, to accept and to take action straightway. The inspectors speech shows us that it is not right to hurt others, by treating them differently from their upbringings, so there is no need for stereotypical or inequality remarks. To conclusion his last speech “they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” he warns the Birling family off by telling them that there is more to come and it is not over yet, not until you can face up to society with the truth. It also shows that never play with fire.
This speech has an effect on the characters, both positively and negatively. Mr Birling does not care and he feels that himself and his wife were rightly to do what they did, without a doubt. He continues to ignore the shameful things, that himself and his family have done. When it appears that the inspector might be a hoaxer, he is happy to believe that everything is as it was a few hours ago. Sheila is unable to accept her parent’s attitude and is both amazed and concerned, that they have not learnt anything from the episode. Although the inspector might be a hoaxer, the family have still behaved in an entirely unsuitable manner. Sheila learns that her responsibilities to others are less fortunate, than herself she has become more sensitive, she is eager to learn from the whole experience. Eric is also to be blame and is willing to recognise to what he did and own up to it like Sheila.
All the characters apart from Gerald were all deeply affected. But Gerald was one person who was not affected by it as much. This may have been done because JB Priestly thought, he could be the one who pulls the Birlings family hopes, in saying the inspector was not real and now we can settle and move on from that scandalous event, which destroyed our happy moment earlier. After the inspector had left the scene it began to show, the characters true personalities. In how they just tried to put the evenings events behind them and move on. The only person who was truly affected by all of this was Sheila and Eric was effect a little. Throughout the play I have learnt a lot about the families qualities and weaknesses. I think that JB Priestlys aim was to explain to his audience, that if we were like the Birling family we would need to change sooner that later, and also to be more considerate and caring towards others.
Now you can see whom the inspector changed and whom he had no effect on. The play promotes a socialist idea through the inspector. The audience understand what the inspector was trying to, put across in his last powerful speech in act 3. JB Priestly has given the audience a chance to decide whether or not they agree with the inspectors speech. Over all it is a very clever play, making the audience think, not just of themselves but other peoples actions as well.
I have thoroughly enjoyed reading the play as it showed people hurting others, with their immoral actions and how it is wrong to move on without dealing with the current situation. The play ends in a moral way, by showing how future events in life cause damage, to a persons life in a tragic way. It has also revealed how maturity comes from experiences throughout a persons life and how real fate can be destined to you, personally and change you for they way you think about society and people.
