When Birling discusses the war, that he believes is not going to occur he says “The Germans don’t want war”, the audience are ware and find the fact that Birling lacks common sense comical. The purpose of this is to again keep the audience entertained so when important messages are put across in the play, the audience are still interested and the message comes across more powerfully.
Most of the messages about society are conveyed through characters, especially the mysterious inspector. The character of the inspector is one of shadowy, mystical and quite suspicious manner; this done by the use of the pun on “ghoul” for the surname “Goole”. The inspector is used to present critical messages by telling the Birling family they have societal responsibilities. One of the main aims of Priestley is to show upper class and upper middle class people they do have societal responsibilities this is done by making statements such as “We don’t live alone. We are all members of one body. We are all responsible for each other”. This quotation supports Birling’s ideal of socialism as it presents the fact that socialism is all about people of one community working together so that everyone in the community is benefited, and that what you do does affect other people directly or indirectly. The inspector tells the family that what they have done is not acceptable and “If man will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it”. This implies that the suicidal death of Eva Smith was a result of the family not looking after or respecting other people of lower class.
One message that can be seen in the play is that we must live to learn from our mistakes. Every character in the play progresses from a state of ignorance to knowledge. For example Arthur Birling. He does not know his son has a drinking problem until it is too late. Birling states that from Eric’s drinking problem “I understand a lot of things I didn’t understand before”. Although later on we learn that Birling does not really learn anything from what happens, we know this because Birling “jovially” talks about the situation when he thinks it was all a hoax and thinks that it was a joke as he says “ You’ll have a good laugh over it yet.” The Birling children become upset over their fathers reaction. From what happened here we can see another message of the play; it is crucial a person supports their family unit.
The failure of the relationship between father and son and other family is illustrated by Eric’s unwillingness to talk about his problem to his dad. Eric mentions that this is because “You are not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”. The irony of this is that Birling is contradiction himself. Birling mentions earlier on in the play that “ a man has to make his own way- has to look after himself- and his family too, of course”. From the situation with Eric we know that Birling does exactly the opposite of this and members of his family feel that they cannot rely on him.
“An Inspector Calls” appears to be a real murder mystery story. The use of graphic imagery such as “burnt her insides out”, shocked all present and made them feel that it was necessary to clear the “nasty mess” of Eva Smiths life. During this period the audience are appalled to see who is guilty although no actual illegal acts are committed. There are quite a few techniques used to do this. The inspector creates an impression of massiveness, solidarity and purposefulness in order to conduct his inquiries. The inspector also “looks hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking “so he can unnerve the suspects. Another technique used by Priestly is to start deducing evidence from each in a particular order so that each character can see the part to blame is the tragedy, whilst maintaining the interest of the audience. On technique used by the Inspector is to act like a priest. The inspector gains opportunity to reveal or confess things that they would rather hide. The inspector does this by persuading and encouraging each person to acknowledge of his or her guilt for Eva Smiths suicide. This emphasises the message that every action has a consequence and that it is important to show consideration to others.
Another effect is the use of suspense throughout the play. After the inspector leaves a cliff-hanger is presented, this is whether the Birling family really did assist in the causing of Eva Smiths suicide or was the Inspector really an inspector. The ambiguous twist at the end of the play is an example of suspense used to make the audience think hard about the messages presented in the play.
“An Inspector calls” presents the message that each action you take has repercussion. The plot supports this assertion. As we know every single character played a part in the death of Eva Smith, if one person did not do what they did, another person would not have done what they done and she may not have killed herself. All the things the Birling family did to her made an i8mpact in a chain of events. It was like a cumulative effect, which drove her to the point of suicide. This is proven when Sheila acknowledges what they have done and sums up the whole situation by saying, “You turned the girl out of her job, and I had her turned out of another. Gerald kept her- at a time when he was supposed to be with me. Eric-well, we know what he did. And mother hardened her heart and gave her the final push that finished her. That’s what’s important”. The fact that every person did not help or support her, but denied her drove her to suicide. Priestly is trying to teach us that all our actions have an effect on people’s lives; it teaches us to have a societal conscience and take responsibility.
Priestley’s main aim is to show his support of socialism and to encourage others to do the same; he sows the importance of socialism using the extreme example of the suicidal death of Eva Smith. The inspector represents socialism whilst the juxtaposed figure of Arthur Birling represents capitalism. Capitalism is all about accumulating as much wealth as you can for yourself and family. Arthur Birling believes his ideals are correct. He tries to impose his family with his main principles relating to capitalism. This includes his basic belief that “a man has to make his own way-has to look after himself- and his family too, of course, if he has one-and so long as he does that he won’t come to much harm. This statement made by Arthur Birling is contradicted through the harsh example of Eva Smith. One reason she committed suicide was because Birling kicked Eva out of a job solely to benefit himself.
Another opinion expressed by Birling relating to capitalism is “But the way some of these crank talk and unite now, you’d think everybody has to look after everybody else, as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive- community and all that nonsense”. Birling is saying here that he is opposed to socialism. Socialism is about working together as a community. Again Birling is proved wrong by the fact that if he supported Eva Smith she would not be dead with her insides burnt out. This makes that socialism is the way forward as everything Birling says is proven incorrect.
Birling constantly expresses the need for being heartless, tough and selfish when it comes to business. The repetition of “hard-headed practical business man” is to show that Birling feels that there is no room for compassion when it comes to money. This is re-emphasised by the fact that “hard-headed is an alliteration”. Birling and his company “work together for lower costs and higher prices”. Again Birling is proved wrong about being “hard-headed”; this is done when Sheila mention that her mothers “hardened heart” was the final impact that drove her to suicide. This talks about the fact that being “hard” only backfires and causes problems; in this case the suicidal death of a young woman and in the process the passing away of Mr and Mrs Birling’s first grandchild.
Birling again contradicts himself, this is done when he tells Gerald he’s “just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted”. Here Birling sees this marriage as perfect because he will benefit, hence he mentions that Gerald is Gerald is just what kind of man he wants Sheila to marry. Birling claims that he “has to look after himself, and his family of course”. Birling thinks he’s family will benefit from this marriage, but he does not realise that he has not considered his daughters needs. This is emphasised by the fact that Gerald has an affair behind Sheila’s back. Birling does not get angry and tries to pretend the affair is not relevant.
Birling shows a lack of emotion and believes that strikes are wrong and everyone must accumulate their individual wealth. This is reflected in the strike at his company. He believes that it’s his “duty to keep labour costs down”, so when a strike for money comes he refuses to pay up. Birling believes he is always justified, this is reflected in the statement that he makes that “he will let them all come back- at the old rates”. He acts like the workers should be grateful that they are allowed to come back to work, even though he knows that he cannot accumulate wealth with any workers for his company. Birling also shows no emotion or remorse for the part he played in Eva Smith’s death and he acts like nothing has happened; this shows his arrogance.
The inspector behaves as the voice of socialism throughout the play. The inspector is always critical of Birling’s ideal s of capitalism and id diametrically and totally opposed to it. Priestley makes the inspector constantly defend Eva Smith and presents her as vulnerable, powerless and exploited. She represents the lower class people of the society and how they are mistreated. The inspector says “One Eva Smith has gone- but there are still millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths”. Priestley sees the problem of the mistreatment as stretching across the whole of society.
At the beginning of the play, Birling made his pro-capitalism speech when there is an interruption as the Inspector calls. This is significant as the Inspector has a chance to deliver his speech about socialism and has the last word whilst Birling is made to seem an arrogant fool and does not complete his speech. The dramatic suspense of the way the Inspector leaves, abandons the audience with the thought of his messages are conveyed. The total irony is that as a capitalist Birling is a total failure in doing what he believes in ultimately which is to look after himself and his family.
The Inspector is a complicated, enigmatic and in the end a paradoxical figure. The inspector enters the family scene in a reasonably normal manner, but then interrogates each character in a strange way. By the time the inspector leaves; the Birling family are left contemplating the idea that they drove Eva Smith to suicide. The way the family is torn apart represents the way the idea of capitalism is torn apart to see what severe effects of it are going to be left behind.
Inspector Goole has many important roles in the play. That inspector acts as the storyteller and the interrogator, linking the separate incidents into one well-written story. The inspector is very unlikely to be a real Inspector. He represents a religious figure, the Inspector uses religious language in his final speech, “their lives, their hopes and fear, their suffering”. Another piece of evidence, which suggests Priestley is a religious figure, is the speech Birling makes before he leaves, he speaks like he’s God by judging the Birling family.
The inspector is also a social leader trying to gain support for his cause and equality fro everyone, however rich or poor. Birling tells the rich Birlings that the way they treated Eva Smith (or up to five other girls) was bad, they did however give her money but they kicked her out of jobs, made her pregnant and made her feel desperate. This message is important and if the audience realise this then they are shown what inequality can do to a poor, innocent young girl.
Priestley did not want to promote one single perception of who the inspector really was. The reason why he was not revealed to be a hoaxer was in order to add dramatic effect to the play, and to provide an unresolved tension. The inspector is also used to express the message of societal responsibility towards other members of the community. Priestley mentions that they must share responsibility of Eva’s death and guilt for others misfortune. To conclude his appearance in the play the inspector makes a stern moral speech about the need for collective responsibility, “if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish”. This directly contrasts Arthur Bingley’s speech, which discusses the issue about every man looking after himself and only the fittest survive. Mr and Mrs Birling feel they need not have a sense of societal responsibility. This is reflected in their response to Eva Smith’s death. Arthur Birling says that there is truth in the Inspectors saying, however Birling contradicts this by continuing to say that he “can’t accept any responsibility” for the girl’s fate although he employed her and later sacked her. Arthur Birling’s attitude also shows his irresponsibility to the society. As he is questioned by the inspector, Birling becomes inpatient and complacent about the inspectors attitude by saying “Then look at the way he talked to me”. Arthur Birling tells his son Eric that it was time to face “a few responsibilities” which again contradicts himself by Arthur not taking any responsibility for Eva’s death and makes him appear hypocritical. Mrs Birling consistently refuses to accept any responsibility that she had a part to play in Eva’s death- Priestley’s characters is stereotypical of the social classes of the time period.
The plot of the play is simple but to conclude becomes quite confusing. The main shock received from the play is the ending, when it is exposed that having discussing and believing in the fact that the inspector was a hoax, the suicidal death of a youthful woman was confirmed. It is at this point they realise it may not have been different girls, but the same one. The family feel remorse now as they already acknowledged they are to blame for her death. The mysterious and ambiguous ending is to deliberate technique used by Priestley. I t is done to give the audience time to ponder over the play and to see the mistakes made by the family. Birling is the person who receives the phone call at the end of the play, this is done to show that this is Birlings last chance to acknowledge his part to play in Eva’s death and to realise he has societal responsibilities. The telephone call is used to provide an understanding of the social messages within the play.
Priestley also conveys the message that there will always be social injustice, this is cleverly devised by the character s realising that they may have done wrong to several girls, which they feel is perfectly acceptable. The family has completely forgotten that they had treated a number of girls with complete disregard. The family feel that they are free from guilt because no one has actually died. However they are proven incorrect later on as we know. The older generation do not show remorse or accept shame. The younger generation, in contrast show guilt and remorse, Sheila says “but now you’re beginning all over again”.
Gerald Croft has been raised with some sense of responsibility towards the less privileged of the society, but these views are not felt by the older generation because of the traditions of his class. The message here is that traditions will always get in the way of fair and equal treatment of everyone. Eva Smith represents ordinary people, hence the surname “Smith” which is very common. Eva’s character represents lower class people who have been destroyed by indifference and social divisions when they are denied dignity, respect or compassion. Priestley conjures up sympathy in the audience as a young life is destroyed by the Birlings, who represent upper class people’s complacency, selfishness and total disregard for others.
The audience become psychologically drawn into believing that no girl has died and that Birling family are innocent. The shock at the need makes you realise that the family may not be innocent after all. When the inspector arrives he says, “A young woman has died in an infirmary”. In the closing speech by Birling he states that, “A girl has just died- on her way to the infirmary”. This makes the audience believe that this is a deliberate action and that the Birling family are to blame.
The messages Priestley present in the play are vital to any society. There is a strong message about the need to care for others in society. The characters in the Birling family are unamiable, however some of them, such as Sheila face up to their actions and are able to learn a social message we can empathise for them. Due to this Priestley’s message has been conveyed effectively. Priestley’s aim is to influence the audience about societal responsibilities which all leads to the need for socialism. There are twists and confusion deliberately placed in the play to make the audience ponder further the aims of Priestley in the play. There is considerable dramatic impact used in the play so the audience were consistently interested in the play.
By Oluwatoyin Aiyegbusi