inspector Flashcards
(11 cards)
overview
Priestley uses the character of the Inspector in ‘An Inspector Calls’ as a vehicle to bring attention to the need for social responsibility through his persistent, direct and authoritative approach to questioning. Priestley aligns himself with socialist ideologies by utilising the Inspector as a mouthpiece to condemn the selfish and ignorant mindset held by the capitalist older generation.
quote 1
Inspector Goole.’ (p.11).
Significance in Edna announcing the arrival of the Inspector as he acts as the mouthpiece for working class individuals just like herself.
· ‘Goole’ acts as a homophone for ‘Ghoul’ in that the Inspector’s words will continue to haunt the Birling family until they recognise the need to take responsibility for their actions.
· Placement of two ‘OO’s in ‘Goole’ is reminiscent of two eyes as the Inspector acts as a figure of surveillance.
quote 2
‘(Coolly, looking hard at him) There might be.’
‘coolly’—shows that the inspector has control over his emotions, making him seem more powerful in that he is not easily unsettled.
· ‘Looking hard at him’—reinforces the inspector as being a figure of surveillance, furthermore it makes the inspector seem intimidating
· ‘There might be’—the inspector doesn’t feel the need to react and holds the power in what he doesn’t say, not giving them excessive information
· Antithesis to Mr Birling as he thinks that he holds power by saying lots and always sharing information or ideas
quote 3
“She’s dead” (pg 24)
· Very straightforward and blunt in his response, gets straight to the point and doesn’t want to waste time
· Expects Sheila to be more mature and act her age, doesn’t simplify things for her
· Doesn’t infantilise her the same way her family do
quote 4
“And that’s why I’m here, and why I’m not going until I know all that happened” (pg 25)
· Persistent in what he wants and won’t budge until he gets a response that he’s looking for
· As a reader we feel a high element of trust as we know he is determined and knows what he wants
· This is unlike mr Birling, who has to make everything about business and his capitalistic ideologies
quote 5
‘(Cutting in with authority) He must wait his turn.’ —pg33
- ‘‘He must wait his turn’ – won’t be commanded by Mr Birling, very methodical with his approach
- Links to ‘One line of enquiry at a time’
- Makes him more trustworthy as he sticks to what he said before
- The use of the imperative verb ‘must’ reinforces the inspector’s authoritative demeanour in that he gives commands to the Birlings
quote 6
massively) Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges’ pg41
- ‘massively’—shows how The Inspector remains in command
- ‘Public men…’—the inspector again uses Mr Birling’s words against him as a way of showing how ridiculous they are
- ‘Responsibilities as well as privileges’— almost like socialism against capitalism
- Reinforces the need for social responsibility as well as the rich having the responsibility to look after the less fortunate
quote 7
‘You know very well there was, Mrs Birling. You were in the chair.’ —pg42
- ‘You know very well there was’—alludes to the Inspector’s omniscience since he already knows what happened
- ‘You were in the chair’—places responsibility on Mrs Birling for her actions while being the judge of the situation
- Shows how Mrs Birling was in power yet she abused it; role of the Inspector to expose the abuse of privilege and power from the upper class.
quote 8
‘One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us’ pg 56
- Polysyndetic listing used to emphasise the sheer extent of people suffering without receiving any sympathy or support
- ‘Smith’, ‘Eva’ and ‘John’ were extremely common names in that time, therefore they are emblematic of wider society
- Role of inspector is to act as a mouthpiece for the average working-class individual in society, who doesn’t hold enough power to challenge the misconduct of the upper class.
quote 9
‘We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other’ pg 56
- Inspector embodies socialism
- Shows how everyone is connected in a deep level, where society is the result of everyone’s combined actions
- ‘We don’t live alone’— Priestley presents a moral duty to look after others. He suggests ignoring this is not only selfish, but also delusional
