Inspector

Argument 1: priestely creates ongoing conflict between inspector

and mr birling. Their opposing views reveal contrasting
philosophies.
“we hear a sharp ring of the doorbell?/ mr b stops to listen/ a man
needs to mind his own business and looks after himself and his
owner”
Method: stage directions. Mr b is undermined.
“sharp” -> foreshadows pain the inspector will inflict. He strongly challenges
Mr b views. “stop” shows how unexpected it was and his authority will be
diminished. It overall foreshadows inspectors dominance over arrogance.
Despite unwillingness to rigid position of denial hell be forced to listen. “sharp”
symbolises a sharp thorn in mr b side which cut through existing selfishness.
Interruption is a tactical choice to symbolise a disagreement. “minding his
business” -> attempts to justify himself as a moral virtue.
They’ll soon be asking for the earth. “they might but isn’t it better to ask
than take it?”
“might isn’t romantising lower case but recognisinng people “take” from others
like the rich. They aren’t piting against.
“public men, mr birling have responsibilities aswell as privileges”
Juxtaposition between:
1. Public man-> should use position to improve others quality of life and not
just enjoy benefit his status.
Responsibilities-> outward actions- things that you do, you give.
2. Claims to be a proud individualist, he stills expects recognition and
respect.
Using as a proxy to convey views on socialism. He strongly believes wealthy
should take responsibility for poor. He condemns rich men like birling who give
up responsibility under guise of individualism. He believes that it is basic
human decency to look after vunerable.
Argument 2: priestley introduces inspector to threaten birlings
moral indecency and forces them to accept responsibility for evas
death.
“remember what you did mrs birling. You turned her away when she
most needed help. You refused her even the pitiable bit of organised
charity.”
Verb phrases -> she failed her role as head as charitable organisation, she
neglected her duty.
“most” superlative “even” adverb-> more than neglect, deliberate act of cruelty
against eva stemmed from her arrogance, prejudice, anger. Her characterisation
lacks compassion for downtrodden.
(justified reaction-> eva named mrs birling which could be viewed as agoinisng
act but still condemns mrs birling.
Women are self absorbed in upper class. Inspector exposes these flaws and
pride. Incapable of sympathsising with poor woman. Provides an insight into
façade of charitable organisations, feel the empty lives of rich woman .
“and so you use the power you had as a daughter of a good customer
to punish the girl because she made you feel like that..”
Rhetorical question, characterisation.
He allows Sheila to see her despicable actions through own eyes.
Verb “punish” -> Sheila abuses power to feed into insecurities. Eva didn’t
deserve the disproportionate punishment. That was based on sheilas insecurities
and prejudice.
Inspector tells mr B “you made her pay a heavy price for that” and
now shell pay a heavier price still”
Metaphor becomes a consequence for mr B.
Priestely uses it to suggest eva suffers a great loss because of mr b petty greed.
Irony is a monetary metaphor and his selfishness led to sheilas loss.
Shift from past form/ present -> priestly warns him, actions of past will haunt
him. “heavier” -> reputation. Mr B will be punished in a way thatll hurt him
more than losing money. Internation of warning.
Critises the way wealthy utilises money to remove themselves from damning
situations and money cannot solve everything -> morals cannot be bought.
Argument 3: the inspector controls the speech and movement of
each character which effectively exposes their true intention.
“he has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at person he addresses
before actually speaking”
Stage directions-> establishes the character of inspector and effect on birling.
This has an immediate effect on them and his gaze makes them uneasy which is
intimidating and powerful.
The inspector has a unaffecting clear display of wealth and privledge. This
foreshadows dominance later in play.
“(dryly) I don’t play golf”
This stage direction makes the name dropping almost comical to the inspector.
The irrelevant statement creates a disparity between both.
Shows the indifference towards social class and wealth.
Writers idea: exposes the corruption that was rife amongst upper classes in
Edwardian era. Allowing them to bend laws to serve interests.
“one line of inquiry at a time”
Said to Gerald when asked why cant see picture too
Systematic in interrogation which shows he came with motive and that hes
personally invested (pursing justice for eva)
Reaction for the them catches them off guard.
He questions when vunerable to speak the truth, hes not ego driven.
“massively takes charge”
Stage direction-> despite Gerald wanting Sheila not to hear his account of affair
with eva the inspector decides. Ultimately hes in charge and driven by moral
compass.
Diverts Sheila and Gerald from fickle relationship politics and suffering of eva.
“cutting in sharply”
Stage direction-> domination over birling and cuts through presumptuous
attitude about eric and that’s not involved.
Inspectors more powerful than expected.
Ultimately doesn’t want to dismiss socialist message and maintains control over
older birlings by threatens status and fear.
Argument 4: priestely presents idea that social responsibility is
linked to self interest therefore helps individual.
“their hopes, their fears, suffering and chances of happiness all
intertwined in our lives”
Inspector departing speech
Makes a key point about society that poor need rich, and the rich need the poor.
Society= interdependent.
Rich is in need of working class, abstract noun-> they responsible to poor
because fate is in their hands. Inspector tries to each them, that they have deep
responsibility to ensure that happiness of working class.
Priestley humanises poor, teaches them compassion and empathy.
“if men will not learn their lesson they will be taught it in fire, blood,
anguish/ we are members of one body”
Biblical reference-> shows suffering and consequence of sins in afterlife->
supports theory of supernatural entity of inspector.
“blood, anguish” foreshadows B suffering is impending: war, mass strikes
undermines capitalistic interests.
Asserts need for B to take responsibility too the plight of poor to avoid pain of
consequence.