Explore the Way Priestley Presents and Uses the Character of the Inspector in an Inspector Calls

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Initially, the character of the Inspector is presented by Priestley as a Policeman with the rank of Inspector, investigating a death. However, by the end of the play, he appears to be a mysterious and omniscient character who seems to know a great deal about the past and future. He says “I’m waiting… to do my duty” just before Eric’s return at the end of Act two, and appears to know that Eric will return. This creates a sense of unease for the audience and the Inspector appears to be in complete control of events on stage. By the end of the play he says “I haven’t much time” as he tries hard to transform the characters and persuade them to admit their guilt.

Interestingly, Priestley also presents the character of the Inspector as having a mysterious sounding name “Inspector Goole”. This creates a sense of unease for the audience as it can be interpreted as a pun or homophone on the word “ghoul”, implying that he may be a supernatural presence from the future. As an audience, we come to realise that his character might be used by Priestley to warn against the dangers of Capitalisation but he is also presented as a ghostly character and this helps to further create a feeling of unease for the audience. Priestley deliberately wishes to shock the other characters and audience at the end of the play. The dramatic device of a sound effect of the doorbell ringing creates a rise in tension again as a genuine Police Inspector arrives to question the family. In doing this, Priestley creates a supernatural feeling of menace and threat and the audience questions who the Inspector really was and what his intentions were.

Priestley presents the Inspector as a purposeful character who challenges conventions in Edwardian Society. He is portrayed as determined to follow one line of enquiry and is portrayed as having a hidden strategy when he calmly states “one person and one line of enquiry at a time”. In this way, Priestley shows the Inspector as manipulative as he interviews each character in a direct and interrogative tone, creating tension on stage as he tries to force them to admit the truth. He frequently interrupts characters and directs his own line of questioning, already appearing to know the answers. He reveals that he now possesses the truth from reading Eva’s secret diary but wishes the characters to admit the truth themselves. The Inspector is clearly used by Priestley to represent his own Socialist views as he questions each character, showing photographs to individuals and withholding information from others as he investigates the death of Eva Smith. He is conveyed as a convincing Police Inspector but his methods are questioned by Gerald after he has left in Act three and his authenticity is questioned by the characters and even the audience.

In fact, Priestley’s Socialist beliefs can often be seen to be delivered through the Inspector’s dialogue and interactions with other characters. His final speech impacts heavily upon Sheila who understands the need to change her behaviour and to act in a more socially responsible way. The Inspector is used by Priestley to present the idea of a divide between Eric and Sheila and their older parents suggested in his statement “we often have an impact on the younger ones”. The Inspector uses persuasive language in his final speech to enforce the idea of collective responsibility and he argues “One Eva Smith has gone but there are millions and millions and millions… still left with us”. Here, the Inspector uses emotive language and the present tense to create a sense of guilt. The use of repetition also helps to develop a sense of power and is very effective as Priestley uses the Inspector to confront the audience and characters on stage in a direct and powerful speech, reminding us all that we are all members of one society.

In addition, the powerful imagery created in the phrase “fire blood and anguish” further develops our impression of the Inspector as being from another spiritual realm or place. He is presented as Prophet like in his choice of words which sound unsettling and angry in tone. Here, the Inspector may be referring to the recent world conflicts but it might be that Priestley refers to the book of Revelations in order to remind the audience that we must all atone for our sins at the end of the world. This also deepens our impression of the Inspector as an omniscient and mysterious character who is able to predict the future.

Finally, Priestley uses the character of the Inspector to help transform characters on stage, most specifically he has the greatest impact on Sheila who begins to transform as a character during the course of the play. She is quick to admit her guilt under interrogation by the Inspector and her response is in direct contrast to that of her parents, creating a contrast to their outdated Edwardian views as they refuse to admit that their privileged social position comes with a responsibility towards others in society. The Inspector interrogates the Birling family as Sheila warns them to tell the truth and she says "he's giving us the rope - so that we'll hang ourselves". We now view Sheila in a more sympathetic light as she realises the pointlessness in avoiding answering the Inspector’s questions, demonstrating that she has come to develop an understanding of the Inspector’s methods. Her comment is insightful when she talks about ““building up a wall..that’s sure to be knocked down flat”. Sheila uses a metaphor of a wall to explain that the Inspector will break through their lies and deception. This contrasts to her presentation at the start of the play when she was portrayed as a rather “self-satisfied” and spoilt young woman. The other characters are slower to understand the Inspector’s methods and by the end of the play, her transformation is complete. Sheila’s use of interruptions and terse, serious responses remind us of the Inspector’s character as if she has metamorphosed into a feminine version of Inspector Goole attempting to make her family admit their guilt.eg

In conclusion, Priestley presents the character of the Inspector as more interested in morality than criminality; he wishes to educate the Birling family about their collective responsibility to the wider society. His character is presented as deeply mysterious and his final direct address to the family and audience is intense and thought-provoking. As Sheila succinctly says, “I tell

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