The inspector
● Inspector Goole presents himself to the Birlings and gerald as a police officer who
has come to investigate the suicide of Eva Smith.
- He interrupts the celebratory dinner
- Questions each of the other characters in turn
- Establishes that each has an unwitting part of Eva Smith's death, though
either cruelty or disregard for her welfare.
- Gradually takes more control of the situation and has little regard for social
class or status.
- Makes a powerful speech about our responsibility to each other in the wider
society.
● Priestley uses the character of inspector Goole to present his ideas about the need
for a just society and a communal sense of responsibility. As well as increasingly
governing events at the Birling house, the inspector also links all the characters to
the ‘chain of events’ that culminates in Eva Smith’s suicide.
● He is a man of ‘massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’ - shows how the
inspector’s physical presence matches his identity. Imposing figure who will dominate
the play and will achieve his aims.
● ‘One person and one line of enquiry at a time, otherwise there’s a muddle’ - liked to
do things in an orderly way, this allows Priestley to build the play up as a ‘chain of
events’. This indicates that all the Birlings and Gerald are involved in the inquiries
● ‘He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector’ - suggests he was different in
some way or that he was somehow ‘extraordinary’ more than human. His distinctive
and mysterious presence sets him apart from the other characters.
● The inspectors traits of single mindedness when questioning the characters ability to
overrule them, his power and magnetism, his oratory and the way in which he affects
Sheila and Eric so that they comfort their actions.
● Goole, a homophone for ‘ghoul’ suggesting a phantom and also a morbid interest in
death, reminding us that his concern is Eva smith's death. The inspector’s origin is
unknown.
, Authoritative
● He presents himself as a person of authority, who even Mr Birling and
Gerald Croft, his social superiors, find it difficult to contradict
● He is assertive and powerful – the upper class are used to police
officers who speak to them respectfully and do not accuse them of
misdeeds. They find the Inspector very difficult.
● He takes charge of the dinner party and the interrogation, carefully
questioning one family member at a time, in the order he chooses –
when Mr Birling tries to change that order, he flatly refuses.
Acts like a teacher
● Despite interrogating the characters, Inspector Goole does not actually
openly accuse them of anything until they admit to their actions - he
teaches the characters.
● He gets them to understand the roles they played and lets them either
feel remorse or show a lack of compassion.
● He causes each character to develop and waits to see if they will use
this as an opportunity to change their ways.
Highlights the faults of the upper classes
● Inspector Goole refuses to be intimidated by the Birlings’ upper-class
status. He refuses to treat them differently.
● Priestley uses him to show how shocked the Birlings are by this – this
suggests that they expect special treatment purely because of their
social class.
● Inspector Goole knows most of the details of Eva Smith’s story and the
family’s involvement before he even asks them – this terrifies the
Birlings (who react aggressively) because they work so hard to put up a
perfect family image.
Significance of the inspector
Inspector Goole encourages social equality with how he treats the Birlings and
Gerald. He is Priestley's mouthpiece for anti-capitalist and pro-socialist messages.
● Inspector Goole presents himself to the Birlings and gerald as a police officer who
has come to investigate the suicide of Eva Smith.
- He interrupts the celebratory dinner
- Questions each of the other characters in turn
- Establishes that each has an unwitting part of Eva Smith's death, though
either cruelty or disregard for her welfare.
- Gradually takes more control of the situation and has little regard for social
class or status.
- Makes a powerful speech about our responsibility to each other in the wider
society.
● Priestley uses the character of inspector Goole to present his ideas about the need
for a just society and a communal sense of responsibility. As well as increasingly
governing events at the Birling house, the inspector also links all the characters to
the ‘chain of events’ that culminates in Eva Smith’s suicide.
● He is a man of ‘massiveness, solidity and purposefulness’ - shows how the
inspector’s physical presence matches his identity. Imposing figure who will dominate
the play and will achieve his aims.
● ‘One person and one line of enquiry at a time, otherwise there’s a muddle’ - liked to
do things in an orderly way, this allows Priestley to build the play up as a ‘chain of
events’. This indicates that all the Birlings and Gerald are involved in the inquiries
● ‘He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector’ - suggests he was different in
some way or that he was somehow ‘extraordinary’ more than human. His distinctive
and mysterious presence sets him apart from the other characters.
● The inspectors traits of single mindedness when questioning the characters ability to
overrule them, his power and magnetism, his oratory and the way in which he affects
Sheila and Eric so that they comfort their actions.
● Goole, a homophone for ‘ghoul’ suggesting a phantom and also a morbid interest in
death, reminding us that his concern is Eva smith's death. The inspector’s origin is
unknown.
, Authoritative
● He presents himself as a person of authority, who even Mr Birling and
Gerald Croft, his social superiors, find it difficult to contradict
● He is assertive and powerful – the upper class are used to police
officers who speak to them respectfully and do not accuse them of
misdeeds. They find the Inspector very difficult.
● He takes charge of the dinner party and the interrogation, carefully
questioning one family member at a time, in the order he chooses –
when Mr Birling tries to change that order, he flatly refuses.
Acts like a teacher
● Despite interrogating the characters, Inspector Goole does not actually
openly accuse them of anything until they admit to their actions - he
teaches the characters.
● He gets them to understand the roles they played and lets them either
feel remorse or show a lack of compassion.
● He causes each character to develop and waits to see if they will use
this as an opportunity to change their ways.
Highlights the faults of the upper classes
● Inspector Goole refuses to be intimidated by the Birlings’ upper-class
status. He refuses to treat them differently.
● Priestley uses him to show how shocked the Birlings are by this – this
suggests that they expect special treatment purely because of their
social class.
● Inspector Goole knows most of the details of Eva Smith’s story and the
family’s involvement before he even asks them – this terrifies the
Birlings (who react aggressively) because they work so hard to put up a
perfect family image.
Significance of the inspector
Inspector Goole encourages social equality with how he treats the Birlings and
Gerald. He is Priestley's mouthpiece for anti-capitalist and pro-socialist messages.
