Priestley makes the speech powerful by using words with Priestley makes the speech powerful by using words with
connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical
turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the
working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”. working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”.
This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the
lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like
Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive
language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point
more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War
1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the 1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the
violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see
war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem
to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die
in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory
which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be
ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed
judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start
is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great
power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at
once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”. once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”.
Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be
metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable. metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable.
This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent
omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in
his final speech. his final speech.
Priestley makes the speech powerful by using words with Priestley makes the speech powerful by using words with
connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical
turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the
working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”. working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”.
This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the
lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like
Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive
language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point
more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War
1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the 1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the
violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see
war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem
to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die
in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory
which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be
ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed
judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start
is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great
power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at
once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”. once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”.
Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be
metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable. metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable.
This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent
omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in
his final speech. his final speech.
connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical
turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the
working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”. working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”.
This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the
lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like
Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive
language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point
more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War
1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the 1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the
violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see
war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem
to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die
in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory
which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be
ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed
judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start
is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great
power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at
once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”. once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”.
Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be
metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable. metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable.
This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent
omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in
his final speech. his final speech.
Priestley makes the speech powerful by using words with Priestley makes the speech powerful by using words with
connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical connotations of pain to emphasise the emotional and physical
turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the turmoil the Birlings and the upper class at large cause the
working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”. working/lower class. Priestley uses terms like: ”fire and anguish”.
This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the This shows that the Inspector is angry about the treatment of the
lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like lower class members of society. It seems like he wants people like
Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive Mr Birling to be punished for their actions and is using emotive
language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point language like “anguish” to get his point across and make his point
more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War more powerful. The idea of “fire and anguish” links to World War
1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the 1 because Priestley is writing post-war and understands the
violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see violence and pain that comes with warfare. Priestley seems to see
war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem war as a leveller – although men like Mr Birling and Mr Croft seem
to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die to think they are better than the poor, men from all classes will die
in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory in the war. “Fire” also has connotations of hell and purgatory
which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be which could suggest that the Inspector believes the Birlings will be
ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed ending up there. This isn’t the first time the Inspector has passed
judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start judgements on the Birlings, his tone and demeanour from the start
is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great is one of dominance and judgement. His entrance is one of great
power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at power and importance as Priestley instructs he should “create at
once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”. once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”.
Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be Perhaps Priestley is suggesting that people like the Birlings will be
metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable. metaphorically purged of their sins, and that the war is inevitable.
This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent This would certainly connect to the Inspector’s apparent
omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in omniscience throughout the play, leading to the powerfulness in
his final speech. his final speech.
