An Inspector Calls -Deep Analysis
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How is the inspector's demeanour? - ✔✔He arrives at a critical time - to interrupt Mr
Birling and his selfish views: 'a man has to mind his own business and look after
himself and his own - and - We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell.' The Inspector's
role is to show that this is not the case.
He is described in the stage directions as giving 'an impression of massiveness, solidity
and purposefulness'. He takes charge immediately and remains in control throughout.
He remains solid as each of them breaks down and nothing distracts him from his
purpose.
He is clearly there to challenge and investigate. He has a habit of 'looking hard' at the
person he is interrogating before starting to speak. This unnerves the characters.
He directs the investigation carefully, dealing with 'one line of enquiry at a time'.
Therefore, he is controlling the structure of the play.
He is a teacher - to teach each character (and the audience) of the importance of social
responsibility.
He uses aggressive, shocking emotive language to make the characters feel guilty for
the part they played in Eva Smith's death: 'she died in misery and agony'
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,How does Priestley use the Inspector to voice his message on Social Responsibility? -
✔✔Indeed, it may be said that An Inspector Calls is a play more centred on themes and
ideas than one driven by plot. Hence, Priestley uses a number of devices throughout the
text to convey his ideas about social responsibility - juxtaposition being perhaps one of
the more significant strategies employed by Priestley to highlight his ideas about the
community and social responsibility. Thus, when Mr Birling - a stereotypical construct
of Aristocratic English society - presents his monologue about the „unsinkable Titanic‟
and the „scaremongers making a fuss about nothing‟, the audience are immediately
made aware of his ignorance and self-inflated, pompous attitude, thus casting doubt
over his capitalist ideas about „mind[ing] his own business‟. This, then, is in direct
contrast to the Inspector‟s message on socialism, further highlighted by the clever
timing of the doorbell which is designed not only to unnerve the audience and the
characters, but to create a conflict between Mr Birling and the Inspector.
This conflict between the Inspector and Arthur Birling serves as a powerful dichotomy
of ideas - between capitalism and socialism - and is thus amply exploited by Priestley to
highlight both the way things were in British society during the Pre-World War 1 era,
and the immense need for change. This juxtaposition and power play, thus, add
strength to the ideas presented by Priestley. The use of the Inspector as author surrogate
gives further credence to the socialist ideal and is enforced through Priestley‟s clever
crafting of characters; Birling who is set up as a sanctimonious, arrogant, yet ignorant
fool is juxtaposed by the Inspector - a modest, yet informed individual who represents
the common people; Mrs Birling who is clearly disliked by Priestley himself, is
portrayed as an egotistical, uncaring and self-important
how Priestley uses the inspector to get the message of social responsibility? further -
✔✔The contrast between the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling to that of Sheila and Eric
also help to highlight the gradual change affecting pre-World War 1 society which led
to a demand for better working conditions for the working classes, and a smudging of
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,those lines which, until then, so uncompromisingly defined the social classes.
Accordingly, the younger generation - represented by the characters of Eric and Sheila -
portray societal shifts towards greater equality and, subsequently, become author
surrogates to some extent, joining forces with the Inspector to give further weight to
Priestley‟s socialist ideal. The conflict between the Inspector and Mr Birling are
sustained not only by the use of dramatic irony to create a negative impression of
Birling and a lack credibility which impacts on the audience‟ perception of his values,
but through his shaping of the Inspector‟s character who, despite his muted and
inferior appearance, is revealed to be the most authoritative voice in the play; the almost
transcendent, god-like voice given to the Inspector by Priestley, which carries forward
this vital message about society, individuals and the need for human understanding
and compassion, though ignored by the two older members of the family, finds root in
the hearts of the younger members- the generation who will, in time, be responsible for
shaping a new society, and thus, those who matter most.
This authority stems not only from his role of Inspector, but through his persistent use
of Socratic questioning which is merciless and unforgiving towards the other characters
despite their social superiority. Moreover, Priestley‟s perpetual use of the word
„authority‟ to describe the Inspector‟s manner, tone and register, along with his
frequent referral to the Inspector‟s „cutting in‟ of other‟s speech, immediately gives hi
'The Inspector need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of
massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.' 'cutting through, massively' - ✔✔The
Inspector assumes control, which is a disturbing shift for Birling and he immediately
tries to regain it. The Inspector interrupts Birling 'cutting through, massively'. The
omniscient Inspector is used by Priestley to further convey his views on collective /
social responsibility. The Inspector is used very effectively to highlight the corruption
and the selfish attitudes of the Edwardian society. Compare this description to Mr
Birling at the beginning. Not physically large but has authority and presence. The
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, adjectives, massiveness and "solidity" almost feels he is that solid, impenetrable object
which will metaphorically sink this family. Notice again, he like Mr Birling is also in his
fifties. We, the audience, are being invited to compare these men. The three adjectives
are significant as they are used to describe the presence of the inspector and
demonstrate his disruption to the natural hierarchy of the house. Each adjective, in a
sense elevates the inspector above Mr Birling. Structure of the language is important,
the words appear long visually and also verbally, heightening the idea that the
Inspector is a huge power which with only words will bring down a family.
'Cutting through massively' - ✔✔The directions describe the way the Inspector talks to
members of the family and is repeated constantly throughout the play to show his
power. The inspector is like the sharp sword of justice, cutting through the lies of the
family. Whenever Priestley describes the Inspector, he uses the semantic field of size:
showing the sheer importance of this man, and his power.
'We hear the sharp ring of the bell. Birling stops to listen.' - ✔✔The inspector arrives just
after Birling has made his capitalist speech and the "sharp ring of the bell" interrupts his
speech on "social responsibility, it is almost as if the inspector was summoned by the
words of avarice uttered out of Birling's mouth. The ring of the bell is "sharp" meaning
that it is almost cutting through Birling's words.
'dressed in a plain, darkish suit of the period' - ✔✔The adjective "darkish" connotes an
imagery of something ominous and sinister. The fact that the Inspector is dressed in a
"darkish suit of the period" could purport that the Inspector is going to inaugurate some
gloom and misery into the Birling family and the post-war audience in the reality of
some 'darker' aspects of the Edwardian society, such as the growing division of the
proletarians and bourgeois, and the deep-rooted patriarchal society where rich
Edwardian men, in particular, use and abuse women due to their authority and status.
The otherwise ignorant Birling family are seeing the world through 'rose-tinted glasses'
and believe "everything is alright". They are unaware of the vast turmoil that many
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
Exam Questions and Answers 100%
Pass
How is the inspector's demeanour? - ✔✔He arrives at a critical time - to interrupt Mr
Birling and his selfish views: 'a man has to mind his own business and look after
himself and his own - and - We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell.' The Inspector's
role is to show that this is not the case.
He is described in the stage directions as giving 'an impression of massiveness, solidity
and purposefulness'. He takes charge immediately and remains in control throughout.
He remains solid as each of them breaks down and nothing distracts him from his
purpose.
He is clearly there to challenge and investigate. He has a habit of 'looking hard' at the
person he is interrogating before starting to speak. This unnerves the characters.
He directs the investigation carefully, dealing with 'one line of enquiry at a time'.
Therefore, he is controlling the structure of the play.
He is a teacher - to teach each character (and the audience) of the importance of social
responsibility.
He uses aggressive, shocking emotive language to make the characters feel guilty for
the part they played in Eva Smith's death: 'she died in misery and agony'
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 1
,How does Priestley use the Inspector to voice his message on Social Responsibility? -
✔✔Indeed, it may be said that An Inspector Calls is a play more centred on themes and
ideas than one driven by plot. Hence, Priestley uses a number of devices throughout the
text to convey his ideas about social responsibility - juxtaposition being perhaps one of
the more significant strategies employed by Priestley to highlight his ideas about the
community and social responsibility. Thus, when Mr Birling - a stereotypical construct
of Aristocratic English society - presents his monologue about the „unsinkable Titanic‟
and the „scaremongers making a fuss about nothing‟, the audience are immediately
made aware of his ignorance and self-inflated, pompous attitude, thus casting doubt
over his capitalist ideas about „mind[ing] his own business‟. This, then, is in direct
contrast to the Inspector‟s message on socialism, further highlighted by the clever
timing of the doorbell which is designed not only to unnerve the audience and the
characters, but to create a conflict between Mr Birling and the Inspector.
This conflict between the Inspector and Arthur Birling serves as a powerful dichotomy
of ideas - between capitalism and socialism - and is thus amply exploited by Priestley to
highlight both the way things were in British society during the Pre-World War 1 era,
and the immense need for change. This juxtaposition and power play, thus, add
strength to the ideas presented by Priestley. The use of the Inspector as author surrogate
gives further credence to the socialist ideal and is enforced through Priestley‟s clever
crafting of characters; Birling who is set up as a sanctimonious, arrogant, yet ignorant
fool is juxtaposed by the Inspector - a modest, yet informed individual who represents
the common people; Mrs Birling who is clearly disliked by Priestley himself, is
portrayed as an egotistical, uncaring and self-important
how Priestley uses the inspector to get the message of social responsibility? further -
✔✔The contrast between the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling to that of Sheila and Eric
also help to highlight the gradual change affecting pre-World War 1 society which led
to a demand for better working conditions for the working classes, and a smudging of
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 2
,those lines which, until then, so uncompromisingly defined the social classes.
Accordingly, the younger generation - represented by the characters of Eric and Sheila -
portray societal shifts towards greater equality and, subsequently, become author
surrogates to some extent, joining forces with the Inspector to give further weight to
Priestley‟s socialist ideal. The conflict between the Inspector and Mr Birling are
sustained not only by the use of dramatic irony to create a negative impression of
Birling and a lack credibility which impacts on the audience‟ perception of his values,
but through his shaping of the Inspector‟s character who, despite his muted and
inferior appearance, is revealed to be the most authoritative voice in the play; the almost
transcendent, god-like voice given to the Inspector by Priestley, which carries forward
this vital message about society, individuals and the need for human understanding
and compassion, though ignored by the two older members of the family, finds root in
the hearts of the younger members- the generation who will, in time, be responsible for
shaping a new society, and thus, those who matter most.
This authority stems not only from his role of Inspector, but through his persistent use
of Socratic questioning which is merciless and unforgiving towards the other characters
despite their social superiority. Moreover, Priestley‟s perpetual use of the word
„authority‟ to describe the Inspector‟s manner, tone and register, along with his
frequent referral to the Inspector‟s „cutting in‟ of other‟s speech, immediately gives hi
'The Inspector need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of
massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.' 'cutting through, massively' - ✔✔The
Inspector assumes control, which is a disturbing shift for Birling and he immediately
tries to regain it. The Inspector interrupts Birling 'cutting through, massively'. The
omniscient Inspector is used by Priestley to further convey his views on collective /
social responsibility. The Inspector is used very effectively to highlight the corruption
and the selfish attitudes of the Edwardian society. Compare this description to Mr
Birling at the beginning. Not physically large but has authority and presence. The
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 3
, adjectives, massiveness and "solidity" almost feels he is that solid, impenetrable object
which will metaphorically sink this family. Notice again, he like Mr Birling is also in his
fifties. We, the audience, are being invited to compare these men. The three adjectives
are significant as they are used to describe the presence of the inspector and
demonstrate his disruption to the natural hierarchy of the house. Each adjective, in a
sense elevates the inspector above Mr Birling. Structure of the language is important,
the words appear long visually and also verbally, heightening the idea that the
Inspector is a huge power which with only words will bring down a family.
'Cutting through massively' - ✔✔The directions describe the way the Inspector talks to
members of the family and is repeated constantly throughout the play to show his
power. The inspector is like the sharp sword of justice, cutting through the lies of the
family. Whenever Priestley describes the Inspector, he uses the semantic field of size:
showing the sheer importance of this man, and his power.
'We hear the sharp ring of the bell. Birling stops to listen.' - ✔✔The inspector arrives just
after Birling has made his capitalist speech and the "sharp ring of the bell" interrupts his
speech on "social responsibility, it is almost as if the inspector was summoned by the
words of avarice uttered out of Birling's mouth. The ring of the bell is "sharp" meaning
that it is almost cutting through Birling's words.
'dressed in a plain, darkish suit of the period' - ✔✔The adjective "darkish" connotes an
imagery of something ominous and sinister. The fact that the Inspector is dressed in a
"darkish suit of the period" could purport that the Inspector is going to inaugurate some
gloom and misery into the Birling family and the post-war audience in the reality of
some 'darker' aspects of the Edwardian society, such as the growing division of the
proletarians and bourgeois, and the deep-rooted patriarchal society where rich
Edwardian men, in particular, use and abuse women due to their authority and status.
The otherwise ignorant Birling family are seeing the world through 'rose-tinted glasses'
and believe "everything is alright". They are unaware of the vast turmoil that many
COPYRIGHT © 2025 BY KATELYN WHITMAN, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 4
