The Role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls Examine the role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls & study the impact his role has on the rest of the characters in the play. Inspector Goole is the most important character in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ because he is the catalyst for the events that take place in the play. Priestley’s intensions were to reveal to his audience the social state of England in 1945. He felt that little had changed since the turn of the century. Preistley was a socialist and he very strongly believed that everyone should be equal. In this play Preistley shows to the audience that at this time it was Socialist vs Capitalist, and that everyone was separated in to social classes. These were working class, middle class and upper class. In the play there is a character to fit into each one of these classes: Daisy Renton / Eva Smith – Lower class Mr Birling, Eric and Sheila – Middle Class Mrs Birling and Eric – Upper class In the play I think that Inspector Goole is Priestley’s social conscience. The play was written after World War 1 but was actually set at the turn of the century (in 1912). Mr Birling thinks that he knows everything but infact what he says is a load of rubbish, such as: '"The Titanic....unsikable, absolutely unsinkable"' where it sunk on its first journey. He also says there is no chance of a war happeining, but a few years later he is again proven wrong. Mr Birling is a very shallow man. The physical description of Inspector Goole is very unique and reveals a lot about his character. The Inspector ‘creates an impression of massiveness’ and this would be intimidating for the family. Priestly describes him as having ‘solidity’ and ‘... ... middle of paper ... ...spector, some more obvious than others. For example the way in which he talks to the family, the family don't expect to be treated like this so they panic and reveal to having conections with Eva or Daisy. His name could also tell us that he is an imposter as its sound like 'ghoul' which is a ghost, in others words non existant. He has a very big effect on the family. Birling says: '"still, I can't accept any responsibility."' as he is scared of having his reputation disrupted, he would rather have his family take the blame. This shows he is a very selfish man. So I believe that Preistly shows his veiws through the character inspector Goole, he is valuable in the play because he author explain how he feels. He shows us about morality and morals. There has a good varity of characters in the play and the way the play slowly progresses is very good.
Priestley mainly uses the characters in the play to present his views, especially Mr and Mrs Birling, to present his ideas about class and society. In the Birling family, Mrs Birling is the most upper class, and is always referring to the lower class female factory workers such as Eva Smith as ‘girls of that class’. She seems to think that working class people are not humans at all.
one page 11) this indicates that he is a selfish man and cares for his
There would be more of an effect on the audience at the time, as it
How Priestly Uses the Characters to Represent His Own Views on Society The play "An Inspector Calls" is set in 1912 but was written in 1945. Edwardian society at that time (1912) was strictly divided into social classes and over two-thirds of the nation's wealth was in the hands of less than 1% of the population. Below the very rich were the middle classes (doctors and merchants, shop workers and clerks), after that came the craftsmen and skilled workers. At the very bottom of the social ladder was the largest class of all - the ordinary workers and the poor, many of whom lived below the poverty level. The men of industry treated the workers very badly and they were paid pittance.
A Comparison of Characters of Mr. Birling and Inspector Goole in J.B. Priestley's An Inspector Calls
"And be quiet for a moment and listen to me. I don't need to know any
technology and how a man should live. He says 'A man has to make his
talks with. He is a man who has come to the Birling's house to do his
Gerald finds out at the end of the play when he takes a quiet stroll
Priestley's Social Message in An Inspector Calls The play an Inspector Call’s was written at the time of 1945 but is set in 1912. Priestley conveys a lot of social and important messages in this play. He conveys the messages through the character of Inspector Goole. One most important message that Priestley conveys is about Socialism.
JB Priestley’s intent in ‘An Inspector Calls’ was to convey the attitudes of socialism to the minds of the society in the Edwardian Era as he was a passionate believer of the concept. Priestley has attempted this through the employment of ‘Inspector Goole’ in the play. In the play drama is displayed through a variety of methods for the interest of the audience and the communication of personal views from JB Priestley.
the end of the Second World War. The play is set in 1912, just before
in jeopardy than how he may have driven a young girl down a spiral to
play is set in 1912, only 2 years before the outbreak of WW1, and in
... may mean that if a person does not learn from their mistakes the first