What is the dramatic role of the Inspector?
In An Inspector Calls Priestley uses the Inspector to commentate on the social issues of the time as well as acting as a humanist philosopher; he is interested in the correct treatment of human beings. The Inspector is also used to develop characters and increase the drama. Furthermore, the Inspector can be interpreted as many different beings as his identity is never fully explored. For example, he could be a conscious for the Birlings or a representation of Priestley’s political and moral views. The ambiguity that surrounds the Inspector forces the audience to have their own views about the Inspector and the Birling’s, and therefore is more effective as they are more likely to listen to the message of the play.
In the Inspector’s final speech, Priestley uses the Inspector to convey what he thinks the issues with society are and addresses them to the Birlings as well as the audience. Throughout the whole speech it is as if he is speaking to the entire audience not only the characters. Priestley does this through his use of collective pronouns, for example, "We don't live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other." Using the word ‘we’, Priestley attempts to include the audience into the issue as well referring to society as like one body. Despite the fact this was set in the 1910s the problems are still prevalent. This successfully conveys the Inspector’s socialist commentary – showing that everyone is involved in society.
Furthermore, Priestley uses the Inspector for metaphors like "intertwined" to portray his views to the audience and to try to persuade the audience to help society. In addition, Priestley uses a tri-colon in attempt to persuade the audience. For example, "One Eva Smith has gone but the are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths still with us." The repetition of ‘millions’ successfully emphasises Priestley’s point about the extent of the problem. This has both a positive and negative effect on the characters. Shelia, Eric and Gerald as the new generation seem to show remorse for Eva Smith, whilst Mr and Mrs Birling try to deny they had any wrong doing. These points show that the dramatic role of the Inspector in this scene was to persuade the Birlings and therefore the audience, to aid society if you hold a high stature in the community.
During the play the Inspector is a sort of mouthpiece for Priestley’s views. He expresses his opinions on the state as well as society, usually rebelling against popular thought. There are quite a few confrontations between Mr Birling and the Inspector as they have contrasting views. This means that the Inspector regularly comes of as being quite assertive showing that he really believes in his views and doesn’t think he needs to respect Mr Birling just because he is of higher status. Furthermore, the Inspector also talks about Shelia saying to Mr Birling, “Your daughter doesn’t live on the moon she is right here in Brumley.” Mr Birling dehumanises Shelia as it is almost like she doesn’t exist. Here Priestley is trying to show through the Inspector how self-centred Mr Birling is as he only thinks about himself and thinks his actions do not equate to anything happening around him.
In An Inspector Calls Priestley uses the Inspector to control the plot and pace of the play. The Inspector provides extra drama towards the end of the play. Mr Birling said, “this makes a difference you know.” When he was referring to the Inspector being a hoax. The audience could have gone home thinking about the fact that the play wasn’t really real so therefore not caring for the message about social change that Priestley was trying to get across. However, the audience pay attention to the morals that Priestley was trying to portray and also are able to make their own decisions about the Inspectors realism. In the end the Birlings do not get away with what they have done and therefore face the consequences of their actions and are more likely to learn their lessons.
Priestley also uses the Inspector to develop characters and provoke reactions from the audience. Priestley successfully makes the characters self confess what they have done instead of the Inspector telling them. This is effective because it allows both the Birlings and the audience to make their own judgements on the severity of what they have done. This hooks the audience interest meaning they are more likely to pay attention to the morals the Priestley is trying to get across. Mrs Birling says, “The father of that child will be entirely responsible. He ought to be dealt with severely.” Mrs Birling was made to look stupid as she incriminates Eric before the Inspector has even questioned him. This successfully provides dramatic irony as the astute members of the audience (and ironically Shiela) at this point have determined that Eric had an affair with Daisy Renton. Furthermore, it also shows how far Mrs Birling will go to find a scape goat, and believe her own innocence. They are willing to bury their head in the sand and pretend they have done nothing wrong.
Throughout the play it seems that Priestley uses the Inspector to convey the fact that society needs to change. He dislikes the fact that all of the Birlings disrespect the lower class; Shelia gets Eva Smith fired because she was jealous, misusing her high status. Priestley is clearly concerned for the welfare of human beings and he uses the Inspector to portray this in a dramatic way in which the audience will listen and relate to. In his final speech the Inspector says, “And I tell you the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.” Here Priestley uses a semantic field of hellish imagery with the words “fire, blood and anguish”. Priestley uses these words to show a vivid and haunting atmosphere of the potential future for the audience and characters. Furthermore, the use of polysyndeton prolongs the hellish imagery, as well as emphasising the words fire, blood and anguish. The Inspector’s aim during this scene is to persuade the Birlings and the audience to change their ways and help human kind. The abrupt stop at the end shows the finality of his statement.
In addition, Priestley uses the Inspector to show how the Birlings think that the working class are less superior. When Mrs Birling is being questioned by the inspector she says, “Girls of that class.” (When referring to Daisy Renton / Eva Smith.) This shows that Mrs Birling thinks that she is both socially and morally superior over Daisy Renton. Here Priestley successfully portrays that Mrs Birling thinks the poor (no matter who they are) are worthless, squalid and that their lives don’t matter. The emphasis of “that” exaggerates her disgust for the lower class. Here the Inspectors role is to try and change Mrs Birling’s view of the working class and therefore the audiences’. Furthermore, when the Inspector first challenges Mr Birling, Birling says, “Look at the way he talked to me…” This shows that Mr Birling feels his social status means that he can get better treatment from at the time someone he thought was a police inspector. This portrays to the audience that Mr Birling thinks he is superior to other people.
Furthermore, you can see throughout the play that the Inspector is clearly concerned for the welfare and dignity of human beings as he doesn’t want a repeat of Eva Smith. He has strong moral values that he wants to transfer to the audience. He is trying to convey to the audience that no matter your social status your life still matters. He says, “We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.” This is the main message that Priestley is trying to convey through the Inspector. It contrasts with Mr Birling’s capitalist view which is that it is, “every man for himself.” Priestley uses this contrast as it applies to every character in the play. In this speech the audience will react because Priestley uses the word ‘we’, it automatically involves the audience.
In An Inspector Calls the Inspector’s dramatic role of the play is to involve the audience to the issues in the play. The final lines of the play leaves the audience questioning the Inspector’s reality. When he leaves the audience judgement can fully begin as Mr and Mrs Birling simply don’t learn. This contrast to the younger generation who feel sympathy for Eva Smith and regret for what they have done. Overall the Inspector is a very effective character as he not only portrays Priestley’s opinion but shows the class divide in society.