Inspector Goole's Role Within the Play

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Explore Inspector Goole’s role within the play essay

Inspector Goole is the prominent character in the play. This is even indicated before the audience is even introduced to him. The name ‘Goole’ sounds to the audience like ‘ghoul’, which is a pun. Priestly uses a pun to make the play more dramatically effective. The Inspector’s name seems to suggest a certain supernatural element to his character. You can see the contrast with this name and with the other characters in the play that all have names like ‘Sheila’ and ‘Eric’. These are names, which could be attributed to countless number of people at the time. The author chose to do this to inform the audience subconsciously that Inspector Goole is significant in the development of the play. Throughout the play, Inspector Goole lives up to the expectations as an attention grabbing and ghoulish character capable of knowing things before characters. He has a tough personality and introduces a key theme in the play, which carries out what the author intended for the characters and the audience to confront. I shall explore Inspector Goole’s role within the play and see how it contrasts to his character, themes of play, dramatic effects and the author’s intentions.

The Inspector’s “calling” is pretty ominous. The word “calls” sounds so casual; as if the Inspector is just dropping in for an informal chat and a cup of tea. However, it is quite the opposite. “Calls” is a deceptive word to use about the Inspector. He operates in a focused and calculating mood. However, at the beginning it seems that he is a casual and spontaneous by the ay he carries out the investigation. The stage directions tell us that he “need not be a big man”, but he creates at once “an impression of massiveness, so...

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...’s role within the play, and how it relates to his character, themes of the play, dramatic effects and J.B. Priestley’s intentions. I have found out that Inspector Goole's role contributes massively to the ending of the play. When speaking, Inspector Goole displays J.B. Priestley's opinions through his speech. From writing this essay, I have learnt that we as people “are all members of one body”, and that we must look after each other. I have learnt that we must not be selfish and that we must treat each other the same. The Inspector sends out a message, Priestley’s message. After writing this essay, I think that An Inspector Calls is an extraordinary play, based on old morality plays. I think that as Inspector Goole is the central protagonist, he is momentous in the growth of the play, and with him in the play, he makes An Inspector Calls exhilarating.

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