The Role and Function of the Inspector in J.B Priestley's An Inspector Calls

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The Role and Function of the Inspector in J.B Priestley's An Inspector Calls 'An Inspector Calls' written by J.B Priestley, is set in 1912 and was written in 1945. In the play the Inspector appears to be very plain, dull and straightforward wearing a dark suit, and is rather sinister and suspicious. He, on his appearance, has a huge sense of "massiveness" to him, and has the authority to control and pull out information from his suspects through his persuasive techniques. The Inspector has a sense of fear and trouble about him, which helps create a tense atmosphere. The Inspector represents central concerns and themes throughout the play through his image of law and justice in the play. This sense of feeling about him in the play to the audience shows that he is looked up to, and maybe is considered as being rather powerful. He also acts in a way of making the characters think about their conscience. This also adds tension to the characters and the audience, as this is also a sign of authority and control. It may also show that he is omniscient, and is a god or spirit like figure, which may explain why his name is 'Inspector Goole', as the writer has used play on words, as the word 'Ghoul' defines as a spirit. The Inspector also uses his role to make the characters feel collective responsibility, as the makes all the characters feel guilty for Eva Smith's death through gathering information and by telling the story his own way, which is his role in the play. He gains control when he leaves the play as, at first one of the characters; 'Mr Birling' expresses his opinions on society by saying "the way some of these cranks talk and writ... ... middle of paper ... ...e family. As it was set at the time before the First World War, Priestley's moral to that audience is to tell them that as the Birlings, and the upper class people need to change their views, and as the First World War followed, he is trying to tell that they will learn through "fire and blood and anguish" which represents war. He tries to tell them that "we are members of one body" and that society is one. He also shows significance through when the play was written, in 1945 to the audience, that due to failing in learning from their first mistakes, in which the consequences was the First World War, has now resulted in bringing the Second World War. Priestley's main message in the play, is telling all of society that "we are members of one body", and that whatever we may do to others in society, affects everyone else.

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