INSPECTOR GOOLE
Who is Inspector Goole? We never truly know but it doesn't matter. He is the voice of reason. The voice of morality. He is Priestley's voice throughout the play and is there to show the Birling family and the audience what a kinder more equal society would look like.
He inspects the family's morality rather than their crimes and his socialist beliefs soon spread to the impressionable younger generation.
PIVOTAL MOMENTS
His arrival that immediately changes the atmosphere. (Act 1)
His systematic questioning of each character, one at a time
His final speech before leaving. (Act 3)
PURPOSE
Inspector Goole is the mouthpiece of Priestley’s political views. He uses the Birlings to show everything that wrong with society, but Goole’s arrival shows that things are about to change. Society changed a huge amount between 1912 and 1945. The purpose of the Inspector is to show that socialist ideas have progressed society.
Goole is also used to destroy the believe that the poor were a criminal class whilst the wealthy were respectable. Goole’s investigations show us they can be just as immoral or criminal as any other group. Though blind to this themselves.
name.
STRETCH VOCAB
Omniscient
Humbling
Resilient
Socialist
Progressive
Egalitarian
Admonishing/Admonitory
Castigating
Virtuous
Principled
Righteous
Key Quotation Analysis
LINKS WITH OTHER CHARACTERS
MR BIRLING
Mr Birling immediately shows his disgust at the inspector’s attitude. However, whilst he believe he can bully him using his power and influence he soon finds out that Goole is having none of it. Birling and Inspector Goole can be seen as foils.
MRS BIRLING
Mrs Birling perhaps shows an even greater level of disrespect to the inspector than her husband. He is not intimidated however and happily leads her right into the trap of blaming Eric for everything.
SHEILA
Sheila is someone who is influenced by the inspector. Goole seems to know she will react when describing the graphic details of Eva’s death and uses this to shock her. She is also the quickest to realise that trying to intimidate or lie to the inspector is a waste of time.
ERIC
Eric like his sister is someone who listens to the inspector and understands his guilt. The simple act of the inspector standing up to his father and allowing him a drink is enough to bring Eric on side.
GERALD
Gerald doesn’t initially understand the inspector’s power when he believes that he can lie to him if Sheila goes along with it. He may also be the first to realise the inspector isn’t real but he doesn’t realise that the damage has already been done.