An Inspector Calls

An Inspector Calls

1. The Inspector

   • He is not a very big man, but yet his presence fills the room
   • Priestley uses the Inspector as a mouthpiece
     • The Inspector stands outside the class system of the Birling's social class system - he doesn't have a class.
       • So he is an outsider
         • "The rude way he spoke to Mr Birling and me - it was quite extraordinary"
     • Priestley's SOCIALIST views are reflected through the opinions of the Inspector
   • The Inspector's final speech
     • It's a summary of his lesson about responsibility
     • The Inspector wasn't only trying to make the Birling family feel guilty for their wrongdoings towards Eva Smith, but to also make them aware of the difficulties faced by the "millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths"
       • All of the difficulties and hardships that the Birling family have never faced, because they are higher up in the class system than Eva Smith was.
     • All of the events in 'An Inspector Calls' are linked
       • Priestley's moral seems to be that it doesn't take great people to change the world - we all change it every day just by the way we treat others

2. Arthur Birling

   • "Well - if you don't mind - I'll find out first"
     • He likes to be in control and will gladly keep reminding everybody of that.
     • He doesn't like being told what to do.
   • He is very foolish
     • "The Germans don't want war"
     • "The Titanic - absolutely unsinkable"
     • "silly little war scares"
     • He seems optimistic
       • Short-sighted
     • Undermines his authority
     • Priestley uses DRAMATIC IRONY to make Birling's optimism seem foolish and short - sighted.
   • He is ambitious
     • "there's a very good chance of a knighthood"
   • He is business minded and motivated
     • "I speak as a hard-head, practical business man"
     • He sees his daughter marriage as more of a business deal with Gerald's family, as it will bring him "lower costs" and "higher prices"
   • He is a CAPITALIST
     • He won't take responsibility for Eva Smith's death
     • Finds it difficult to think about other people - he dismisses the idea of "community and all that nonsense".
       • He sees people, such as Eva Smith as "cheap labour"
         • Contrasts to Sheila's opinion, "these girls aren't cheap labour, they're people"
       • Birling dismisses the idea of social responsibility
         • He calls people like the Inspector "cranks"
     • He is selfish
       • self-centred
       • He would rather pass off the Inspector's visit as a 'hoax' or a joke, rather then owning up to what he has done.
         • "I'd give thousands, thousands"
           • Doesn't want it to come out in a scandal, since it could damage his reputation, his families reputation, and the reputation of his business
             • He is a public figure in Brumley, and is obsessed with his status
   • He isn't used to being challenged
     • The Inspector barely says twenty words, before Birling shows a "touch of impatience"
     • He likes to be respected and in control
       • When his family is falling apart - he can't do anything about it
         • He blames the Inspector for making a "nasty mess" of the evening's celebrations
   • Really, Birling is an anxious man
     • Birling desperately tries to win the Croft's approval by talking about a knighthood and getting Lord Croft's favourite port
       • "There's a very good chance of a knighthood"
       • "Finchley told me it's exactly the same port your father gets from him"
     • Birling tries to intimidate the Inspector by drawing attention on his connections with influential people - "How well do you get on with Chief Constable Colonel Roberts?"
     • He uses authoritative language, in order to be in control
       • Birling has the most continuous speech in the play - hinting that he likes to talk, as well as the fact that he hates being interrupted.
         • When Eric attempts to correct him, Birling would rather ignore him, saying "Just let me finish, Eric"
       • Birling repeatedly shouts "Rubbish!", in order to dismiss what other people have said
         • Although he finishes his own sentences with "of course", in order to make his claims seem obvious and a matter of fact