Essay on The Role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls

The Role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls An Inspector Calls is a play with many social and political messages. J. B. Priestley believed a great deal in socialism and he used several of his plays to try and influence people to be Socialist as well. It was written in a time when Britain was ruled by a Labour government and socialist policies were seen as the way forward. It was a popular way of thinking at that time so Priestleys aim for the play was probably to teach the unconvinced. The Inspector in J. B. Priestleys An Inspector Calls is one of the most thought-provoking and mysterious characters that modern day literature has yet produced. It is this mysterious element that contributes greatly to making him a very†¦show more content†¦The family use their house as a status symbol and have decorated it in a way so as to reflect their wealth. We learn this from the few imposing but tasteless pictures which will probably have been chosen because they were expensive, not because they were liked. These pictures also tell us that the Birlings are proud of their wealth and think themselves to be very important but lack the good taste which is present in those who are socially superior to them. The house is described as being substantial and comfortable and old-fashioned, but not cosy and homelike. This setting suggests that the family are uncomfortable with each other and therefore suggests problems. They speak to each other in a fairly relaxed manner, despit e the attempts from Mrs. Birling to enforce a more formal atmosphere by correcting her family whenever they make minor errors in table manners. The champagne shows that family are joined to celebrate. Gerald is a guest at the house and so the family are all well-behaved and pleasant to one another but there are several hints that this is for show and there are problems which are being ignored. Mrs. Birling treats Eric and Sheila as if they are two small children even though Sheila is engaged to Gerald and so is a young woman. This is shown when Sheila refers to Eric as squiffy and Mrs. Birling scolds her by saying What and expression,Show MoreRelated An Inspector Calls - The Role Of the Inspector Essay1213 Words   |  5 PagesAn Inspector calls - The Role Of the Inspector. The character of Inspector Goole is the catalyst for the evenings events and is quite a mystery and fascination to many people. He is described and comes across as able to create an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulnessà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ He speaks carefully, weightily and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses. I will be carefully looking at how he manages to be so powerful and authoritative, mainly concentratingRead More Discuss the Role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls Essay2364 Words   |  10 Pagesthe Inspector, when he first appears on stage, in terms of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness (p.11), symbolizing the fact that he is an unstoppable force within the play. His disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before speaking (p.11) gives the impression that he sees through surface appearances to the real person beneath. It also gives him a thoughtfulness that contrasts with the thoughtlessness of each characters treatment of the girl. His role in theRead More The Role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls Essay1189 Words   |  5 PagesThe Role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls   Ã‚   In the work, An Inspector Calls, Inspector Goole role has been a described as a staging device.   Yet, defining Inspector Goole as meerly a staging device implies that he is not a character in his own right but exists simply as a way of exploring the personalities and lives of other, more fully rounded, characters. While it is true that An Inspector Calls would not work without Inspector Gooles central role, it reduces him a littleRead MoreRole of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley1231 Words   |  5 PagesRole of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley The inspector is an enigmatic character; playing one of the biggest parts in the drama. He is described on his entrance as creating an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness. He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit... He speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking.. He worksRead MoreWhat Is the Inspectors Role in the Novel an Inspector Calls? Essay701 Words   |  3 PagesWhat is the Inspectors role in the novel An Inspector Calls? The Inspector plays an intriguing role in J.B Priestley’s Inspector Calls. There are many different interpretations of the Inspectors role in the play but in my opinion he represents the author Priestley without the audience knowing until the end of the play. The Inspector as a character is used to show Priestley’s views of social and political unjust of his time. Priestley does this by giving the inspector power to, question each characterRead MoreThe Role of the Inspector in an An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley1591 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role of the Inspector in an An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestley All three acts, which are continuous, take place in the dinning room of the Birlings house in Brumley, an industrial city in the North Midlands. Mr Birling his wife Mrs Birling and his son Eric are celebrating the engagement of his daughter Sheila and Gerald Croft. An Inspector calls round to question the family on the death a girl called Eva Smith who committed suicide by drinking strong disinfectantRead More The Role of Inspector Goole in in An Inspector Calls by J.B. Priestly811 Words   |  4 PagesThe Role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls Examine the role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls study the impact his role has on the rest of the characters in the play. Inspector Goole is the most important character in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ because he is the catalyst for the events that take place in the play. Priestley’s intensions were to reveal to his audience the social state of England in 1945. He felt that little had changed since the turn of the century. PreistleyRead MoreThe Role and Function of the Inspector in J B Priestleys An Inspector Calls1608 Words   |  7 PagesThe Role and Function of the Inspector in J B Priestleys An Inspector Calls In An Inspector Calls, the main character is Inspector Goole. Everything revolves around him and he is in control of the audience, characters and story. The story was set in 1912 and much of the context of the time relates to the Inspectors questioning of the Birlings. Inspector Goole is continuously trying to make all the Birling family members think about their conscious and guiltRead More An Inspector Calls - Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left2741 Words   |  11 PagesAn Inspector Calls - Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left Examining the Role of Sheila After the Inspector has Left An Inspector Calls is a play that was written by J.B. Priestley in 1945 and is set in 1912, focusing on a respectable upper class family; the Birlings. Inspector Goole interrupts a joyful engagement celebration party between Sheila Birling and Gerald Croft, and the Inspector announces the horrifying news that, Two hours ago a young woman died inRead MoreEssay on What Is the Role of Sheila in ‘an Inspector Calls’?791 Words   |  4 Pagesa childish manner. However she is the only one to accept immediate responsibility for her role in Eva Smith’s death, making her most probably the furthermost sympathetic character throughout the play. She is horrified by her own part in Evas death; she feels full of guilt for her jealous actions and blames herself and she is genuinely remorseful for her actions. She is very perceptive towards the inspector, first to wonder who he really is, realising he already knows much of what he is asking. Sheila