Is the Inspector Real? Symbol or Supernatural?The Role of the Inspector: Conscience or Catalyst?
Investigating the Inspector’s Function as a Moral Compass and His Influence on Character Self-Realisation in An Inspector Calls
Introduction
J.B. Priestley’s An Inspector Calls is more than just another regular play written primarily for entertainment; it is a moral and political drama rooted in the playwright’s socialist beliefs. At the heart of this morality play lies Inspector Goole, a character who acts as both a moral compass and a catalyst for change, compelling each member of the affluent Birling family (and Gerald Croft) to confront their actions and their consequences. This essay will explore the Inspector’s dual role, analysing his impact on the characters’ journeys toward (or resistance to) self-realisation and responsibility. Key quotations, linguistic techniques, and Grade 9 analytical strategies will be provided throughout.
1. The Inspector as a Moral Compass
The Inspector embodies Priestley’s own socialist ideology, serving as the voice of collective responsibility. He does not merely investigate the death of Eva Smith; he interrogates the moral failings of a capitalist society.
Key Quote:
“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
— Act 3
This line is perhaps the most overt declaration of Priestley’s moral message. The Inspector’s role is to remind the characters (and audience) of the need for empathy and community. By delivering this speech near the climax of the play, Priestley gives the Inspector a near-prophetic status. His moral authority supersedes that of Arthur Birling, whose earlier speech is laced with dramatic irony and capitalist hubris:
“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own.”
— Act 1
Vocabulary & Devices:
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Didactic: The Inspector’s speeches serve a didactic function, meaning they are intended to teach a moral lesson.
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Anaphora: Repetition of “We are” stresses unity and communal responsibility.
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Contraposition: His speech directly opposes Mr Birling’s earlier statements, emphasizing his role as a counter-ideological force.
2. The Inspector as a Catalyst for Revelation
The Inspector arrives shortly after Mr Birling makes confident declarations about self-sufficiency and the impossibility of war—statements we, the audience, know to be false. This dramatic irony undermines Birling and elevates the Inspector’s credibility.
From his sudden entrance—“We hear a sharp ring of a front door bell. Birling stops to listen”—the Inspector disrupts the status quo. His method of interrogation is systematic and strategic, gradually exposing each character’s involvement in Eva Smith’s demise.
Key Strategy (Grade 9 Tip):
Use structural analysis: Comment on how the Inspector “builds a chain of events,” linking each character’s action to the girl’s death. This mirrors the structure of a domino effect, reinforcing the idea of interconnectedness.
Key Quote:
“It’s better to ask for the Earth than to take it.”
— Act 1
Here, Goole criticises Mr Birling’s treatment of workers like Eva. The moral authority lies not in Birling’s capitalist experience, but in the Inspector’s ethical reasoning.
Vocabulary & Devices:
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Foil: Inspector Goole acts as a foil to Mr Birling—his presence highlights Birling’s moral flaws.
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Socio-political allegory: The Inspector represents socialism; Birling represents capitalism.
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Symbolism: Inspector Goole’s name (“Goole”) sounds like “ghoul,” suggesting he may be a ghostly, omniscient force beyond the literal.
3. The Inspector and Character Transformation
The Inspector’s influence varies across characters. One way to approach an Inspector Goole question is to compare and contrast how different characters respond to his moral interrogation.
Sheila Birling: Redemption and Growth
“You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all.”
— Act 3
Sheila internalises the Inspector’s lesson, showing genuine remorse. Her use of “pretend” suggests that she recognises the danger of denial. Her transformation is symbolised by her earlier line:
“I’ll never, never do it again.”
Sheila uses repetition, emphasising her deep emotional response and moral awakening.
Eric Birling: A Flawed but Redeemable Character
“The fact remains that I did what I did.”
— Act 3
Eric, like Sheila, accepts responsibility. His simple, declarative sentence strips away excuses and lays bare his guilt.
Mr and Mrs Birling: Stubbornness and Denial
“I was quite justified.” — Mrs Birling
“The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke.” — Mr Birling
Neither parent learns from the Inspector. Priestley uses them to critique the entrenched elitism and complacency of the upper class.
4. Is the Inspector Real? Symbol or Supernatural?
Priestley leaves the Inspector’s true identity deliberately ambiguous. When the characters discover he may not have been a real inspector, the older generation is relieved, while the younger ones insist the lessons remain valid.
Key Quote:
“He never seemed like an ordinary police inspector.” — Sheila
This ambiguity reinforces his symbolic status. Whether he is “real” or not is less important than the moral truth of his message.
Grade 9 Strategy:
Explore the function, not just the identity. Focus on why Priestley created such a character:
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Is he an embodiment of conscience?
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A supernatural figure representing Divine Judgment?
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A voice of the playwright himself, breaking the fourth wall to address the audience?
This interpretive flexibility allows students to showcase conceptualised, original thinking, a key skill for top marks.
5. Language and Linguistic Techniques
The Inspector uses plain, direct language. His power lies not in elevated diction but in clarity and moral force.
Examples:
“She wasn’t pretty when I saw her today, but she had been. Very pretty.”
His words are blunt, often bordering on harsh, but they evoke empathy. The contrast between “wasn’t” and “had been” symbolises the loss of innocence and dignity caused by societal neglect.
Devices to Analyse:
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Short, declarative sentences: Emphasise certainty and moral clarity.
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Socratic questioning: The Inspector often asks questions not for answers, but to provoke self-examination.
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Metaphor: “We are all members of one body.” Biblical connotations elevate his message to spiritual importance.
6. Structure and Form
As a three-act play set in a single evening, the structure of An Inspector Calls enhances the Inspector’s dramatic role.
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The Inspector controls the pacing and order of revelations.
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He uses dramatic timing, entering just as Mr Birling claims individualism is key.
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The final twist—the phone call announcing a real inspector is on the way—restores dramatic tension and leaves a lasting moral warning.
Grade 9 Strategy:
Incorporate analysis of structure. For example:
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“The Inspector’s entrance marks a turning point in the narrative, undermining Mr Birling’s authority and shifting the audience’s allegiance.”
This shows awareness of how Priestley uses form to reinforce function.
7. Context: Priestley’s Purpose
Set in 1912 but written in 1945, An Inspector Calls is steeped in post-war hindsight. Priestley’s aim was to challenge the class system and promote social responsibility after two devastating world wars.
Inspector Goole is Priestley’s mouthpiece, criticising the selfishness of capitalism and advocating for a fairer society.
“There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us.”
The Inspector universalises Eva’s suffering, appealing to the audience’s sense of justice.
Conclusion: Conscience and Catalyst
In conclusion, Inspector Goole serves both as a moral compass, guiding characters (and the audience) toward a deeper understanding of their responsibilities, and as a catalyst for change—exposing uncomfortable truths. Whether seen as a real inspector, a supernatural being, or Priestley’s mouthpiece, his function is to shake the characters from their moral complacency.
For GCSE students aiming for a Grade 9, it’s vital to:
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Explore both function and symbolism
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Use precise subject terminology (e.g., foil, didactic, anaphora)
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Analyse structure and language
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Offer interpretative depth, not just summary
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Link to context and Priestley’s intentions
Grade 9 Model Answer Sentence Starters
Use these to elevate your analysis:
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“The Inspector acts as a dramatic vehicle through which Priestley delivers his socialist critique of…”
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“Through the Inspector’s systematic deconstruction of each character’s alibi, Priestley highlights…”
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“Goole’s authoritative tone and strategic use of questioning functions to…”
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“The ambiguity surrounding Goole’s identity reinforces his symbolic role as…”
Final Thought
Inspector Goole is not just a character; he is a challenge to the audience’s conscience. Priestley uses him to force a reckoning—with self, with society, and with history. Whether conscience or catalyst, Goole’s impact lingers long after he exits the stage.