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Grade 9 essay on An Inspector Calls on Inspector Goole
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This is a Grade 9 essay which focuses on the character Inspector Goole.
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By: lewisj20 • 6 months ago
These are mostly well-written grade 9 responses, however there are some grammatical errors which need correcting.
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Inspector Goole is an enigmatic character who is used by Priestley to showcase his own views oncapitalism and works as a catalyst in the play. The play is centred around his visit to the Birling
household and the impact he has on their self-satisfied and sheltered world.
In his first appearance Priestley presents the Inspector as a dominating man and a figure of great
importance. Before he arrives Priestley describes the scene as “pink and intimate” where the soft
adjective “pink” connotes ideas of affection and harmony it depicts a comfortable and warm scene.
It could also metaphorically imply that the Birlings are caught in their own selfish bubble as the
adjective “intimate” suggests a sense of familiarity and closeness. Perhaps this is alluding to the
social divide. During the early twentieth century the capitalistic beliefs created a disparity between
classes. The most acutely felt divisions were those of income and wealth, and as a consequence of
living standards. Therefore perhaps the comfort of the scene can also be a reference to the better
living standards of the upper class. However this scene is juxtaposed when the Inspector arrives as
the lighting changes to “brighter and harder.” The powerful superlatives “brighter” and “harder”
suggest a sense of vulnerability and insecurity that the Birling’s feel when the Inspector arrives thus
portraying his character as an overwhelming one. The play is set during the Conservative
government of 1912 therefore the Inspector’s first appearance highlights the tension between
socialists and capitalists and may be a metaphor for socialism eventually overpowering capitalism.
The contrast with the previous lighting also suggests that he is there to destroy the social divide
amongst the working class and the upper class. This is also suggested through the connotations of a
foundation and solidity from “harder” as they could suggest that he is bringing a balance to society.
Priestley was an avid Labour supporter and the Inspector calls served to be an allegorical message of
socialism where the Inspector voices Priestley’s own opinions of the need of socialism and equality
in society and so he is presented almost as the messenger of the play. Therefore in the first act
Moreover when Priestley first describes the inspector he gives him an impression of “massiveness”
using the semantic field of size in order to imply that the Inspector’s words are of great importance
meaning and to show his great power over the Birling family. As the Inspector cuts in on
conversations during the play, Priestley often uses the tonal adverb “impressively” which also
implies that is an authoritative figure and this makes his presence and words seem significant.
Priestley presents the Inspector as a significant character illustrate the need of socialism.
The Inspector is also presented as a supporter of social responsibility. He says that Eva’s death was
caused by “a chain of events.” Priestley uses the vivid imagery of chains to depict ideas of being
linked together and bonds thus conveying the idea that we are all responsible for each other.
Priestley hoped for a world in which there is greater social equality, where the most vulnerable are
cared for and wealth is more evenly distributed. Most of all he believed that it was the responsibility
of those who have to help those who have nothing. Therefore the imagery supports his views.
Furthermore the inspector consistently uses the inclusive pronoun “we” to contrast with the
language of Mr and Mrs Birling who use the pronoun “I” to depict their concern for themselves
representing their capitalistic behaviour as he believed that every man was “for himself”. Priestley
viewed Capitalism as selfish, the desire for personal gain and profit distancing people from a more
compassionate and Christian outlook and this is presented through Mr Birling who is only concerned
with himself while the Inspector further emphasises Priestley’s ideas of social responsibility as he is
presented as the antithesis of Mr Birling. The inspector also uses the metaphor “there are millions
and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smith” where the repetition on “millions” emphasizes the sheer
number of ordinary working class men and women and voiceless people who were being exploited
by the upper classes creating an emotional response by the post war audience and even modern
society as the war had broken down social barriers due to the classes working together. In 1912 it
had become easier for the upper classes to stereotype the working classes as separate, amorphous
and undeserving. This led to a ‘them and us’ attitude. Therefore perhaps Priestley suggests through
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