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An Inspector Calls -Deep Analysis- Questions & Answers
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An Inspector Calls -Deep Analysis- Questions & Answers
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An Inspector Calls -Deep Analysis-Questions & Answers
How is the inspector's demeanour? Correct Ans-He arrives at a critical time - to interrupt Mr
Birling and his selfish views: 'a man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his
own - and - We hear the sharp ring of a front doorbell.' The Inspector's role is to show that this is
not the case.
He is described in the stage directions as giving 'an impression of massiveness, solidity and
purposefulness'. He takes charge immediately and remains in control throughout. He remains
solid as each of them breaks down and nothing distracts him from his purpose.
He is clearly there to challenge and investigate. He has a habit of 'looking hard' at the person he
is interrogating before starting to speak. This unnerves the characters.
He directs the investigation carefully, dealing with 'one line of enquiry at a time'. Therefore, he is
controlling the structure of the play.
He is a teacher - to teach each character (and the audience) of the importance of social
responsibility.
He uses aggressive, shocking emotive language to make the characters feel guilty for the part
they played in Eva Smith's death: 'she died in misery and agony'
How does Priestley use the Inspector to voice his message on Social Responsibility? Correct
Ans-Indeed, it may be said that An Inspector Calls is a play more centred on themes and ideas
than one driven by plot. Hence, Priestley uses a number of devices throughout the text to convey
his ideas about social responsibility - juxtaposition being perhaps one of the more significant
strategies employed by Priestley to highlight his ideas about the community and social
responsibility. Thus, when Mr Birling - a stereotypical construct of Aristocratic English society -
presents his monologue about the „unsinkable Titanic‟ and the „scaremongers making a fuss
about nothing‟, the audience are immediately made aware of his ignorance and self-inflated,
,pompous attitude, thus casting doubt over his capitalist ideas about „mind[ing] his own
business‟. This, then, is in direct contrast to the Inspector‟s message on socialism, further
highlighted by the clever timing of the doorbell which is designed not only to unnerve the
audience and the characters, but to create a conflict between Mr Birling and the Inspector.
This conflict between the Inspector and Arthur Birling serves as a powerful dichotomy of ideas -
between capitalism and socialism - and is thus amply exploited by Priestley to highlight both the
way things were in British society during the Pre-World War 1 era, and the immense need for
change. This juxtaposition and power play, thus, add strength to the ideas presented by Priestley.
The use of the Inspector as author surrogate gives further credence to the socialist ideal and is
enforced through Priestley‟s clever crafting of characters; Birling who is set up as a
sanctimonious, arrogant, yet ignorant fool is juxtaposed by the Inspector - a modest, yet
informed individual who represents the common people; Mrs Birling who is clearly disliked by
Priestley himself, is portrayed as an egotistical, uncaring and self-important
how Priestley uses the inspector to get the message of social responsibility? further Correct
Ans-The contrast between the characters of Mr and Mrs Birling to that of Sheila and Eric also
help to highlight the gradual change affecting pre-World War 1 society which led to a demand for
better working conditions for the working classes, and a smudging of those lines which, until
then, so uncompromisingly defined the social classes. Accordingly, the younger generation -
represented by the characters of Eric and Sheila - portray societal shifts towards greater equality
and, subsequently, become author surrogates to some extent, joining forces with the Inspector to
give further weight to Priestley‟s socialist ideal. The conflict between the Inspector and Mr
Birling are sustained not only by the use of dramatic irony to create a negative impression of
Birling and a lack credibility which impacts on the audience‟ perception of his values, but
through his shaping of the Inspector‟s character who, despite his muted and inferior appearance,
is revealed to be the most authoritative voice in the play; the almost transcendent, god-like voice
given to the Inspector by Priestley, which carries forward this vital message about society,
individuals and the need for human understanding and compassion, though ignored by the two
older members of the family, finds root in the hearts of the younger members- the generation
who will, in time, be responsible for shaping a new society, and thus, those who matter most.
,This authority stems not only from his role of Inspector, but through his persistent use of
Socratic questioning which is merciless and unforgiving towards the other characters despite
their social superiority. Moreover, Priestley‟s perpetual use of the word „authority‟ to describe
the Inspector‟s manner, tone and register, along with his frequent referral to the Inspector‟s
„cutting in‟ of other‟s speech, immediately gives hi
'The Inspector need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness,
solidity and purposefulness.' 'cutting through, massively' Correct Ans-The Inspector assumes
control, which is a disturbing shift for Birling and he immediately tries to regain it. The Inspector
interrupts Birling 'cutting through, massively'. The omniscient Inspector is used by Priestley to
further convey his views on collective / social responsibility. The Inspector is used very
effectively to highlight the corruption and the selfish attitudes of the Edwardian society.
Compare this description to Mr Birling at the beginning. Not physically large but has authority
and presence. The adjectives, massiveness and "solidity" almost feels he is that solid,
impenetrable object which will metaphorically sink this family. Notice again, he like Mr Birling
is also in his fifties. We, the audience, are being invited to compare these men. The three
adjectives are significant as they are used to describe the presence of the inspector and
demonstrate his disruption to the natural hierarchy of the house. Each adjective, in a sense
elevates the inspector above Mr Birling. Structure of the language is important, the words appear
long visually and also verbally, heightening the idea that the Inspector is a huge power which
with only words will bring down a family.
'Cutting through massively' Correct Ans-The directions describe the way the Inspector talks
to members of the family and is repeated constantly throughout the play to show his power. The
inspector is like the sharp sword of justice, cutting through the lies of the family. Whenever
Priestley describes the Inspector, he uses the semantic field of size: showing the sheer
importance of this man, and his power.
, 'We hear the sharp ring of the bell. Birling stops to listen.' Correct Ans-The inspector arrives
just after Birling has made his capitalist speech and the "sharp ring of the bell" interrupts his
speech on "social responsibility, it is almost as if the inspector was summoned by the words of
avarice uttered out of Birling's mouth. The ring of the bell is "sharp" meaning that it is almost
cutting through Birling's words.
'dressed in a plain, darkish suit of the period' Correct Ans-The adjective "darkish" connotes
an imagery of something ominous and sinister. The fact that the Inspector is dressed in a "darkish
suit of the period" could purport that the Inspector is going to inaugurate some gloom and misery
into the Birling family and the post-war audience in the reality of some 'darker' aspects of the
Edwardian society, such as the growing division of the proletarians and bourgeois, and the deep-
rooted patriarchal society where rich Edwardian men, in particular, use and abuse women due to
their authority and status. The otherwise ignorant Birling family are seeing the world through
'rose-tinted glasses' and believe "everything is alright". They are unaware of the vast turmoil that
many working class individuals faced due to their harrowing actions. Priestley's motive here was
to dress the Inspector plainly was to divert any attention on his outward appearance and to have
the audience focus on on the intended basis of the Inspector, his dialect and the messages, such
as social responsibility that Priestly wanted the audience to procure. Or Perhaps this "plain...suit"
could represent the Inspector's outward simplicity and purity that Priestly wanted the Inspector to
emit. By having him dressed so simply, it gives him a neutral stance - the audience are unable to
identify him as an affluent or working class individual.
'has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person' Correct Ans-His sense of mystery is
quite ominous and means the audience and the characters are scared of him. This could show that
he is intimidating and that he is powerful before speaking as he has taken time to strategically
analyse and judge the person and what he is going to say beforehand. The stare suggests that he
is able to read a person by looking at them and that he can discern what they are thinking; a mind
reader.
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