This document includes the quotes and analysis for the characters of Inspector Goole and Eva Smith, used by my students to achieve a grade 9 in their English literature GCSE. Each point includes contextual information to support it.
Inspector and Evan Smith – Grade 9 character analysis and quotes
Inspector:
- “There are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths” –
the use of repetition on the noun “millions” exacerbates the countless number
of working-class people who have been abused and exploited by the upper
class in a similar way to Eva Smith. Moreover, the use of the name “Eva Smith”
is most likely a reference to “Eve” from the biblical story of Adam and Eve,
perhaps allowing Priestley to suggest that Eva Smith is representative of the
whole working class, in the same way it is believed that humans are all
descended from Adam and Eve. The use of the surname “Smith” reinforces this
idea as at the time it was the most common surname for the working class.
This is done perhaps to suggest how it is not just one or two individuals who
have been affected by the abuse of the upper class but the whole of the
working class, showing the terrible consequences of the class system and
allowing Priestley to advocate for a socialist Britain.
- “We are all members of one body” – Priestley uses metaphorical language to
compare society to “one body”. In the same way that the body has organs, he
casts us the role of organs within the body which are responsible for the body
staying alive. No matter how small the act, the consequence of an individual on
the “body” will still be felt, and through this Priestley emphasises the
importance of taking responsibility for your actions as no matter how small the
action, it may have massive repercussions on society. In the case of ‘An
Inspector Calls’ this was the suicide of Eva Smith. Moreover, Priestley further
encourages socialism using biblical reference. This quote is an allusion to the
last supper where Jesus described how we are all part of one body in the eyes
of God. By referencing the Bible, Priestley further persuades his predominantly
Christian audience to advocate for Socialism as it aligns with the sayings of
Jesus and the Bible.
- “fire, anguish and blood” – the use of the nouns “fire” and “anguish” are a
direct reference to the world wars and Priestley uses the Inspector to suggest
that if the Birlings continue to act in this capitalist, self-absorbed way then
there will be another war. Furthermore, this is a biblical reference used by
Priestley to make his audience reflect on their own actions as they may lead to
a punishment from God.
- “Its better to ask for the world than to take it” – Priestley uses the verb “take”
to refer to the greed of the upper-class characters such as Mr Birling and
Gerald who have profited from “taking” (exploiting and abusing) the working
class. Moreover, the inspector educates the Birlings on how it is more morally
acceptable to “ask” than to “take” for something.
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