Who or what is the role of the Inspector in An Ins Essays - Film

Who or what is the role of the Inspector in An Inspector Calls? J.B. Priestley believes that we all have a collective and shared responsibility to look after each other . In 1912 there was a rigid class system and wealthier families would employ servants. Capitalism is an economic system that is based on the private ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange. Socialism is an ideology in which the means of production, distribution and exchange are owned by the community collectively. In the play, the inspector's character is the mouthpiece and authorial voice of Priestly. He is a socialist. The inspector speaks carefully, weightily, and has a disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addresses before actually speaking, indicating that the inspector demands respect and is authoritative because he is trying to teach the family a sincere lesson about social responsibility. Hence, when Birling offers the inspector a drink, he refuses, using the excuse, "No, thank you, I am on duty". The inspector is a serio us character and is there to bring truth and reality to the Birling family, the lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrives, then it should be brighter and harsher. The change of lighting in the stage directions signifies how critical he is. In act three, the inspector says, If there's nothing else, we'll have to share our guilt. This line reflects the socialist ideology because the family has to share their guilt with each other and have to help the working classes. In the inspector's speech, he says, And I tell you that the time will come soon when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Goodnight. Here Priestly uses polysyndeton to add emphasis to the message "in fire and blood and anguish". He also uses the rule of three technique, to emphasise his prophetic meaning . Priestley references World War One using the quote taught in fire and blood and anguish, as there were so many casualties and so m uch blood was spilt. As the play was written after both World Wars and the Russian Revolution, the audience would have agreed with these lines because they would have witnessed, first hand, the disasters of these wars. In the play, the younger generation show that they are more capable of change than the older generation. The younger generation express real sympathy for the working classes and show a critical solidarity for Eva Smith. Towards the end of the play, Sheila and Eric's ability to change means that Priestly can end the play with an element of hope. He is trying to communicate that it is possible to make society better. Without the aspect of faith, the characters would continue making mistakes. Priestley makes the older generation, Mr and Mrs Birling, seem incapable of change. They have little to no sympathy for Eva Smith and are only sorry for her because she died a horrible death. Priestly uses them to represent the old-fashioned ideas. He disagrees with what these represent. Sheila and Eric feel sorry for the working classes and Eva Smith, whereas the older generation, Mr and Mrs Birling, are more capitalist in their views. Thus, in Act one Eric says, He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out. This implies that Eric feels sorry for Eva Smith and is being more sympathetic to the women working for Birling's company. He does not think that it was fair of Birling to fire her. Sheila also sympathises the girl, (rather distressed) Sorry! It is just that I can't help thinking about this girl - destroying herself so horribly - and I've been so happy tonight. Oh, I wish you hadn't told me. Sheila is feeling sorry for the girl and she thinks that the working classes should be treated more fairly.On the other hand, Birling does not feel sorry for them, They'd soon be asking for the earth. Birling's attitude towards the working class women is patronising. He portrays them as frivolous, irresponsible, and immature. This reinforces class superiority and patriarchy. Birling also doesn't take responsibility for his actions, well, don't tell me that