
Inspector Goole is the most important character in the play ‘An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls
An Inspector Calls is a play written by English dramatist J. B. Priestley, first performed in the Soviet Union in 1945, and first performed in English at the Old Vic the following year. It is one of Priestley's best-known works for the stage and is considered to be one of the classics of mid-20t…
Why is Inspector Goole the most important character in an Inspector Calls?
Inspector Goole is the most important character in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ because he is the catalyst for the events that take place in the play. Priestley’s intensions were to reveal to his audience the social state of England in 1945. He felt that little had changed since the turn of the century.
How does Priestley use Inspector Goole in an Inspector Calls?
Inspector Goole sheds a light on all the concerns that Priestley had at the time of writing An Inspector Calls around age, gender, class and social responsibility. Priestley uses the Inspector to make the audience question their own behaviour and morality and hopes that they will learn some lessons as the Birlings do.
What is the message of the play an Inspector Calls?
This play contains an important message for today’s society. The Birling family is celebrating their daughter, Sheila’s engagement to a man called Gerald Croft, when Inspector Goole The Role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls In the work, An Inspector Calls, Inspector Goole role has been a described as a staging device.
How is the Inspector used as a device in an Inspector Calls?
'An Inspector Calls', many contrasts and paradox's are present and at the centre of them all is the character known as Inspector Goole. However, the inspector is not any ordinary inspector. I believe that the inspector is used as a device by Priestley to explore the wider themes of the play and to depict other characters true personalities.

Why does Priestley use Inspector Goole?
Priestley uses Inspector Goole as an imposing omnipotent being who is used to highlight the issues of society. Priestley wants the middle and upper classes to stop being selfish and exploiting the poor for their own financial gain, but instead be more generous and empathetic towards other members of the working class.
What is the significance of the Inspector in the play?
Purpose: to present socialism through showing how society should care about every member. He presents the issue of morality and doing what is right. There is no one called Inspector Goole at the police station and creates confusion at the end of the play.
What does the Inspector represent in An Inspector Calls?
The Inspector represents Priestley's voice – he conveys Priestley's strong socialist views. He challenges the characters, and therefore the audience, about their treatment of the working class.
What do we learn about Inspector Goole?
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.
Who is the most important character in An Inspector Calls?
Eva SmithEva Smith, it could be argued, is the most important character in An Inspector Calls: from the moment her name is first mentioned, her shadow hangs over every page.
How is Inspector Goole a catalyst?
Inspector Goole: He is the catalyst of the play. He is the proxy for J.B. Priestley's political beliefs of socialism. His role is to uncover capitalist's wrong doings that are inhumane and affecting society.
How does Inspector Goole represent morality?
How is the Inspector moralistic? Refusing to take a drink, insisting that he decide the line of interrogation, and ignoring Mr Birling's threats and bribes, the Inspector seems to have one sole purpose: to confirm the truth.
How is the Inspector presented as moral?
An Inspector Calls is a morality play because all of the Birlings and Gerald Croft commit crimes which are similar to the seven deadly sins. Mr Birling is greedy because he wants more money, Sheila is guilty of wrath and envy when she spitefully complains about Eva Smith and so on.
How is Inspector Goole presented as mysterious?
Inspector Goole is the mysterious character who turns the lives of the self-satisfied Birlings upside down by exposing their involvement in the death of Eva Smith. The Inspector raises ideas of private and public responsibility and also acts as an effective dramatic device.
What kind of character is the inspector?
The Inspector takes on the role of an omniscient(all-knowing), moral force for good. Priestley presents his character as a spiritual avenging angel. Socialistvalues and ideology are channelled through the Inspector. Priestley utilises the Inspector as a vehicle to catalysechange in perceptions of responsibility.
How does Inspector Goole represent socialism?
The Inspector, as Priestley's mouthpiece, is a symbol of Socialism – he wants everyone to look after each other and to view community as very important. He is sent to uncover the family's wrongdoings and to make them see that they should take responsibility for others.
How is the inspector presented in An Inspector Calls quotes?
3/4: Inspector Goole: Quote Bank“Need not be a big man but he creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.”“He is a man in his fifties, dressed in a plain darkish suit of the period. ... “Two hours ago a young woman died in the Infirmary. ... “A chain of events” lead to Eva Smith's suicide.More items...
Why is the name Goole significant?
His name 'Goole' suggests a supernatural or ghost like element, and he seems to know what the characters will say before they do. He delivers a frightening message when he leaves, that if people do not take responsibility for each other, the world is doomed.
What is the dramatic function of the inspector in Priestley's play An Inspector Calls?
His character has two purposes; to warn the family about what to think and say and to educate the audiences about Priestley's views on society and how things should be. He keeps the audience alert and thinking throughout the whole play which helps them to understand the whole story at the end. ...read more.
Why does the inspector visit the Birling?
The man who calls himself Inspector Goole is investigating the death—an apparent suicide—of a young woman, Eva Smith. Goole arrives at the Birling home to interview the family members about Eva's death. He seems intent on getting each and every one of them to admit some complicity in the tragedy.
Who is Inspector Goole?
Inspector Goole. Goole is allegedly a police officer who has come to investigate the potential involvement of the Birlings in the recent suicide of a girl by the name of Eva Smith.
What does the colored dots on Inspector Goole mean?
The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance. Act 1. Edna enters and announces that a police inspector by the name of Goole has called on an important matter.
What does Birling ask after the Inspector expresses allegiance with Eric's disapproval?
After the Inspector expresses allegiance with Eric’s disapproval, Birling inquires how well the Inspector knows Chief Constable. The... (full context)
What is the final revelation of Inspector Goole?
The final revelation—the call from the infirmary that there really was a suicide—renews suspicion about the Inspector’s identity, as it makes it seem that Inspector Goole did somehow know what was going to happen, and was not merely seeking to make the Birlings cognizant of their moral wrongs.
Who asks the Inspector if he knew all the time that she was guilty?
Sheila re-enter s and asks the Inspector if he knew all the time that she was guilty. The Inspector says that he... (full context)
What does Birling take offense at?
Birling takes offense at the Inspector ’s tone and handling of the inquiry. The Inspector coolly proceeds to ask Gerald when he... (full context)
Why does Inspector Goole clash with Mr Birling?
Inspector Goole is a socialist and this is one of the main reasons why he clashes with both Mr and Mrs Birling throughout the play. The inspector is a threat to Mr Birling as he is used to being in control however when the inspector arrives, there is a definite power struggle between the two. Priestley shows this with a use ...
How does Priestley present the inspector in the play?
How does Priestley present the inspector in the play? Priestley presents the inspector as a man who enjoys allowing people to feel intimidated by his presence. This is shown in the quote: “He creates at once an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness.” This infers that although he may not be ‘massive’, he gains satisfaction from creating an impression of this. The word ‘solidity’ implies that he is a well kept together and reliable man, that perhaps he has the capability of making….
How does Priestley use Eva Smith as a dramatic device?
How does Priestley use Eva Smith as a dramatic device? Priestley represents Eva as a dramatic device in the play ‘An Inspector Calls’ in many different ways, and also uses her to connect everybody to making them/ (all characters) guilty for Eva Smith's death. At the beginning of the play in Act 1 scene 1, Priestley uses Eva to represent the voiceless “she’d left a letter there and sort of a diary”, it's as if Priestley is using the Inspector to represent Eva, making Eva voiceless, as if the Inspector….
How does Priestley present the Inspector as an unusual policeman in Act One?
How Does Priestley Present the Inspector as an Unusual Policeman in Act One? The inspector is presented as unusual by his personality, conduct and expressed views. Throughout the act, Priestley makes the Inspector say and do things that an audience would not expect of a conventional policeman. A conventional policeman would be polite and professional. We would expect an Inspector to be discrete in his work as to avoid causing problems or drawing undue attention at the case and wrongdoings of the….
Is Inspector Goole a real policeman?
Who is Inspector Goole? His identity is a mystery; he is not a real policeman though as Eric says, "He was our police inspector all right" (p.59) he did such a good job at making each person admit his/her guilt. Possible explanations of Goole's identity that the essay will tackle are: simply an imposter who played an elaborate hoax on a group of upper class people who deserved to be frightened in this way. some kind of spiritual being or emissary with a moral mission to punish selfish behaviour….
What does Inspector Goole mean?
Inspector Goole, as his name implies, represents the unnatural or spiritual. The name is a play on the word 'ghoul' which is an evil spirit or a phantom. Furthermore, the word can also refer to a person who has an unnaturally morbid fascination with death or disaster.
What does the inspector want to make it pertinently obvious?
He wants to make it pertinently obvious that each one had a role to play in the unfortunate girls' suicide. In each instance, each one was culpable in driving her closer to the edge. The inspector wishes that they would all accept what they had done and not forget it.
What is Inspector Birling's moral conscience?
Inspector Birling is a symbol for humanity's moral conscience. It is our conscience that makes us judges of our own character. Our integrity is based on the level of responsibility we acknowledge for our role in what happens to others. Inspector Goole came not only to remind his immediate audience but also those of us who watch or read the play. We should be guided by a moral compass that reminds us of the evil of prejudice and arrogance. Since his listeners in this regard were careless, manipulative and abusive because they thought themselves better than Eva Smith, they destroyed her.
Who are the main characters in Inspector Calls?
The main characters in An Inspector Calls are the Birling family , Gerald Croft and Inspector Goole. The Inspector’s investigation aims to teach each character a lesson.
Is the Inspector an Inspector?
By the end of the play it is revealed that he isn’t actually an Inspector.
What is the role of Inspector Goole in Inspector Calls?
The Role of Inspector Goole in An Inspector Calls In the work, An Inspector Calls, Inspector Goole role has been a described as a staging device. Yet, defining Inspector Goole as meerly a staging device implies that he is not a character in his own right but exists simply as a way of exploring the personalities and lives of other, more fully rounded, characters. While it is true that An Inspector Calls would not work without Inspector Goole's central role, it reduces him a little
Why is Inspector Goole important?
Inspector Goole is the most important character in the play ‘An. Inspector Calls’ because he is the catalyst for the events that take place in the play. Priestley’s intensions were to reveal to his audience the social state of England in 1945. He felt that little had changed since the turn of the century.
What is the purpose of the drama in Inspector Calls?
The Use of Dramatic Devices in An Inspector Calls By J.B Priestly In An Inspector Calls by J.B Priestly an inspector is introduced who wants to show and teach the Birling family. He wants to teach the Birlings about being responsible for their actions and that their actions can severe consequences. Priestly's main concern is to make to make the world a better place to live in for everyone. The date 1912 in which the play is set in is important because two years later World
What does the word "catalyst" mean in Inspector Goole?
In the play Inspector Goole is a catalyst, the word catalyst means to speed somthing up. He gets the Birlings and Gerald to confess to being involved with Eva Smith/Daisy Renton in some way. Inspector Goole is very good at creating tension and drama.
What is an inspector call critical evaluation?
An Inspector Calls Critical Evaluation - The main goal of this essay is to write about the role of Inspector Goole in the play. Other details will also going into consideration. An Inspector Calls Critical Evaluation The main goal of this essay is to write about the role of Inspector Goole in the play. Other details will also going into consideration. An Inspector Calls is a play wrote by J.B Priestly. The first scene shows a dining room of a large Edwardian house. The furniture and
What does the Inspector say to Mr Birling?
He says to Mr Birling '"Puplic men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privilages."'. I believe that he is talking to Mr Birling as if he was a child when saying that to him.
What does Preistly use Inspector Goole for?
I think the in the play Preistly has used Inspector Goole to express the way he feels about the world. He shows us that at the time of this play it was very much Capatilism vs Socialism,
