Inspector Goole
He is used to present the Birling family and Gerald with the message of social responsibility. Priestley uses a variety of techniques as methods to present this message through the character of inspector goole.
The character of inpector goole is an inversion of generic expectations
In traditional detective stories the detective is focused on narrowing down numerous suspects to 1 culprit however in an inspector calls, inspector goole does the opposite; he shows that not 1 but all are responsible for the death of Eva Smith
Significance
Controls the structure of the play; each revelation moves the play one step forward
Heightens the drama: his entrances and exits are well timed in order to create maximum tension (e.g. at the end of Act 1 when he walks in on Gerald and Sheila’s conversation).
He is Priestley's socialist voice; represents his strong moral views
Priestley inverts the generic expectations of detective fiction to present the key message that 'we are members of one body. We are responsible for each other' = social responsibility
Priestley deliberately portrays the inspector as a mysterious character
Priestley goes into great detail in some stage directions. he tells the audience very little about inspector goole - even his dialogue explains what he is not, rather than what he actually is. 'I don't play golf' 'I never take offence' The deliberate vagueness of his character creates a sense of ambiguity and mystery
Social and Historical Context
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. The issues the Inspector highlights are just as relevant to a modern day audience.
The name 'Inspector Goole' adds to his ambiguity. it sounds like 'ghoul'. He does in a way haunt the Birlings about their role in Eva smith's death. He is also seen to know a questionable amount of information about a girl who died only 2 hours ago = supernatural?
The descriptions of him are kept deliberately vague ambiguous which helps the audience focus less on the character himself and more on the message he brings, which is loudly declared with no subtlety
Relationships with other characters
Mrs Birling he angers her as she doesn’t like the fact that ‘his manner was so severe’.
Mr Birling: he challenges him and takes charge. Eventually, he gets impatient with Mr Birling as he is clearly unwilling to learn his lesson. ‘Don’t stammer and yammer at me again, man. I’m losing all patience with you people.’
Sheila: he warns to her as her character changes. She supports his views.
Eric: Eric learns from him. The Inspector has hope in the younger generation as they are ‘more impressionable’.
Gerald: he acknowledges that Gerald ‘at least had some affection for her and made her happy for a time.’ Whilst the Inspector is there, we do get the impression that Gerald is going to change for the better; however, he goes out of his way to prove that he is a fake.
Priestley uses the character of Inspector Goole to speak directly to the audience about social responsibility. he enhances his message through the use of supernatural imagery in his final words 'fire and blood and anguish' which is an allusion to the biblical description of hell where there will be a 'blazing furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth' He has a moralistic concept with adds to the supernatural aspect of inspector goole which helps the audience to clearly remember his message
Eva Smith: although the Inspector never knew her, he fights her case after her death. He stands up for the working class, like Priestley.
A representative, supposedly, of the local police force, sent to investigate Eva Smith/Daisy Renton’s suicide. The Inspector asks all the Birlings, and Gerald, questions about Eva/Daisy. It seems that the Inspector knows the answer to everything he asks, but wants the family to admit to various instances of wrongdoing. At the close of the play, the characters wonder aloud whether the Inspector is actually a policeman, and the constabulary confirms that no such man serves on the force. But this does not explain why the Inspector, who seems to have socialist sympathies, would have come to the house, or how he could have known so much about Eva/Daisy and the Birlings.