In An Inspector Calls, Priestley portrays Inspector Goole as a strange and mysterious man. His name Goole has the same pronunciation as “ghoul”, in other words a ghost/spirit. This suggests perhaps someone who has an interest in death and perhaps is sent to Eve's afterlife to haunt the Birlings' guilt. Somehow, almost like a supernatural. He is an omniscient character, meaning he has unlimited knowledge, which therefore explains the idea of taking control of the situation and slowly revealing the truth by creating a story of a "chain of events". To begin, in Act 1 Priestley conveys Inspector Goole's appearance through the use of stage directions. When the Inspector enters, Priestley introduces him as "a great man" who "creates at the same time an impression of grandeur, solidity and determination". This line illustrates to the audience the importance of his role because it creates an impression of dominance. This is because it is not his appearance that adds tension, but rather his presence/manner that creates a sense of fear towards the suspects. In other words, he wins the Birlings with his presence. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Priestley gives further power to Inspector Goole through the use of the adjectives "massiveness", "solidity" and "decisiveness", which is a tricolon technique. Priestley's use of the term “solidity” represents the Inspector's ability to remain composed even when characters exit. The effect on the audience is that they would be curious to know more about him and how he will develop the show. Another way Priestley presents the role of Inspector Goole is through his dialogue, he (Inspector Goole) being Priestley's dramatic instrument. He controls the pace and tension in the show with “one person and one question at a time.” This reinforces the idea of authority. Work methodically and investigate chronologically from one person to the next, developing conversations by linking them all together to form a “chain of events,” thus creating tension and suspense. The repetition of the noun “one” suggests that a person intends to express his guilt in many ways. He suggests how he does things his way and knows the whole story surrounding Eva Smith's death. In Act 2, Priestley conveys his socialist views through Inspector Goole using him as a mouthpiece. During his conversation with Mr Birling, he comments: "Public men, Mr Birling has responsibilities as well as privileges." This shows that the inspector looks at everyone the same, which then links to the theme of "social change" and its development. He does not approve of class division and points directly to Mr Birling, who belongs to the upper class, that wealth and social position must be used correctly. Towards the end, Inspector Goole delivers a message to the Birlings, almost as if he were a divine figure giving a lecture. In his final speech he states: “We do not live alone, we are members of one body, we are responsible for each other”. This simply highlights Priestley's socialist ideals through the inspector, as he is trying to reference the fact that we are all part of one group/community, so we should help each other, especially those who are needy and vulnerable. He states "members of one body" as if referring to a human body in which if one of the organs does not function, the rest of the body also does not function, which means that everyone should work together to prevent any difficulties in life. This is also a metaphor. Furthermore, the pronoun “we” suggests that everyone has responsibilities, including him. The term "member" is used as a way of saying that.
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