An Inspector Calls is essentially a vehicle for Priestley to criticise capitalism. Discuss. -- A* - page 9
Keywords: An Inspector Call Priestley capitalism
By georgie1 on 31/12/2009
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 9 of 10 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
name of “Inspector Goole”. The word ‘Goole’ is a homophone of the word ‘ghoul’, which is also known as a ghost or spirit. Similarly the word ‘Inspector’ contains the word ‘spectre’ which is also another word for a presence. Usually, these words bring thoughts of purity and innocence, making the ‘good’ character appear correct. The character of Inspector Goole is also described to have an air of “massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”, showing that the key socialist of the play is someone who is sincere and profound, promoting all socialists to be like this. Mr Birling says the situation matters “a devil of a lot”, the word ‘devil’ also adding to the ideas of good and evil spirits. The Inspector concludes his interrogation of the Birling family by saying that if men do not “learn their lesson” and realise that they are “responsible for each other”, then they will be “taught it in fire and blood and anguish”. This is clearly relates to the day of judgement of a Christian, at the time when one is sent to either Heaven or Hell. It is known that those who follow the ‘right’ way of life and help others will go to Heaven, however those sent to Hell will be forced to learn their lessons before continuing to an enjoyable after-life in Heaven. JB Priestley shows that by helping and looking out for one another, God will accept people to Heaven, but if they don not then they will go to Hell. This results in the promotion of socialism and criticism of capitalism. The Inspector says that all the people within a community are “members of one body”, which adds to the idea that everyone should work together for success. He also says that there are “millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths”, who are all “intertwined with our lives”. This shows that Eva Smith was not the only person that the Birling family are likely to have affected and that they should be aware of how their behaviour can demoralise another human being. The director of this play may have the Inspector performing this line by using hand gestures and intertwining his fingers to represent the intertwining of people. Contrasting to Inspector Goole’s opinions, Mr Birling criticises socialists by branding them “cranks”, and by saying that if society were to be all about “community and all that nonsense”, then “it would be
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