J.B. Priestley

Priestley makes use of the detective thriller genre in the play, from the start it appears to the audience to be a straight forward detective thriller, but as the involvement of each character is progressively established, the structure quickly changes to that of a 'whodunit'. 'An Inspector Calls' is a well made play with both the characters and audience progressing from ignorance to knowledge as they learn more about what has happened to Eva Smith. The Inspector starts by interrogating the main man of the family, Arthur Birling, and then goe

He claims and appears to know little about Eva Smith and her death, and expertly draws confessions from each family member. However the Inspector is omniscient and already seems to know what happened to Eva, and also has an insight into the future. He already knows the truth and is only carrying out the investigation for confirmation and to show the family the error of their ways.

Birling is made to represent the attitude that Priestley resents. Arthur Birling is made to have no sense of community or responsibility for other people. Priestley himself once said "My own personal view, for what it's worth, is that we must stop thinking in terms of property and power and begin thinking in terms of community and creation." Clearly showing that Priestley does not agree with the views of Arthur Birling. Birling thinks that a man should look out for himself, and work hard to make something out of themselves, not relying on other people to do it for them. He strongly disagrees with the idea of community, and does not think that people should be held responsible for what happens to others, even if it is due to what they have done. Throughout the play Birling learns nothing either as a father, an employer or in a moral sense. No compassion or regret is shown, and he does not look at himself to see if he could have been a better man. All he cares about is preserving his social status and covering up the scandal, morally, Mr. Birling is very small. This is shown as the play develops, the character Birling seems to 'shrink' due to the massiveness of the Inspector and at the end of the play Arthur Birling appears to be quite vulnerable, contradicting his status at the start of 'An Inspector Calls'.

The Inspector's speech is graphic and not polite, middle-class language that the Birlings would have been used to. He often uses phrases taken from what Birling has said to add irony, force and emphasis to his point. Birling comments on being responsible for everybody "Would be very awkward, wouldn't it?" and the Inspector replies "Very awkward." This answer from Inspector Goole is ironic in the way that he appears to be agreeing with Birling's view, but he actually means that later on it will become awkward and difficult for Birling. The Inspector controls the play by what he says and in the manner he says them, his presence on stage grows as he forces every member of the family into a confession. The evidence and knowledge he already has gives him further power over the rest of the cast, and is not afraid to intimidate and become aggressive with each person to force their confession from them.

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