An Inspector Calls-the Inspector Essay, Research Paper

After watching an Inspector calls, I am sure it is obvious to any one who watches it that the inspector is not what he seems at all. At first you have no suspicions of the Inspector, but as the play gradually moves on it slowly dawns on you that the Inspector might be an impostor. In this essay I am going to write about a few different points, and who the Inspector might be. All of my theories may be correct but we will never know which theory is actually right. The Inspector is obviously as real as all the other characters in body and can eat and drink and is solid. I know that J.B.Priestley became very interested in the fourth dimension and time. That is why I think that the inspector may have gone back in time or there might have been a time slip of some sort to make sure that these people new what they had done. Another theory might be that the Inspector represents truth and is not a real person at all but just a representative of justice. I think that this is a very plausible idea and probably Priestley’s own thought.

I think that the Inspector gives it away when he gets far too emotional and worked up about things. A real police inspector would not get so involved. Here is an extract from the play, at the end of Act 2 where the Inspector gets too involved:

Inspector:”(very sternly) Her position now is that she lies with a burnt-out inside on a slab. (As Birling tries to protest, turns on him.) Don’t stammer and yammer at me again, man. I’m losing all patience with you people. What did he Say?

Here the Inspector gets to emotional about such a small thing.

I also think that a real police inspector would treat Birling with more respect. It is true what Birling says about him being a public man and telling the chief of police because he is a friend. Here is an extract were the Inspector treats Birling with disrespect; it is near the beginning of Act 2:

Sheila:(urgently, cutting in) You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl. If you do then the Inspector will just break it down. And it’ll be worse when he does.

Mrs B:I don’t understand you. (To Inspector.) Do you?

Inspector:Yes. And she’s right.

Mrs B:(haughtily) I beg your pardon!

Inspector:(very plainly) I said Yes-I do understand her. And she’s right.

Mrs B:That, I consider to be a trifle impertinent, Inspector.

Here the Inspector does not treat Mrs B. with the respect a police inspector would.

I think there is a possibility that the Inspector could be Eva Smith and just goes back to haunt them. This maybe quite far fetched by I would not rule it out completely, because if it were true then it would explain everything.

Another quite reasonable explanation would be that the “Inspector” actually phoned them up and pretended to be the police just to give them one last scare.

I think that a real Inspector would leave far more formally rather than just storming out:

Inspector:But just remember this. One Eva Smith has gone-but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us, with their lives, their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness, all intertwined with our lives, and what we think and say and do. We are responsible for each other. And I tell you that the time will soon come when, if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish. Good night.

He walks straight out, leaving them staring subdued and wondering. Sheila is still crying. Mrs Birling has collapsed into a chair. Eric is brooding desperately. Birling, the only active one hears the front door slam, moves hesitatingly towards the door, stops, looks gloomily at the other three, then pours himself out a drink, which he hastily swallows.

Here I firstly think that he leaves far too informally to be a convincing Inspector. Secondly I think that when he is coming to the end of his final speech he becomes too emotional to be a real person. I feel he almost knows what is to come and as if he does this a lot to people.

In conclusion I think that the Inspector is as real as every one else in the play but I think that he represents justice or truth and is a form of angel or something along those lines.

While watching this play I enjoyed it immensely and I am very glad I have seen it. This play is more than just a detective thriller and you really have to look closely at it before you fully understand it. I am sure that there will always be a sense of mystery about this play; who was the inspector? What was the Inspector? Will we ever know?