Inspector Goole

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Question 1

How does Priestley present the character of Inspector Goole and why is he significant?

Answer

• The Inspector is a contradictory and complex character who exhibits frequent opposing characteristics from calmness to anger, aggression and gentleness, assertiveness and aloofness, indirect but direct etc. (‘If you’re easy with me I’m easy with you’.)
• His name ‘Goole’ is symbolic of his interest in death, and exposure of the evil in others and the fact that he may not be real at all; just a reflection or embodiment of the collective guilt and conscience of the family.
• He behaves like a police inspector with his casual assertiveness, sobriety and the ‘disconcerting habit of looking hard at the person he addressed before actually speaking’ which unnerves people.
• During the initial interrogation, he claims to know very little but by the end it is clear he knows everything after expertly linking each member of the family with Eva Smith.
• The Inspector is what can be termed as ‘socially progressive’ in his advocation of social responsibility and the importance of empathy.
• He represents morality and forces each character to judge themselves and reflect on their actions.
• He clearly has an impact on the young members of the family but not the old, suggesting the young represent the future and the possibility of change.