What Is the Purpose of the Inspector in an Inspector Calls?

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What is the purpose of the inspector in the play “An Inspector Calls”? An inspector calls is written by J.B Priestley and is about a prosperous manufacturer named Arthur Birling. In the early years of last century, he is holding a family dinner party to celebrate his daughter’s engagement. Into this cosy and happy scene intrudes a police inspector called Inspector Goole. He is apparently investigating the suicide of a young working class woman and under the pressure of his interrogation every member of the family turns out to have a shameful secret that links them to her death. J.B.Priestley believed in socialism so many theories are that he wrote many of his plays to try to get people to understand and agree with his way of thinking. ‘An Inspector Calls’ was written in a time when Britain was ruled by a Labour government and socialist policies were seen as a positive way to go. As it was a common way of thinking at that time, Priestley’s aim for the play was to influence the unconvinced in society. The Inspector makes the characters confess their actions and reveal what he seems to already know for example, at the end of Act One, when Gerald is discussing to Shelia about the time he spent with Daisy Renton last summer. He already knows that Gerald has something to reveal and that it is just a matter of time: “The door opens and the Inspector walks in looking steadily and searchingly at them. Inspector - Well?” He uses a brilliant technique of giving a small part of the next bit of the story and watching how the Birlings and Gerald react to it. This is used to great effect when he mentions the name Daisy Renton. Inspector – So first she changed her name to Daisy Renton’ Gerald (startled) What?' Inspector (steadily) I said she changed her name to Daisy Renton.’ Gerald Do you mind if I give myself a drink Shelia?” As soon as the Inspector hears this

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