In the play "An Inspector Calls", the character of the inspector is used as a dramatic device in different ways, which helps to make the play more interesting. and striking. In this essay, I will aim to analyze and explore these dramatic devices. Our perceptions of this play's genre often change throughout its run, beginning as a "whodunnit" and developing into a didactic play with a strong moral message. The Inspector is crucial in the play because he is the one who helps us see the transition between genders and allows it to take place. This is just one of the many roles played by the inspector; he works as a narrator, he acts as a catalyst for action, he is used as a vehicle for socialist views, and he conveys Priestley's own political views. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The Inspector is used to convey Priestley's views and the overall socialist point of view. This political vision was shared by Priestley and so, by having the most dominant and interesting character represent these ideas, they are conveyed directly to the audience through the language used and the overall actions and movements of the Inspector. Most of these ideas are outlined in the Inspector's final two speeches where he states that "we do not live alone", "we are members of one body" and "we are responsible for each other". These are excellent examples of the Inspector speaking not only to the other characters, but also directly to the audience, thus conveying the socialist point of view much more clearly and to greater effect. Furthermore, the inspector's omniscience helps both to emphasize the socialist vision and to criticize the capitalist vision. Using strongly emotive language like "fire, blood, and anguish" and relating that to human ignorance really helps accomplish both tasks simultaneously and effectively. The prediction of the coming war, which contradicts Birling's earlier statement, suggests that the Inspector is not all he seems. This also contradicts Birling's previous ideas, further emphasizing Priestley's hatred of capitalism and introducing the idea that he is a visionary capable of predicting the future. The inspector's name, Goole, may symbolize some sort of ghostly presence, and this is confirmed throughout the book. play through the inspector's actions and his omniscient abilities. Priestley may have used this name to make us understand from the beginning of the play that this character is not all that he seems and that he will be a mystical character. The language he uses is also very strange, using expressions that insinuate his knowledge, such as "because what happened... drove her to suicide." This statement shows that the inspector already knows everything that happened, he knows what each member of the family did, and he knows how to force them to blame each other. This all adds up to the theory that the Inspector is a very ghostly and strange presence, all-knowing and omnipresent, and who knows how to manipulate the room to add dramatic effect. Additionally, the lighting changes when the inspector enters from a pleasant pink light to a fairly cool blue. This adds effect as it sets the tone for the Inspector's character from the moment he enters and shows the clear division between the comfortable lives of the Birlings and the harsh reality that the Inspector brings. The inspector's final speech, which is only one of two long sections of monologue available to him, greatly imposes the ideas and pointsof Priestley's view to the public. It is at this point that we begin to see this piece as didactic and understand the message it is trying to convey. This final speech also provides a sort of closure to the Inspector's overall narration and control of the play up to this point. So far, Goole has been controlling the other characters, "intervening massively", "taking matters into his own hands massively" and doing all of this "with calm authority". These stage directions help us see clearly that the Inspector is intended to dominate a situation and take control of what is happening. He only hears what he needs to, and when he is done with what he needs, he steps in and asks another question or makes another statement. So this means that the game is quite fast. As he only lets the other characters say what he wants to hear, he gathers all the necessary information and moves forward rather hastily and this is another way for Priestley to show the Inspector's dominance and that he is an unstoppable force . He also acts as a sort of puppeteer, controlling the entry and exit of the other characters, which helps, again, to show the dominance of the Inspector within the framework of the play. Priestly often uses dramatic irony in "An Inspector Calls" to show that the Birlings are selfish narcissists with no real understanding of current events, contrasting with the inspector's own interruptions and innuendoes which contradict those of the Birlings and prove true. Mr Birling thinks that "there is no chance of there being a war", while the inspector, in his final speech, contradicts this with a correct statement which alludes to war, as far as where men “shall be taught in fire and blood and anguish.” 'This use of the juxtaposition of these statements and the overall juxtaposition of the inspector in this environment adds tension and irony to the play, making it more enjoyable and exciting to watch. This also further exaggerates the Inspector's dominant personality by expanding it to include intellect as well as physical actions and mind games. The language that the inspector uses to contradict the Birling family is another way of achieving dramatic effect in this play, and an example of this is "I don't play golf." This shows that the inspector is telling Birling that he does not care about threats from him and that he will fulfill his duty no matter what. This is an example of the situation where Birling attempted to assert his authority, but was immediately stopped by the inspector, further emphasizing his sheer domination of the room. Additionally, the longer sentence "Miss Birling...with her responsibility" shows how the inspector places the blame on everyone, not just one person. The order in which the inspector chooses to interview the family also creates a lot of dramatic effect, as he chooses to interview them all in chronological order, except for the last two people, which again is done to add effect. Priestley likes to manipulate time in his pieces, and I think this is an example of how he does it superbly. By putting them in some sort of order, the inspector shows that he knows more than he lets on, which adds tension as we begin to realize that the inspector isn't everything what it seems to be. However, the last two questions are reversed chronologically, but they work together to create an impressive dramatic effect. By first hearing Mrs. Birling's version, the inspector manages to turn her against her own family, making her say that "he should be an example" and that "it is thanks to him" that.