Inspector Goole Quotes

Inspector Goole - Key Quote (Act 1)

‘A chain of events’. Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 1:

Consequences

Inspector Goole shows that, while a single action might not have dire results, the build-up of a series of bad events (caused by the Birlings and Gerald) can ultimately lead a young girl to suicide.
In this way, Priestley encourages the audience, and the characters, to think about the role they play in other people’s lives.
He encourages them to think carefully about the dangerous effect their actions can have if they do not think of others and abuse their power.

Inspector Goole - Key Quote (Act 2)

‘And you think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant things?’ Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 2:

Hypocrisy

This is a direct reference to Gerald’s mistreatment of Eva Smith.
Inspector Goole uses this opportunity to highlight the hypocritical (act in the opposite way to their beliefs) nature of the upper classes – they want to protect their own, fragile, innocent women, but they feel it is acceptable to use lower-class women for their own enjoyments.

Treatment of Eva

While Mr Birling and Gerald try to protect Sheila from hearing ‘unpleasant things’, neither of them feel the need to protect Eva from them.
Gerald did protect her for a while, but he kept her as a mistress (a woman who has a sexual relationship with a married man) and then discarded her.
This is something that upper-class men would not think to do to upper-class women because they’d have too much respect for them.

Inspector Goole - Key Quote (Act 3)

‘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’. Here's an analysis of this key quote from Act 3:

Consequences of selfish attitudes

Priestley uses the Inspector to warn the Birlings and Gerald of the consequences of their selfish attitudes – if they do not begin to take some responsibility for other people, including the lower classes, then society will face dire (terrible) consequences.

Message about wars

He is referring to World War One and Two here, which his 1946 audience would have lived through.
This could be designed to show audiences the real cause of the wars: selfishness and greed.
This would deepen their dislike of Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and Gerald. In the next part of this act, they completely ignore this warning and begin to act selfishly once more.

1Plot Summary

1.1Act 1

1.1.1Act 1 Summary

1.1.2Act 1 Key Quotes

1.2Act 2

1.2.1Act 2 Summary

1.2.2Act 2 Key Quotes

1.3Act 3

1.3.1Act 3 Summary

1.3.2Act 3 Key Quotes

1.3.3Act 3 More Key Quotes

1.3.4End of Topic Test - Acts 1, 2 & 3

2Context & Key Themes

2.1Context & Key Themes

2.1.1Social Class & Equality

2.1.2Class Tension

2.1.3Abuse of Power & Corruption

2.1.4Socialism vs Capitalism

2.1.5Blame & Responsibility

2.1.6Attitudes to Women

2.1.7Characterisation of Women

2.1.8Dramatic Function of Characters

2.1.9End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes

2.1.10End of Topic Test - Context & Key Themes 2

2.1.11Grade 9 - Key Themes

3Key Characters

3.1Mr Birling

3.1.1Mr Birling Analysis

3.1.2Mr Birling Quotes

3.2Mrs Birling

3.2.1Mrs Birling Analysis

3.2.2Mrs Birling Quotes

3.2.3Exam-Style Questions - Mrs Birling

3.3Sheila

3.3.1Sheila Analysis

3.3.2Sheila Quotes

3.3.3End of Topic Test - The Birlings & Sheila

3.4Eric

3.4.1Eric Analysis

3.4.2Eric Quotes

3.5Gerald

3.5.1Gerald Analysis

3.5.2Gerald Quotes

3.6Inspector Goole

3.6.1Inspector Goole Analysis

3.6.2Inspector Goole Quotes

3.6.3End of Topic Test - Eric, Gerald & Inspector Goole

3.7Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.7.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

4Authorial Method

4.1Arrangement & Structure of the Play

4.1.1Setting, Lighting & Dramatic Irony

4.1.2Structure & Chronology

4.1.3Structure & Chronology 2

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Authorial Method

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