The Character of Goole in the Play, An Inspector Calls
1st November 2012
“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.” How does Goole make us realise that we are all responsible for what happens to other?
In the play Priestly is constantly referring us back to ‘No Man is an Island’, he does this by telling his beliefs through the Inspector. He does it in ways that are not obvious but always teach the reader and the Birling family a lesson, that we are all responsible for each other and that not one person can function properly on their own. The Inspector is constantly giving us this message.
One of the first times Goole tries to explain to the Birling family that they are all responsible for what has happened to Eva Smith is when Priestly gives his main message ‘You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt.’ This quote emphasises the fact that they might not all believe that they have done something but they should at least feel a small piece of guilt for what has happened to the girl. From the words ‘share our guilt’ we know that Priestly wants people to share the blame for things and not always say it is one person on their own ‘island’
When the Inspector has just left the house Birling says ‘you’re the one to blame for this.’ Throughout the play Priestly has been trying to tell the reader/watcher that you all need to stick together. ‘Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.’ This quote was chosen because it is talking to all people when Goole says this; this one is directly to the upper class audience of which Mr Birling is one. This is saying it does not matter how rich or poor you are that you should always try to help the people around and not to be selfish.
Goole is always trying to tell the family that they have done wrong and that they need to sort things out themselves ‘you’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I have gone.’ Priestly has used these words very well, using Goole
“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.” How does Goole make us realise that we are all responsible for what happens to other?
In the play Priestly is constantly referring us back to ‘No Man is an Island’, he does this by telling his beliefs through the Inspector. He does it in ways that are not obvious but always teach the reader and the Birling family a lesson, that we are all responsible for each other and that not one person can function properly on their own. The Inspector is constantly giving us this message.
One of the first times Goole tries to explain to the Birling family that they are all responsible for what has happened to Eva Smith is when Priestly gives his main message ‘You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else, we’ll have to share our guilt.’ This quote emphasises the fact that they might not all believe that they have done something but they should at least feel a small piece of guilt for what has happened to the girl. From the words ‘share our guilt’ we know that Priestly wants people to share the blame for things and not always say it is one person on their own ‘island’
When the Inspector has just left the house Birling says ‘you’re the one to blame for this.’ Throughout the play Priestly has been trying to tell the reader/watcher that you all need to stick together. ‘Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges.’ This quote was chosen because it is talking to all people when Goole says this; this one is directly to the upper class audience of which Mr Birling is one. This is saying it does not matter how rich or poor you are that you should always try to help the people around and not to be selfish.
Goole is always trying to tell the family that they have done wrong and that they need to sort things out themselves ‘you’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I have gone.’ Priestly has used these words very well, using Goole