WHO IS THE WHO IS THE INSPECTOR?INSPECTOR?

A real character or a A real character or a dramatic device?dramatic device?

The mystery of who the inspector is one the play The mystery of who the inspector is one the play never answersnever answers

One answer is that he is simply a dramatic device; without him there would be no play.

But given that the other characters are all believable and realistic, audiences want to know about the reality of the inspector.

Gerald discovers that the inspector is not who he says he is. He helps the unpick the inspector’s story of the girl. S + E hang on to the conviction that ‘it was anything but a joke’ while accepting that there may have been more than one girl and that no girl may have committed suicide.

He’s PriestlyHe’s Priestly He’s God (in the sense that he’s He’s God (in the sense that he’s

telling the Birlings to repent of their telling the Birlings to repent of their sins)sins)

He’s the voice of our conscienceHe’s the voice of our conscience He’s the child Eva Smith was He’s the child Eva Smith was

pregnant withpregnant with He’s a ghostHe’s a ghost He’s a time travellerHe’s a time traveller He’s a real police inspectorHe’s a real police inspector

You will pick up marks for saying who You will pick up marks for saying who youyou think the inspector is and why. think the inspector is and why.