An Inspector Calls Ending Analysis

There are many reasons why that the ending of J.B Priestley’s ‘An Inspector Calls’ is important and one of them is how the audience and characters are able to reflect on what they have learned from the Inspector’s visit. The characters understood the role they played in Eva Smith’s death, but they acted differently when the Inspector left. Mr Birling, Mrs Birling and Gerald resulted to as if everything was back to normal when the revelation of there being ‘no Inspector’ was revealed. Sheila and Eric, however, did not agree with what their parents and Gerald were doing; ‘You’re pretending everything’s just as it was before’. Sheila and Eric were quite frightened of the whole situation but the others were quite placid. Sheila and Eric question

His speech resembles his moral judgement of the situation with Eva Smith. Just before his exit, the Inspector’s final speech increases the dramatic tension in the play. Act 3 is the most tense part of the play as many secrets are dug up and the audience can really judge on who is to blame more for Eva’s tragedy. His speech expresses his socialist views: ‘millions and millions and millions’. The repetition of ‘millions’ suggests there are loads of vulnerable people and that the Birlings are not to be so self-centred. They should look out for the people who are less fortunate. Moreover, ideas link when the Inspector uses the names ‘Eva Smiths and John Smiths’. These name are seen as common names in society which presents the idea that they are working class names because it is common and there are many people in the same situation. The simplicity of their names show that the audience can relate to their character as they can see themselves in them. The Inspector’s speech is almost like a sermon (the religious one). The frequent use of blunt, short diction combined with imperatives makes him seem like a preacher: ‘remember this…’, ‘we are responsible for each other’. The use of ‘we’ suggests that he sees everyone as one and that we are liable to look after society. Furthermore, the Inspector threatens the family with his use of ‘you’ as if something terrible will come if they didn’t learn their lesson. The imagery Priestley creates are biblical- ‘members of one body’, ‘fire, blood and anguish’. These religious connotations are what the characters and audience remember as it is meaningful. This sermonic end to the Inspector’s presence onstage and in the play conveys the impression that he is didactic. He speaks in effect as much to the audience as to the Birlings. Religious preachers use their religious knowledge to make an impact in society- this is what the Inspector is doing.