Study Notes on the Inspector in An Inspector Calls

The Inspector is dressed in a minimal "plain darkish suit" and described as creating an "impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness" despite not necessarily being a large man.
His name, Goole, is a homophone for "ghoul," suggesting a supernatural or spiritual nature, such as an "avenging angel."
He serves as a vehicle for Priestley’s socialist ideology, acting as an omniscient moral force rather than a standard police officer.

The Inspector is portrayed as a moral policeman who is exempt from societal corruption.
He refuses Mr Birling’s offer of port, stating, "no, thank you […] I’m on duty," symbolizing a rejection of immoral behavior.
He rejects Mr Birling’s attempt at bribery at the end of the play, telling him, "you’re offering the money at the wrong time."
This cyclical structure emphasizes the consistency of the Inspector’s morals compared to the immorality of capitalism.

The Inspector champions the belief that "public men […] have responsibility as well as privilege."
He insists on referring to Eva Smith by her name, humanizing her against the Birlings' view of her as just a "girl" or a lower-class citizen.
He asserts that all lives are "intertwined" and that "we are members of one body," alluding to the Book of Genesis.
His purpose is to catalyze a change in perception, encouraging the younger generation to break away from individualistic traditions.

The Inspector acts as a foil to Mr Birling, representing the conflict between socialism and capitalism.
His arrival interrupts Mr Birling’s capitalist monologue and his claims that "war is inevitable […] fiddlesticks!" and that the Titanic is "unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable."
While Mr Birling is "heavy looking" and "portentous," the Inspector "speaks weightily," suggesting that the strength of his ideology outweighs the need for an imposing physical appearance.

Sheila: She is the character most impacted by the Inspector, becoming symbolic of the younger generation’s capacity to adopt social responsibility.
Gerald: The Inspector exposes the hypocrisy of the upper class through Gerald, who tries to fabricate claims to excuse his role in Eva’s suicide.
Mrs Birling: The Inspector highlights her lack of maternal empathy, contrasting his moral inquiry with her "rather cold" nature.
Eric: The Inspector portrays Eric as redeemable, suggesting his actions were a product of a corrupt society and a lack of parental support.

The Inspector’s final speech warns that if "men will not learn" the lesson of social responsibility, they will be taught it in "fire and blood and anguish."
This is a direct reference to the world wars; Priestley suggests that WWI and WWII (the years of $1914$ to $1918$ and $1939$ to $1945$ ) were consequences of failing to reconstruct society.
Eva Smith is used as a symbol for the "millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths" who suffer under capitalist systems.
The Inspector’s departure acts as a test to see if the characters have truly learned their lesson, mirroring the interwar years.