Man or Metaphor: Who is the Inspector in Inspector Calls and how does Priestley present his character?

Man or Metaphor: Who is the Inspector in Inspector Calls and how does Priestley present his character?

The play ‘An Inspector Calls’, was written in 1945 just after the Second World War but is set before World War One (in 1912). The time span between the dates used (1912-1945) is intentional and encourages the reader to reflect on the mistakes of this era. The choice of this date is significant because it was a time of complacency prior to one of great turmoil. Priestley skilfully produces a play that may be viewed at a number of different levels. The story may be just an inspector investigating a murder or a subtle use of metaphors to discuss reasons why the World went to war twice within three decades. The central figure is the inspector and he may be viewed at a number of different levels.

At one level the play is very neatly constructed. As a murder mystery, it has an apparent ending (we know each character is going to be implicated), apart from the final twist. However, ...