It all starts with the inspector: “The inspector raises his hand... Eric enters, looking extremely pale and distressed. » First, all the inspector has to do to regain control and silence those around him is to raise his hand, symbolizing his authority and power over the Birling family. Even though the main suspect of the crime has just entered the room, he still maintains his calm and confidence. The audience therefore takes note of the inspector's power to manage tension. On the other hand, the audience might feel intimidated by the Inspector's command because he is a very powerful individual. After this, Eric walks in, his face looking "extremely pale." To be pale is to lose the color and contrast in your face, meaning Eric was white. It is also claimed that ghosts are white in fiction. They come from apparitions of dead people, suggesting that Eric may find himself in a fatal situation. As they are dark presences, many people have a fear or phobia towards them, implying that Eric could be very frightening to his family. Alternatively, ghosts are normally infamous for delivering frightening and life-giving messages to people. In this case, Priestley portrays Eric as if he himself could convey messages to the audience through the play. It could be that the lower class can fight the upper class, since the inspector defends Eva Smith and he succeeds.