Act 1 Flashcards
What do we learn about each of the characters on stage?
Personality
Status
Looks
What tone is set during the opening exchanges between the characters?
Tone is relaxed and positive as the family is happy about Sheila’s engagement to Gerald.
What is Birlings attitude towards the future and the progress he foresees? What are we meant to think of his attitude? Why?
Birling is confident that everything will go perfectly well. We think of him as foolish because what he says is not true. For example, “the Titanic….unsinkable” we are certain that the titanic did sink.
What does Sheila’s engagement to Gerald mean to Birling ?
It means mr birlings status is raised as Gerald is high class. It would make birling seem more important
How does the tone change once the men are alone?
When the men are alone, his tone changes to talking about business and finance, like when he reassures Gerald his status will become higher so Gerald doesn’t have to worry about marrying into a lower-ish class
What outlook of life had Birling learnt?
That a man can only look after himself in the world. Unless they have family in which they should care partly for them too.
Why does the front door bell ring when it does?
The doorbell rings when it does to interrupt mr birling about to go into a big speech, the interruption can be a representation of how the inspector has the power to shut down mr birling
How does birling react to the reminder that he employed Eva smith? How should he react to the photograph?
He reacts innocently
Why does birling start to move ‘restlessly’?
Because he is uncomfortable and has a secret. He knows the inspector know something and he tries to make himself the victim
What is the mood in the room when Sheila enters?
Tense
They try to cover everything up
They don’t want her to get involved
They protect and shield her as she’s just a child
How does Sheila react to the inspectors news?
Sheilas reaction in one of shock and innocence. She is
Obviously devastated that someone has died and it could have been the family’s fault. She also acts a bit selfish, ‘and I’ve been so happy tonight’
What is sheilas attitude the situation which Eva found her self sacked by birling ?
Sheila is a naive innocence, she know she must feel awful, annoyed and disgusted that her father would do such a thing
Why does Sheila reacts so violently to the photograph?
She is piecing everything together and thinks that she may be blamed for something that she did out of spite and did not think of the consequences
How is Sheila affected by her realisation?
She is shaking, takes a stand for Eva Smith, moral, réalisés she does not want to be like her mother or father
Geralds reactions to name daisy Renton
Shocked voice, stays silent even when questioned
