AIC QUOTES Flashcards
Eva smith P1
- “She was one of my employees, and then I discharged her”
- Mr birling told them (the ringleaders) to “Clear out”
→ “She had a lot to say- far too much, so she had to go”
Eva smith P2: Symbolic of women. She was exploited by both Eric and Gerald- and her pregnancy ultimately meant she could not live live her desired life
- “she looked young and fresh and charming”
- “soft brown hair and big dark eyes- (breaks off) - ‘My god!’
- “she only escaped with a torn blouse”
- “if she didn’t want any more of that sort of thing, she’d better let me take her out”
Eva Smith P3: She is used to reveal the differing values between different generations
- “we were having a nice family celebration tonight, a nasty mess you’ve made of it now, haven’t you”
→ rebutts with “looking at what was left of eva smith… promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it” - “but these girls aren’t cheap labour, they’re people”
Inspector goole Intro:
- In ‘An Inspector Calls’, the Inspector is presented as a mouthpiece of Priestley’s socialist views.
→ He has Godlike qualities and exposes the Birlings and their actions
→ undermining them to strengthen Priestley’s message of collective responsibility.
Inspector goole: p1
(“one person and one line of inquiry at a time”).
- Furthermore, the Inspector has a sense of authority over the Birlings,
→ shown by him ‘cutting through’ and being described as a ‘Godlike figure’
- “the lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, and then it should be brighter and harder”
Inspector goole p2 - Whilst Mr. Birling has capitalistic views, the Inspector directly challenges him.
- we were having a nice family celebration tonight/and a nasty mess you’ve made of it now, haven’t you?”
- -> and the Inspector rebutts with “a nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it”.
- “what happened to her then may have determined what happened to her afterwards, and what happened to her afterwards may have driven her to suicide”
Inspector goole P3
- “there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us”
- “taught it in fire and blood and anguish”.
Eric Birling p1 Irresponsible and immature
- “not quite as ease, half shy, half assertive”.
- The heavy drinking
- Having got a prostitute, Eva smith pregnant
- He steals from his father’s business
- The heavy drinking
- “(suddenly bursting out) little party… I’ve had a few drinks, including rather a lot of champagne”
- “I wasn’t in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport - ”
Eric Birling p2 - TREATED LIKE A CHILD
- “Eric suddenly guffaws. His parents look at him.”
- “Mrs Birling: He’s just talking to my son, Eric, who seems to be in an excitable silly mood.”
- Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.
Eric Birling P3 - Shows glimpses of hope, seems to want to change.
- “The fact remains that I did what I did and mother did what she did and the rest of you did what you did to her”
- “it doesn’t alter the fact that we all helped to kill her.”
benefits in the collective
Gerald P1 - ASSOCIATES WITH OLDER GENERATION
- Mr Birling says: “and we’re in a time of steadily increasing prosperity”
→ responds with “I believe you’re right sir”
→ respect with the goal of marrying his daughter - Treats Sheila like a child, much like Mrs. Birling would
→ “she’s had a long, exciting, and tiring day” - Stereotypical, controlling and dominant man
→ “You can drink to me”
Gerald P2 - DOESNT HARM, BUT SHOWS POWER DYNAMIC
- Can be hypocritical
→ “You think young women ought to be protected against unpleasant and disturbing things?” - Tries to justify himself when he has no choice but to reveal the truth.
→ “nearly any man would have done”
→ “I wasn’t telling you a complete lie.. We were very busy.”
Gerald P3 - GERALD DOESNT CHANGE
- Gerald brings up that “there’s no more real evidence we did than there was that that chap was a police inspector”
- “We’ve no proof it was the same photograph and therefore no proof it was the same girl.”
Sybil Birling P1 - HIGHER SOCIAL STATUS
- “her husband’s social superior”
→ she corrects her family’s etiquette - Sheila says “squiffy” and Sybil responds “Sheila! What an expression”
→ stop use of slang
SYBIL P2 - HER TREATMENT OF DAISY, LACK OF EMPATHY
- “A rather cold woman and her husband’s social superior”
- “she was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position”
- “I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide, girls of that class”
