AIC quotes (themes) Flashcards
“provincial in his speech”
(insecurity)
provincial meaning unsophisticated or narrow minded. this shows how Mr birling has came from a less fortunate upbringing and he uses material things to compensate for hid lower-class accent.
“you ought to like his port Gerald its exactly the same port your father gets”
(insecurity)
- the verb ought shows how he is hesitant to commanded Gerald as he is a higher social status than him.
- he also says “exactly the same as the one your father gets” this shows how he wants to appear on the same rank as Gerald’s dad and in doing so he makes it clear to Gerald he drinks the same port.
“there’s a faire chance I might find myself in the next honours list”
(insecurity)
Mr Birling’s insecurity is revealed by his feeling of inadequacy due to his lower social status, compared to the Crofts. Therefore, he feels the need to compensate with boasts of a potential knighthood.
A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own.”
capitalism a man HAS to mind his own business
double entendre; business work or other people business
the order of the word show the order of importance in life
business, you , other people
creates people who are self obsessed
links to everyone in the play;
mb sacks eva
sb sacks her from milwards
mrs b hates how she is impersonating her and using her name showing how eve is trying to be on mrs b social level.
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people.”
battle between capitalism and socialism
capitalism makes people look at other people as workers for their own benefit
mb says to sheila that she’s overreacting when she found out that gerald had an affair.
and he’s selling sheila to gerald for a business deal as it raises status
“If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?”
they’re wiping their hands of all responsibility
First, the girl herself. … Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child… He should be made an example of.”
morality; good is dependent upon who does it and the same with bad
when she finds out eric was the father she suddenly doesn’t care as much
shows how mrs b and the other capitalist characters have no fixed morality. it all depends who does it #
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything – but I liked her – she was pretty and a good sport.”
they treat her like a game and even tho they giver money and love her it’s all for the purpose of sex and then moving on after she has fulfilled her purpose.
in 1912 england rich men had much power over a poor girl
no backlash as it was a norm
“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
socialist view about everyone looking after each other and how everyone is responsible for each other. and members of each of
themes; socialism, responsibility, critique of mb, critique of gerald and mrs b ,the inspectors role, the problem in society
The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anything.”
shows sheilas change
she’s become more mature also shown in her vocabulary when speaking to her parents “mummy” to “mother “.
and shows her parent lack of change
priestly is showing the light in socialism as it shows it can transform a person from shy and immature to a person with beliefs, morality and responsibility
sheila speaks for the poor women and women as a whole also men and people of lower status who don’t normally have a voice
not matter how much she shouts or expresses her point the is always going to get overpowered by capitalism weather its marrying gerald or getting silenced by her parent.
she also alludes to the idea that hse is going to take back Gerald.
One Eva Smith has gone… but there are millions… of Eva Smiths… all intertwined with our lives… if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”
they actions are not illegal but are morally wrong so they may be judged and sent to hell.
or in context if the capitalists don’t do anything world war 1 will be lost
When you’re married, you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes have to spend all their time and energy on their business.”
mrs b is trying to raise her daughter in the same patriarchal way that she is was raised and that she should follow her her husband
shows howe business is more import for men than the relationship ands everything is just for business purposes.
“Clothes mean something quite different to a woman.”
woman were judged based on how they looked. and the better dressed you are the more respected you are. A and how the more skin you show the less respect you get. and the nicer your clothes are the more respected you are.
putting a condition on respect and love.
