An Inspector Calls

Question 1

Inspector Goole (7)

Answer 1

Power:

• (about Inspector) “Massiveness, solidity, and purposefulness”
• “If men will not learn, […] they will be taught in fire and blood and anguish”, war and hell, double entendre

Class:

• “One Eva Smith has gone… but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smiths… all intertwined with our lives”
• “It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it”

Responsibility:

• “We don’t live alone. We are members of one body”
• “Public men, […] have responsibilities as well as privileges”
• “You’ll be able to divide the responsibility between you when I’ve gone” - alludes to socialist influence on family (division)

Question 2

Gerald (5)

Answer 2

Responsibility:

• “Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?”
• “For God’s sake – don’t say anything to the inspector”
• “Sorry – I – well, I’ve suddenly realised – taken it in properly – that she’s dead”
• “Is there anything else you want to know – that you ought to know?”

Gender:
- “I think Miss Birling ought to be excused any more of this questioning”

Question 3

Eric (4)

Answer 3

Responsibility:

• “He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out”
• “My child – your own grandchild – you killed them both – damn you, damn you”
• “You lot may be letting yourself out nicely, but I can’t”
• “State where a chap easily turns nasty”, implies admittance of alcohol, deflects responsibility

Question 4

Sheila (8)

Answer 4

Power:
- “I’d persuade mother to close our account with them [if Eva isn’t fired]”

Responsibility:

• “Was he really a police inspector?”
• “I suppose we’re all nice people now”
• “Let’s not start dodging and pretending now. Between us we drove that girl to suicide”
• “I’ll never, never do it again to anybody… I feel I can never go there again”

Gender:
- “These girls aren’t cheap labour. They’re people”

Age:

• “Mother, I think it was cruel and vile”
• “It frightens me the way you talk”

Question 5

Mrs Birling (6)

Answer 5

Class:

• “As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money”
• “She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position”

Responsibility:

• “I’m very sorry. But I think she had only herself to blame”
• “It wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment – which probably began it all”
• “I was the only one of you who didn’t give in to him”

Gender:
- (to Sheila) “Men […] have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business”

Question 6

Mr Birling (14)

Answer 6

Power:

• “Perhaps I ought to warn you that he’s an old friend of mine”
• “She had a lot to say - far too much - so she had to go”
• “We were paying the usual rates and if they didn’t like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else”

Responsibility:

• “It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
• “If we were all responsible for everything that happened, […] it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?”
• “A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself… community and all that nonsense”

Class:

• “If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth”
• (to Gerald) “You’re just the kind of son-in-law I always wanted”
• “I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business… there isn’t a chance of war”

Age:

• “The famous younger generation who know it all”
• (to Eric) “Why, you hysterical young fool - get back - or I’ll-“
• “Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along”
• “But take my word for it, you youngsters and I’ve learnt in the good hard school of experience”

Gender:
- “[Clothes are] token of [a womens] self-respect”