An inspector calls. Flashcards
“A man has to mind his businesses and look after himself and his own”.
Business-2 meanings- your work or what you get up to.
-Irony because all their business gets exposed in the play because they don’t mind their own business.
-All are part of Eva’s life.
Order of quote- Business, you then others. Creates a society of selfishness.
Mr birling sacks Eva to not lose money Sheila gets her fired because she might have insulted her in some way. Mrs Birling can’t handle the fact that Eva has the same last name as her because she thinks she’s special.
“I wasn’t in love with her or anything-but I liked her-she was pretty and a good sport.”-Eric
Patriarchy-Shows how men viewed women.
Sport-Play games. There’s a winner and a loser. Sooner or later it will end. This is how they treat Eva (Eric and Gerald). They use her. She fulfils her purpose and moves on.
Men have more power in England-1912. Eric openly says that being a rich man comes with privilege.
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour-they’re people.”-Sheila
Capitalism Vs Socialism. Capitalism has dehumanised people. Example. When Mr Birling finds out that Gerald has an affair he tells her to stop overreacting. His daughter is not a person but is cheap labour he is selling to Gerald. Their marriage is a business deal.
“First the girl herself..Secondly I blame the young man who was the father of the child.. He should be made an example of”. -Mrs Birling Act 2
Dramatic irony-when she finds out it’s Eric. she says “if only I knew”. Links to morality- good and bad.
When she fins out Eric has done it, She says the act is bad but the person who has done it is not bad (Eric). She has no morality (how you judge what’s good and bad).
“We are members of one body, we are responsible for each other.” (metaphor) -Inspector calls.
It seems related to Marxist critique of capitalist labour practices, which argues that owners of capital are inherently unwilling to consider the plight of those who work for them.
the Inspector is both a hard headed pragmatist (practical/focused on reaching a goal) who warns of what can happen to society and a utopian idealist who wants people to improve because he fundamentally believes that it is possible and right for them to do so.
‘if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish’.
If the Inspector’s solemn warning isn’t heeded then the consequences will potentially be catastrophic. “Fire, blood, and anguish” are precisely what we would expect to encounter in a war. The play itself is set not long before the outbreak of World War I and was written and performed in the aftermath of World War II. These words are part of a speech in the style of a sermon
“I can’t accept any responsibility for everything that happens to everyone”
His ability to look after others is presented as a disability.
“Everything that happens to everyone” is a piece of hyperbole that’s designed to suggest that he should care more as it sounds ridiculous.
“Girls of that class”
This is spoken by Mrs Birling when she is attempting to justify why she failed to offer Eva/ Daisy the aid she needed.
She simply writes Eva/Daisy off as of a lower, less deserving class, incapable of true feelings and honesty.
“I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago, Gerald. In fact, in some odd way, I rather respect you more than I’ve ever done before.”
Sheila to Gerald-Act Two, affair revelation.
Gerald has been honest with her/himself and she does not refute what transpired -someone in similar circumstances might have acted the same way he did.
Sheila is aghast-Arthur might simply carry on.
Arthur and Sybil’s primary concerns are their appearance in thier social circles.
“If you think you can bring any pressure to bear on me, Inspector, you’re quite mistaken. Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m ashamed of or that won’t bear investigation.”
Sybil is,a direct counterpoint to her daughter Sheila.Beieves that she upheld the procedures of the charity.
The Inspector hopes to prove to the Birling family throughout the play that such a conception is not only fundamentally wrong but deeply damaging to the very fabric of society in which all humans live.
‘You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall
between us and that girl… Inspector will
just knock it down.’ Act 2
Metaphor of a wall- Mrs Birling attempt- presents the
working class as something different/alien – Sheila doesn’t see it like this.
shows Sheila is insightful- she quickly understands the Inspector’s methods.
‘The money’s not important. It’s what
happened to the girl and what we all did
to her that matters’ Act 3
(Eric)
lack of concern for ‘money’- hes different to Mr Birling’s
capitalist views.
Eric has potential for change- audience’s hope for an improved society after WWII.
‘Getting a bit heavy-handed, aren’t
you, Inspector?’ Act 1 (Gerald)
Expectation -entitled to certain level of respect-upper class
‘Heavy-handed’-used to softer approach.
Rhetorical question-does not expect an answer
asks to remind the Inspector of his place.
. ‘Sorry – I – well, I’ve suddenly realised
– taken it in properly – that she’s dead.’
Act 2 (Gerald)
‘Sorry’ – apology hints at loss of power
Use of hyphen- broken speech-emotional, perhaps holding back tears.
Suggests compassion/ability to care for others of different classes.
