An Inspector Calls Flashcards
What are the themes in this play?
-Social class
-Impact of progress on working class
When was the play written and set?
Written: 1945
Set: 1912
What do the audience think of the Birlings throughout the play?
You have no idea what’s in store for you (bc lived through 2 WW and they keep talking abt social development)
How is Mr Birling introduced to the audience and how is wife describe in relation to him?
-‘heavy-looking, rather portentous man […] rater provincial in his speech’
-His ‘social superior’
How is Shiela described in the beginning of the play?
‘rather pleased with life’
Describe the first exchange between Birling and Gerald
-B mentions port and how ‘it’s exactly the same port your father gets’
-Links drink to superior position G’s father is in as if by drinking port, B taking in some superiority
-G says doesn’t know much about port
-Sh says ‘I should hope not Gerald’ ‘gaily, possessively’
-Masks insecurity w/ jolly outward appearance - doesn’t want G turning into B
-Symbolises: on surface = celebration but reality = tension
Give a brief summary on how Birling mirrors the effects of social class. Give an example from the beginning
-If born working class, can’t move to upper class
-As play develops, B tries to seem higher class than actually is -> looks foolish
-Fragile status
e.g
-B: ‘tell cook from me’ that the meal was excellent
-S: ‘you’re not supposed to say such things’
Analyse ‘men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time and energy on their business’
-Sybil to Sheila
-Work more important than family for men
-OR
-Knows men will have affairs w/ other women but she’ll ‘have to get used to that’
-As if both in denial, don’t want to face truth abt their men
Analyse Eric’s introduction to the play
-‘Suddenly guffaws’
-Aware of charade everyone plays around him
-Drunk, doesn’t fit into B’s pretentious world -> alcohol numbs him
-Laugh = release of tension
-In B’s 1st speech says speech making = easier w/ large crowd -> Eric responds ‘Well, don’t do any’
-Translates to: if need big crowd for speech & don’t have one here, what’s point of speech?
-But all know B doesn’t care for no. of ppl, just cares that Crofts didn’t come -> not happy abt that
How does Priestly use dramatic irony to disgust the audience? Give 2 quotes
‘Ignore all this silly pessimistic talk’
‘When you marry , you’ll be marrying at a very good time’
To Birling, war is a load of ‘nonsense’
