An Inspector calls Flashcards
Mr Birling introductory monologuing
“don’t get the police court involved or start a scandal”- foreshadowing
“I dont want lecture you two young fellows”- sets up divide
“Bees in a hive”- the same- represents capitalism
“community and all that nonsense”
“Hard headed practical business man”
Inspector first impression
he contrasts the originally “pink and intimate lighting”
Uses emotive language “Burnt her inside out of course”
Takes charge quickly “[Cutting through massively]”
Mr Birling being accused
“[somewhat impatiently]” refuses to take any blame for what occurred
“can’t take responsibility”
“[surprised] Did you say ‘Why?’?”
“She’d had a lot to say- far too much- so she had to go”
“they’d soon be asking for the earth”
Sheila first impression
Naive- “What’s this about the streets”
superficial- “pretty?”
selfish “destroying herself so horribly- and I’ve been so happy tonight”
Took out her anger on shop assistant and threatened she’d “never go near the place again”
Sheila character growth
Once Sheila realises her error she tries to emulate the example set by the inspector:
-“we cant leave it at that”
-“allow me Miss Birling”- Inspector understands her better
“I don’t dislike you as I did half an hour ago”
Gerald foreshadowing
“except for all last summer when you never came near me”
reacts to the name Daisy Renton “[startled] What?”
“It’s bound to be unpleasant and disturbing”
signs Gerald genuinely cared for Daisy
“soft brown hair and big dark eyes”
he is “[distressed” when realising “that she’s dead”
“she gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help”
“I didn’t ask for anything in return”
“It wasn’t disgusting”
signs Gerald was only selfish with Daisy
“nearly any man would have done”
“So I broke it off definitely” - when it no longer conveniences him
“she lived very economically on what I allowed her”
Mrs Birling lacking social responsibility
” simply a piece of gross impertinence”
“she only had herself to blame”
“ look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility”
“as if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money
Eric clashing with the older Birlings
“You haven’t made it any easier for me, have you mother”
“Because you’re not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble”
B- “you’ve been spoilt”
“Then- you killed her… damn you, damn you”
“You’re the one blame for this”
Inspector key guidance moments at the start
“[cutting through massively]”
“I think you remember Eva Smith now, don’t you Mr Birling”
Ask “why” he refused to raise salary
“Yes, but you can’t. It’s too late. She’s dead”
Older Birlings demonstrating how they’re stuck in heir old ways (act 3)
- ‘You’re the one I blame for this’ (MrB - E)
- ‘Drop that. There’s every excuse for what both your mother and I did’ (Mr B)
- ‘why you all had to go letting everything come out like that, beats me’ (MrB)
- ‘the famous younger generation who know it all. And they cant even take a joke-‘ (Mr B)
younger Birlings showing Priestly’s ideologies and hopes for the future
- ‘I am ashamed of you as well- yes both ou you’ (E)
- ‘The point is, you dont seem to have learnt anything’ (S)
- ‘it’s you two who are being childish - trying not to face the fact’ (S)
- ‘Its what happened to the girl and what we all did to her that matters’(E)
inspector impressions at the end of the play
- ‘each of you helped to kill her…[He looks from to the other of them carefully]’
- ‘We are members of one body’
-‘if men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish
guilt in act 1
- ‘Yes, I remember [but he checks himself]’ (E)
- ‘Still, I I cant accept any responsibility’(Mr B)
guilt in act 2
- ‘But she became your mistress’ (I to G)
- ‘gross impertinence… which prejudiced me to her case’ & ‘I’ve done nothing wrong - and you know it’ (Mrs B)
- ‘[agitated] I don’t believe it. I won’t believe it…‘(Mrs B)
guilt in act 3
- ‘[very distressed now] No- Eric- please- I didn’t know- didn’t understand’ (Mrs B)
- ‘You’re the one I blame for this’ (Mr B)
- ‘The money’s not the important thing. It’s what happened to the girl and all we did to her that matters’ (E)
- ‘it doesn’t matter to me. Yhe one I knew is dead’ (E)
conflict act 1
- ‘It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it’(I)
- a nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it’(I)
conflict act 2
-‘[bitterly] So that’s what you think I am really like’ (S)
- ‘Please don’t contradict me’ (Mrs B)
- ‘Mother, I think it was cruel and vile’ (S)
- ‘it wasn’t I who had her turned out of her employment’ (Mrs B)
conflict act 3
- ‘[nearly at breaking point] Then- you killed her’ (E)
- ‘You don’t understand anything. You never did. You never even tried’ (E)
- ‘if men will not learn that lesson then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish’
power act 1
- ‘a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself- and his family too’ (Mr B)
- ‘you two young fellows’ (Mr B)
- ‘[cutting through massively]’ (I)
power act 2
- ‘Allow me, Miss Birling’ (I)
- [rebuking them] I’m talking to the inspector now if you dont mind’ (Mrs B)
- ‘I knew already’ (I about G x DR/ES)
power act 3
-‘be quiet for a moment and listen to me’ (I)
- ‘surveys them sardonically’ (I)
- ‘We’ve no proof that it was the same photograph and therefore have no proof t was the same girl’ (G)
Gender act 1
- ‘When you’re married, you’ll realise men with important work to do sometimes have to spend nearly all their time on their business’ (Mrs B)
- ‘a man has to make his own way - has to look after himself- and his family too’(E)
