An Inspector Calls Flashcards
JB Priestly
Set in?
1912
Context - women seen in that society?
“The angel of the house”
Pure & innocent
only to look pretty and be what the man wants, care about clothes not business.
Sheila not feeling guilty for getting Eva sacked
“But she was very pretty and looked as if she could take care of herself. I couldn’t be sorry for her.”
Sheila to Inspector - Act 1
Gerald used Daisy for sex, context
“I didn’t install her there so that I could make love to her.”
(Gerald to the Inspector, Act II)
Gerald is trying to explain why he set Daisy up in an apartment. He claims he didn’t do it so he could have sex with her, and yet this is exactly what he did until he grew bored and ended the affair.
Mr Birling not being trustworthy
“unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable”
(Birling to Eric and Gerald, Act I)
He is referring to The Titanic. He then goes on to predict that the war will not break out and that there will be no more strikes. He is wrong about all three of these predictions. This is an example of dramatic irony. Priestley uses this to make the audience distrust Birling.
Inspectors thoughts on the Birlings
“But each of you helped to kill her. Remember that. Never forget it.”
(The Inspector’s speech to the Birlings, Act III)
The Inspector is trying to teach the Birlings a lesson so that they learn from their behaviour and hopefully treat the lower classes better in the future. Inspector is Preistley mouth piece.
Who wrote it?
JB Priestley
What kind of man is Mr Birling?
“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
(Birling to the Inspector, Act I)
Birling is trying to justify why he fired Daisy Renton. This shows how uncaring he is because he groups all working-class people together as ‘these people’ and doesn’t see them as individuals.
or
“There’ll be a public scandal”
(Birling to his family, Act III)
After the Inspector has left, this is all that Birling is interested in. He doesn’t care about what happened to Daisy; he has learnt nothing.
or
“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”
(Birling to Eric and Gerald, Act I)
This is important because it is at this moment that the doorbell rings – the arrival of the Inspector.
What kind of person is Mrs Birling?
“I don’t suppose for a moment that we can understand why the girl committed suicide. Girls of that class –”
(Mrs Birling to the Inspector, Act II)
Mrs Birling is a snob! She thinks that because Eva / Daisy is working class, that is why she committed suicide. She does not want to take responsibility for her actions.
or
“I think it was an act of gross impertinence”
(Mrs Birling to the Inspector, Act II)
This shows that Mrs Birling was prejudiced against Daisy just because she used the Birling name. “Impertinence” is when you show disrespect to those above you.” Therefore, Mrs Birling is highlighting that she views Daisy as being beneath her. Daisy used the name because she thought she might be treated with more respect.
Sheila’s change through the play
“(bitterly) I suppose we’re all nice people now.” (Sheila to her family, Act III)
Sheila is disgusted that her parents have not learned anything from the Inspector’s visit. This has changed her and she has matured.
or
“Daddy” “child” “Is this the one you wanted me to have”
she was treated as a child with no thoughts at the start of the play
Inspectors view of society
“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
(The Inspector’s speech to the Birlings, Act III)
The Inspector is explaining that we are all interconnected and, though we may be from different social classes, our lives are intertwined.
Is the Inspector real or not?
“A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own”
(Birling to Eric and Gerald, Act I)
This is important because it is at this moment that the doorbell rings – the arrival of the Inspector.
Gerald’s thoughts on women
“I hate those hard-eyed, dough-faced women. But then I noticed a girl who looked quite different. She was very pretty.” (Gerald to the Inspector, Act II)
This tells us that Gerald visits bars where there are prostitutes (‘hard-eyed, dough-faced women’). This shows his hypocrisy; he thinks he is better than the working class, but he is happy to use them for sex.
