An Inspector Calls Flashcards
Describe the inspector
-A mysterious man who claims to be police inspector
-He’s investigating the death o0f Eva smith/daisy renton
Describe Gerald
-an upper class business
-engaged to Sheila
Describe Sheila birling
-Birling’s daughter
-in her early twenties
-engaged to Gerald
-immature
Describe Eric birling
-Birling’s son
-secret alcoholic
-going to inherit father’s business
Describe Sybil birling
-Arthur’s wife
-obsessed with etiquette and her status in society
Describe Arthur birling
-a successful businessmen who is well respected in Brumley
-owns a factory and is head of the Birling family
Describe Eva smith/Daisy Renton
-lower working class
-victim of the play
-we never see her
-she might be loads of different girls or maybe not even dead
What are the main themes?
-family life
-social class
-young and old
-men and women
-social responsibility
What part did Arthur play in Eva smith’s death?
He sacked her for striking in protest against low wages
What part did Sheila play in Eva smith’s death?
Asked for Eva smith to be sacked from a department store
What part did Sybil birling play in Eva smith’s death?
She persuaded the women’s charity organisation to reject Eva’s appeal for help
What part did Eric play in Eva smith’s death?
-was the father of her baby and left her
-he was drunk and forced her to have sex with him
What part did Gerald play in Eva smith’s death?
She was his mistress and left her at the end of the summer
How is the theme responsibility shown in an inspector call?
The inspector makes each character confess to their role in Eva smith’s fate and hope they need to take responsibility
He advocates collective social responsibility
How is the theme social equality shown in an inspector calls?
Priestley shows the inspector to highlight social injustice and inequality
How is the theme morality and the law shown in an inspector calls?
Inspector acts as a judge of morality rather than a legal position
How is the theme of age shown in an inspector calls?
An inspector calls shows how the older generation are set in their ways, while the younger generation are open to change
How is the theme public image shown in an inspector calls?
The Birling’s are portrayed as caring about appearance and reputation.
The inspector reveals their hypocrisy as he exposes their moral flaws.
How is the theme of gender shown in an inspector calls?
Priestley highlights the patriarchal society through limited opportunities
-signs of change in Sheila
What does the quote “i speak as a hard headed business man” show?
-mr birling represents himself as a typical capitalist - he sees being egotistical as a good thing
-he is all about money
-metaphor
-we are more susceptible to socialism
What does the quote “as if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense” show?
-socialism is shown in a positive light, although mr birling doesn’t agree
What does the quote”it is better to ask for the earth than to take it” show?
-the inspector is teaching the Birling’s about the affects of their capitalist ways on the lower class
-hyperbolic metaphor-rich + powerful take all money + resources for themselves
-Shows social responsibility
What does the quote “but these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people” show?
-Sheila responds to her capitalist father’s views
-Sheila reveals she’s able to change - socialism
-suggesting more equal rights + responsibility
What does the quote “why - you fool - he knows” show?
-Sheila is perceptive + has realised the inspector’s role in the family
-Sheila recognises the omniscience of the inspector
-audience question what he knows
-Sheila is beginning to see Gerald in a different light
What does the quote “no, he’s giving us the rope - so that we’ll hang ourselves” show?
-the inspector will get the Birling’s to admit their own guilt
-they’re opinions and attitudes of the Birling’s incriminate them
-the Birling’s have done this to themselves
What does the quote “miserable plain little creature” show?
-Sheila attempts to rid herself of her guilt by blaming Eva from being pretty
-lower class have no right to be pretty
-Eva smith is compared to an animal
-lower classes should be easy to manipulate
-power of women lies in attractiveness - patriarchal society
What does the quote “girls of that class” show?
-mrs birling thinks poorly of the lower classes
-mrs birling is disrespectful of the lower classes
-Mrs birling is distancing herself from the lower classes
-age and gender
What does the quote “i became at once the most important person in her life” show?
-Gerald explains the massive effect he had on daisy’s life
-Gerald’s view could be unreliable
What does the quote “you and I aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner here” Show?
-Sheila is changing and distancing herself form Gerald
-Gerald doesn’t change but Sheila has
-Sheila is changing and breaking patriarchal boundaries - distancing herself from the dominant male
What does the quote “ public men, mr birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges” show?
-the inspector is criticising mr Birling’s attitude to social responsibility
-status means nothing to the inspector
-mr birling is obdurate of older generation
What does the quote “I’m sorry she should have come to such a horrible end. But i accept no blame for it at all” show?
-Mrs birling refuses to take social responsibility
-her apology is insincere and not genuine
What does the quote “i was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty” show?
-Eric hints that he acted immoral with Eva/daisy — alcohol and male violence
-normalising violence against women
-suggests state is normal
What does the quote “there are millions and millions and millions of Eva smiths and john smith still left with us” show?
-the inspector is Priestley’s mouthpiece — prophetic message
-audience is thinks of them too
-many other people like Eva
-common names to show they are working class
What does the quote “we don’t live alone - we are members of one body.we are responsible for each other” show?
-metaphor
-didactic message-didactic message
-anaphoric
What does the quote “if men will not learn that lesson, they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish” show?
-if we don’t change we will suffer
-prophetic message
-polysyndetic list
