An Inspector Calls Flashcards
Quotes + Analysis
“The general effect is substantial and heavily comfortable, but not cosy and homelike”
- reflects the Birlings’ wealth and success, aligning with Arthur Birling’s capitalist values
- the lack of warmth suggests an emotional coldness within the family
- Their detachment from one another serves as a metaphor for the wealthy’s indifference toward the poor, reinforcing the divide between social classes.
- J.B. Priestley uses the setting to critique capitalism, showing how the Birlings prioritize material wealth over genuine human connection, ultimately creating a society built on coldness and suffering due to a lack of social responsibility.
what is social responsibility?
In short, social responsibility in the play means recognizing how our actions affect others and taking responsibility for those who are less fortunate.
“The lighting should be pink and intimate until the Inspector arrives, then it should be brighter and harder”
- symbolizes the contrast between illusion and reality.
- At first, the soft pink lighting reflects the Birlings’ comfortable, self-contained world, where they view life through ‘rose-tinted glasses,’ ignoring the struggles of the poor.
-However, when the Inspector arrives, the lighting becomes brighter and harsher, stripping away their illusions and forcing them to confront the stark reality they have long chosen to overlook. - This change serves as a dramatic device, reinforcing the shift in tone and emphasizing the Inspector’s authority as he disrupts their false sense of security.
- Priestley uses this technique to critique the upper class, suggesting that social inequality has always been visible, yet the privileged deliberately shield themselves from it.
- By experiencing this transition alongside the Birlings, the audience, too, is encouraged to reflect on their perspectives and responsibilities in society.
when is the play set ?
1912
low wages and exploitation in edwardian england
-The working class, especially women, were paid very low wages, barely enough to survive.
- Employers, like Mr. Birling, prioritized profits over fair pay, refusing to increase wages even when workers protested.
- Many, like Eva Smith, were fired for standing up for their rights, leaving them without income or security.
no welfare system in edwardian England
- There was no safety net like today’s benefits or minimum wage laws.
- If someone lost their job, they had to rely on charities (like Mrs. Birling’s committee) or workhouses, which were harsh and degrading.
Limited Opportunities for Women in edwardian england
- Poor women had very few job options—mainly factory work, domestic service, or prostitution.
- Eva Smith represents this struggle, as she was forced into increasingly desperate situations after being fired.
Poor Living Conditions in edwardian england
- Many working-class families lived in overcrowded slums with poor sanitation and high disease rates.
- They worked long hours in dangerous factories with no job security.
No Workers’ Rights or Unions in edwardian england
- Striking for better pay or conditions was risky, as seen when Eva Smith was fired for her involvement in a strike.
- The upper classes, like Mr. Birling, dismissed workers’ demands, claiming they were unrealistic.
“heavy looking”
greed and wealth
“provincial in his speech”
poorer background in the past
“her husbands social superior”
married someone poorer
“very pleased with life and rather excited”
privilege and youth
“well bred young man about town”
ideal husband Mr Birling would want for sheila due to good background
“half shy half assertive”
under his fathers authority unable to make his own identity
“perhaps we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together”
sees their engagement as a business deal reflecting them seeing money as more important than love due to greed (keeping wealth in the family by only marrying other rich people)
“lower costs and higher prices”
maximising profit suppressing the poor. blinded by greed.
“is it the one you wanted me to have?”
ringis a metaphor of geralds control or influence over Sheila’s life, as it was a decision made by him, not her. This fits into the broader theme of gender inequality in the play, where women are often treated as possessions or objects to be owned by men, rather than as independent individuals with their own desires.
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