An Inspector Calls Flashcards
Mr birling
Key words
- Sanctimonious
Believes he is higher and better than his family and his class
- Avaricious
Hordes his wealth not willing to spend the money on the poor.
Key themes
- Capitalist
- socially irresponsible
- anti socialist
Key quotes + analysis
“Lower costs and Higher prices”
- Juxtaposition could suggest the two sides of the spectrum one group will suffer one will prosper
- Humiliates Mr Birling by foreshadowing that he believes there will be no cost
- Foreshadows a greater cost
- Hints at the whole plot of the show , social irresponsibly starts with low costs but ends with high prices if not stopped.
- shows the belief that a life is less valuable than money
“Hard headed man of business”
- Shows he is nothing without his business and is only a man because of his business
- “Hard headed” could show the insensitivity that his job doesn’t require you to be hard compared to other jobs
- His actions leading to a death is just business
“A man must look after himself… And his own of course”
- … Shows money has made him forget his family over greed and self interest.
- Himself shows his own self interests come before anyone else’s
- during his lecture to Gerald shows how he wishes his norms to be passed on generationally
“I can’t accept any responsibility”
- Even after being presented with the facts he still cannot comprehend a wrong doing
- shows his lack of compassion for Eva and a lack of social responsibility
- “responsibility” suggests that he knows there has been a wrong doing but cannot bring himself to accept its his fault.
Mrs birling
Act 1
- Mrs. birling is seen as being conserved within her class and following social normality’s
- She emphasizes the difference in times and generations
Class
“Husband’s social superior”
- Priestley satireses a society that allows human being to be defined by their role or purpose within the class system
- Links to gender system and her interpretation of it
referred to as Arthur Birlings “wife”
- Shows her social role is dehumanized due to her gender and that her sense of being has been lost to the patriarchy
- Could be inferred as she is the property of her husband and it is up to his interpretation of what he does with her
“Arthur you’re not supposed to say such things”
- She is trying to iron out any social faux pas so her and her husband operate seamlessly within the expectations of their class.
- Reluctant to deviate away from her class
- Goes against the gender normality’s of a man controlling the wife instead the wife is making claims on her husbands behalf
- “Not supposed to” Suggests her wish not to change from the established norms in society and follow the expectations posed at all times
“Sheila! What an expression! Really, the things you girls pickup these days!”
- Exposes her superficially driven codes of conduct
- cares more about etiquette than morality
- Opposed to Sheila and her usage of colloquial language as it is an emblem of the progressive younger generation
- Belittles Sheila to dismiss her behavior and portray it as foolish or uncouth
- Reinforces the separation between the older generations who are robust to the newer ways of thinking
- Pickup could suggest her disliked approach to the integration of other classes into the upper class and the negative impact it brings as a result
- Gives a hard discipline to Sheila but fails to blame the male characters later in the play showing that she deems the women of the play are to be kept at a higher standard than boys
- “These days” suggests her understanding of advancements in the world however her wish to keep things how they were before is clear.
Key quotes
“Girls of that class”
- Shows her prejudice and classism
- Looks down upon the working class
- believes the girls in lower classes are not on the same level as her and are morally inferior
- Doesn’t take responsibility for her actions blaming them
“She only had herself to blame”
- Blames the victim of the play showing the naïve approach a capitalistic mindset has
- Deviates the blame onto someone else and claiming no involvement in the death
Overview
- Mrs Birling is seen as a character who wishes not to change the cultural norms established prior and doesn’t want to change and adapt to modern times
- she is also seen as a character who respects and devotes herself to the class system in society
Shiela
Sheila is seen as a character who has remorse for her actions and believes they were wrong and that the families treatment of Eva was Amoral
Key Quotes
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour - They’re people”
- Shows her willingness to discipline the patriarchy showing a change in the gender system
- Sheila shows early signs of social awareness
- challenges her father who is a male and is older showing a change to the system
- Shows her willingness to cross classes and how social responsibility is becoming a bigger problem to the younger generations
“Ill never, never do it again to anybody”
- Shows her remorse for her actions and her understanding her actions were wrong
- “ill” shows a key turning point as she is the first character to take hands on responsibility for her actions and is willing to learn from her actions
- “anybody” shows her understanding of the situation and that she will cannot rectify her actions with Eva instead will change for the better
“we really must stop these silly pretenses”
- Challenges her mother showing her characters growth into an independent member of the family
- She is no longer naïve and wishes her family will take responsibility for there actions
- “Silly” could suggest she is still censored to the seriousness of the issues suggesting she still has things to learn
“Hes giving us the rope - so that we’ll hang ourselves “
- Knowledge of the inspectors investigative tactics
- shows the first understanding that the inspector does not have direct power of them instead influences the internal conflict the family is facing
- Idea of suicide could be Priestley suggesting that to the upper class any sort of negative implication is like suicide
- this would suggest that Priestley wants to mock the rich for believing responsibility is suicide
Overview
Sheila character is constructed to show the advancements in youth to a better position in Priestley’s view. It is clear that she is going to have conflict with her parents about there lack of responsibility they are taking
Eric birling
Gerald croft
Tool to show the flaws of the upper class and the exploitation of the rich towards the poor.
For a moment he appears to be sorrow showing hope the poor can change however once its found that he isn’t really a police officer he realigns with the rich
Appearance
- Described as priveleged and rich
- Seen as young, suggesting he is immature and thoughtless in his actions, false hopes of using the youth aspects of being able to change
“i dont come into this suicide business”
- unexpected
- superior
- cold hearted
- Smug and self confident
- Shows how he believes everything is a business venture and wants to be taken up on the idea that life is a business and her specific business is not something he is involved in.
how describing women and objectification as how he chooses his women at the Brothel
Genuine remorse from the inspectors questioning and shows hope of change
exciting as he holds high social class
Gerald in act 3 wishes to protect himself and shy away from the public eye
Refuses to reflect upon his actions and offers the ring back to Sheila
Shows the rich are self interested and do not wish to help the poor
Overview
- is seen to use people who are more vulnerable than him to put himself into a better position both business and relationships wise
- He is seen to be remorseful but reestablishes his place along side the wealthy upper class by trying to disprove of the Inspector
- He holds no lasting remorse for his actions
Inspector goole
Inspector goole is seen as the mouthpiece for Priestley as he shares his message on social responsibility, Better treatment of the poor and the significance of helping others, we see throughout Priestley’s political diatribe being hinted at by the Inspector. The inspectors dramatic Monologue goes over the true beliefs of the writer as well as his message to the audience, we see him conclude his message in this way to signify the choice the audience has, change your ways or end up like the Birlings.
Key Quotes
“Inspector Goole”
- The inspectors name is significant as the idea of a “Goole” suggests several meanings,
- Suggests that the inspector never truly existed instead is there to haunt the actions of Birlings and give them a chance to redeem themselves this could suggest that the Birlings are given a choice to change their ways or to deal with the real police and the punishments that come with that.
“We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.”
- Voices Priestley’s views on social responsibility
- Gives life imagery that we all only work if we work together
- “We” Pronoun suggests a collection, not just the Birlings but the audience and himself are all a part of a system to look after and make sure that everything functions correctly.
- Goes against the idea of classes and the idea that they must keep within their classes.
- “Members” suggests that there is no leader which goes against capitals and the idea that people work for a boss, Supports Priestley and his Political views.
“It’s better to ask for the earth than to take it.”
- Suggests that there should be no problem in asking for things in life than to expect to be able to take it
- Ironic and penalizes Mr Birlings idea that they dont deserve the chance
- Showcases an Injustice
- Double meaning, Possibly excusing her actions alternatively could be aimed at Mr Birling claiming it was him who took her “Earth” (world) away and that it was him who is blamed for taking it away.
“There are millions and millions of Eva Smiths and John Smiths still left with us.”
- Shows that the Birlings while they have failed Eva smith there is still many people who they can support and look after to support.
- “Eva Smith and John Smith” used as names to reference the poor in society and neglect they face
- Ideas of social responsibility and social Identity
- “Still left” suggests that the inspector finds it remarkable that they are still alive considering the abhorrent conditions
Sentence Structure
Usage of Anadiplosis
- Starting the second clause with the last word of the first clause
- Shows the interconnection of the Birlings and there unknowing connection to the victim
- Shows how ones actions influence another’s and continue another’s
Appearance
- Little description of the inspector against Priestley who usually well describes it
- Done purposefully to bring more attention to his message instead of his appearance
- appears to share what he isn’t more than what he is
- Inspector Goole hammers home Priestley’s key messages
Theme of social responsibility
Key quotes
**“Millions and millions and millions of John Smith’s and Eva smiths”
Collective responsibility
“A man must look after himself… And his own of course”
“Lower costs and higher prices”
Theme of greed
Context
Priestleys intentions
Inspector calls Keywords
Key words including definition and relevance to the play.
Words
Disillusioned
- Feeling disappointed because something isn’t as good as you thought
- Sheila becomes disillusioned from her priveleged life
Character of Edna
Edna
Only working class character who appears on stage suggesting that she is the only one who is valued enough to appear on stage because she provides a services to the rich.
“An inspectors called”
- Close to the name of the poem shows the silent impact that the poor have on society that the rich fail to acknowledge
- Introduces the inspector suggesting the relief that someone is here to penalize the rich
Edna changes the light
suggesting that she has the power to impact and allow in the hardships
- Suggest its the working class who are signifies the challenge that the poor will make towards the rich
- Shows that the poor can have an impact on the scene
Edna strictly does work that the Birlings could do the same thing, suggest that the Birlings are just exploiting her for cheap, easy labour
Edna and Eva
- Both suffer from the mistreatment of the Birlings and both have some influence on the Inspector suggesting that he may have brought relief for the Poor
lack of agency for the poor 1912 seen by how no one voices the issues of Edna and her mistreatment
