An Inspector Calls 2 Flashcards
(33 cards)
“Yes, go on…”
“…Mummy.”
Sheila, Act One
Spoiled, a little immature, although she’s an adult.
“It’s a pity Sir George and…”
“…er-Lady Croft can’t be with us.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Sexism - Birling forgets her name because she’s not involved in business - sees her as unimportant.
“And I speak…”
“…as a hard-headed businessman.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Lack of empathy + proud of it.
“You’ll hear some people say that…”
“…war’s inevitable. And to that I say - fiddlesticks!”
Mr Birling, Act One
Dramatic irony makes Mr B seem foolish.
“Unsinkable…”
“…absolutely unsinkable.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Dramatic irony = fool.
“-so long as we behave ourselves, don’t…”
“…get into the police or start a scandal - eh?”
Mr Birling, Act One
Foreshadowing.
“As if we were all mixed up together…”
“…like bees in a hive - community and all that nonsense.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Mr B rejects the idea of shared responsibility in society (socialism).
“I was an alderman for years - and Lord Mayor two years ago…”
“…and I’m still on the Bench.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Attempts to intimidate.
“Yes, yes. Horrid business…”
“…but I don’t understand why you should come here, Inspector.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Total lack of sympathy/empathy.
“The wretched…”
“…girl’s suicide.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Lack of sympathy.
“Still, I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible…”
“…for everything that had happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it?”
Mr Birling, Act One
Rejects responsibility + idea of socialism.
“Well it’s my duty…”
“…to keep labour costs down.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Capitalism.
“Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages…”
“…we try for the highest possible prices.”
Eric, Act One
Shows Mr B’s hypocrisy - younger generation have more empathy.
“It’s about time you learnt to face a few responsibilities…”
“…that’s something this public-school-and-Varsity life you’ve had doesn’t seem to teach you.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Irony, this is Mr B’s own fault.
“Nothing to do with…”
“…you, Sheila. Run along.”
Mr Birling, Act One
Patronising - keeps Sheila in a bubble.
“Oh - how horrible!…”
“…was it an accident.”
Sheila, Act One
Contrast to Mr B - Sheila has sympathy.
“Sorry! It’s just that I can’t help thinking about this girl, destroying herself so horribly…”
“…and I’ve been so happy tonight. Oh I wish you hadn’t told me.”
Sheila, Act One
Contrasts Sheila with Eva.
“But these girls aren’t cheap labour…”
“…they’re people.”
Sheila, Act One
Contrasts Sheila + Mr Birling, Sheila sees exploitation as wrong.
“After all, y’know, we’re respectable citizens…”
“…and not criminals.”
Gerald, Act One
Suggests the way upper-class treat lower-class is a moral crime.
“So I’m really…”
“…responsible?”
Sheila, Act One
Accepts her responsibility immediately - contrasts with Mr B.
“And so you used the power you had, as a daughter of a good customer…”
“…and also of a man well known in the town, to punish the girl just because she made you feel like that?”
Inspector, Act One
Shows how Sheila has abused her social. power.
“She’s had a long, exciting…”
“…and tiring day.”
Gerald, Act Two
Sexism.
“Now Miss Birling has just been made to understand…”
“…what she did to this girl. She feels responsible.”
Inspector, Act Two
Sheila/younger generation learning lesson.
“You see, we have to share something. If there’s nothing else…”
“…we’ll have to share our guilt.”
Inspector, Act Two
Collective responsibility/socialism.
