An Inspector Calls Flashcards
Points on Mr. Brirling
1) Mrs. Birling’s social inferior- ‘provincial in his speech’. Not a grand upbringing, ‘tell cook from me’ and when he tells Gerald Lady Croft thinks ‘you might have done better for yourself’.
2) Appearance of respectability important- important to him that he was a magistrate. Concerned with a ‘public scandal’.
3) Self centred- believes each ‘man has to mind his own business and look after his own’. Doesn’t agree with socialist ‘old cranks’. Refuses responsibility for Eva’s death but motivated by son’s stealing.
4) Relationship with Eric- criticises Eric frequently eg ‘unless you brighten your ideas you’ll never be in position to let anybody stay or go’. Not the father ‘a chap could go to when he is in trouble’.
5) Self assured- Titanic is ‘unsinkable absolutely unsinkable’ and ‘there isn’t a chance of war. Dramatic irony presents him as a fool and presents Priestly’s socialism in a better light.
Points on Mrs. Birling
1) Believes lower class are different to her- even morally, assumes Eva is a liar and cannot have ‘fine feeling’s. Thinks she is above Inspector’s questions. Calls Eva a ‘girl of that sort’.
2) Mr.B’s social superior- For example when Arthur wants to ‘tell cook’ it was a good meal and she thinks it is inappropriate she has better social etiquette. Has a large role with investigation when normally woman were to let husbands deal with such matters.
3) Role of women- tells Sheila men have to ‘spend nearly all there time and energy on their businesses’ and that she will have to get used to it. Doesn’t want Sheila to hear Gerald talk about ‘women of that sort.’
4) Accepts no blame- blames father who should be ‘dealt with very severely’, only cares when she knows this is Eric. When Sheila asks how they can go on as before she says ‘why shouldn’t we?’
5) Mother- not close to Eric as she doesn’t notice alcoholism. She treats Sheila like a child saying she is ‘overtired’. At the end she is divided from her children.
Points on Sheila Birling
1) Overprotected- Mr. B doesn’t want Sheila dragged ‘into this unpleasant business’. Mrs. B doesn’t want Sheila to ‘listen to this story at all’.
2) Vain- sacked Eva for ‘smiling’. Shows obsession with appearance. Eric talks about how Sheila is ‘potty’ about clothes showing lack of understanding.
3) Sheila wants to change- accepts he responsibility. She is ‘frighted’ when parents start to forget what they had been taught creating divide between them.
4) More aware- she knows about Eric’s drinking problem and Megorty’s reputation. Recognises in the Inspector ‘how much he knows’.
5) Gerald- tension to show she knows he is lying about summer ‘that’s what you say’. By the end she respects Gerald far more as ‘at least it’s honest’.
Points on Eric Birling
1) Compassionate- shocked at Eva’s death. Says ‘I’d have let her stay’ and ‘why shouldn’t they try for higher wages’.
2) Out of place- ‘half shy half assertive’. ‘Suddenly I just felt I had to laugh’, unsure of himself.
3) Selfish- takes advantage of Eva. In a state where ‘a chap easily turns nasty’. Is threatening to Mrs. B when saying ‘you killed them both’.
4) Relationship with Mr. B- Mr.b thinks Eric has learnt nothing from school. Eric criticises Mr. B’s sacking Eva and says he is ‘not the kind of father a chap could go to when he is in trouble’.
5) Changes- learns from Inspector. he is ‘not likely to forget’. Whether the Inspector is real or not does not change the ‘same rotten story’.
Points on Gerald Croft
1) Has wealth and status- ‘easy well-bred’. Has higher social manners like when he smooths over Mr. B complementing the chef and when Mr.B makes reference to Lady Croft disapproving of marriage.
2) Mr.B- Mr. B trusts Gerald. Tells him about knighthood and trusts when Eric says Inspector isn’t real with ‘Good Lad, you asked about him, eh?. Similar business views as he agrees with sacking Eva.
3) Compassionate- gives Daisy rooms because ‘he felt sorry for her’. He says he is ‘upset about this business.’
4) Sheila- distrust at start about summer Sheila says ‘yes that’s what you say’. Replace with ‘I rather respect you more’.
5) Not much change- wants to disprove Inspector. Says ‘everything’s alright now’ and tries to give Sheila the ring back.
Points on the Inspector
1) A large charector- ‘impression of massiveness’. Speaks ‘weightily’ and changes the atmosphere by entering just after Mr. B’s speech.
2) Socialist views- believes ‘we are responsible for each other’ and believes family was all responsible for Eva’s death. Represents Priestley’s views.
3) Supernatural- Goole is a play on ghoul, perhaps Eva’s ghost. A forewarning for future and paying for classism through ‘fire and blood’.
4) Controls play- ‘deals with one line of enquiry at a time’. He fills in the gaps but lets character’s tell stories. Teaches each charector through strong language like ‘she died in misery and agony’.
5) Reasonable- see’s Sheila and Eric’s remorse. Recognises Gerald had ‘some affection for her’ but condemns Mrs. B by saying ‘ I think you did something terribly wrong’.
Points on Eva Smith
1) She represents the lower class- we never meet Eva as she is meant to b a symbol for the ‘Eva Smiths and John Smiths’ still out there.
2) She is a victim- portrayed as ‘young and fresh’. Said to be ‘alone’ makes audience feel sorry for her.
3) She has strong morals- She refuses to marry Eric as they don’t love each other and won’t take stolen money. Contrasts Birling’s idea of lower classes.
4) Brave- stands up to powerful Mr. B and said to have ‘far too much’ to say. Is dignified when Gerald ends things with her.
5) Photograph is irrelevant- emphasis is meant to be on the characters actions not outcome. Outcome is just too make them see what might have happened.
Points on Morality
1) Mr B is a magistrate, mayor and soon be a knight. Actions show money more important that Eva. Only cares about scandal which ‘won’t do us any good’.
2) Charity chairwoman meant to help women, but prejudice against Eva’s case “I used my influence to have it refused.
3) Eva won’t marry Eric as he “didn’t love her”. She refuses the stolen money. She has “fine feelings”.
4) Mr & Mrs B refuse blame and want to carry on. Sheila and Eric want to change “you’re pretending like everything is as it was before”.
5) Eric “the state where a chap turns nasty”. He is happy to steal the money.
Pints on Responsibility
1) Mr. B it opposite to the inspector, only responsible for family and business. Views discredited at the start when he calls ‘Titanic’ unsinkable.
2) Mrs. B charity chairwoman thinks Eva has ridiculous airs, thinks that she did her duty in refusing Eva. She’s unchanged and wants to escape scandal.
3) Sheila - has no responsibility, thinks father was ‘mean’ says girls “are people” says “she will never do it again”.
4) Eric - irresponsible drinks, and thieves to support Eva.
sees that “money is not the thing that matters”, sees people are more important than wealth.
5) Gerald - tries to help Daisy because “I was sorry for her”. Used Eva knowing he meant more to her, agrees with Mr B sacking saying you couldn’t have done anything else”. Tries to win Mr B’s favour.
Points on Lies and Secrecy
1) Inspector-reveals information and keeps photos hidden. Mr & Mrs B want inspector to be a lie, but Sheila and Eric see that it isn’t important.
2) Sheila brings up last summer and Gerald says he was “awfully busy at the works”. It is revealed he knew Daisy, Gerald denies it and Sheila says “you and I aren’t the same people”.
3) Sheila keeps Millwards a secret “I’ve told my father” guilt is obvious when she runs out.
4) Mrs B lies about recognising Eva saying “why should I”.
She is defensive by saying Eva was lying.
5) Eric - secret drinking, Sheila keeps it a secret. Keeps Eva’s pregnancy a secret. Doesn’t tell father as he’s not the “kind of chap you could go to”. Keeps theft a secret.
“Points on social classes
1) Mr B - “prosperous manufacturer”. Feels Gerald’s mother “thinks you might have better for yourself socially” Says this is “only natural”, he has power to improve his situation.
2) Eva can’t change her situation, she’s ready for promotion,wants to improve through protest but she had “too much to say”.
3) She was lonely and desperate, common as “a lot of young women living that existence”. There are “many Eva and John Smiths” exploitation of lower classes.
4) Lower classes effected by upper class. Sheila can have Eva dismissed with no evidence. Eric and Gerald don’t care for her.
5) Mrs B - stereotypical view of lower classes. Feels justified in refusing Eva aid, as she believes Eva is lying about “fine feelings.
