An Inspector Calls Flashcards
As if we were all mixed up together like bees in a hive – community and all that nonsense
Mr Birling - Responsibility , Social class
‘ As if ‘ ~ convinced it will never happen - ridiculous idea
Views it negatively, rejects the idea of working together - capitalist views
If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people they’d soon be asking for the Earth
Mr billing - social class, generations
Relates to what the inspector has done to the Birlings , they need to know their place
No respect for the lower class
They’ll be a public scandal – unless we are lucky – and who here will suffer from that more than I will?
Mr Birling Social class (reputation)
As if the girl of that sort would ever refuse money
Mrs birling - social class Ridiculous concept Thinks that lower class has no morals Small minded Eric took the money
Unlike the other three, I did nothing I’m shamed of you have no power to make me change my mind
Mrs birling - responsibility
She doesn’t want to be associated with them
Feels she’s superior to them
Passing the blame - making them look worse
Immaturity
Doesn’t think she did any wrong
You have no power
Mrs Birling - social class Comparing classes - she is superior to the inspector
She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that was simply absurd in regard of her position
Mrs Birling Oblivious to the truth Thinks Eva is incapable because of her class Scruples - morals Girl - belittling - using her class
I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Didn’t make much difference to her?
Shiela - responsibility
Makes it about her (i) selfish
Didn’t think of the consequences- immature
? - curious and concerned
But these girls aren’t cheap labour – they’re people
Sheila -
Empathy for lower classs
Respects women
It’s wonderful look - Mummy - isn’t it a beauty
Focused on appearance - stereotypical
Childish - changes to mother later on
Materialistic , showing off , looking for attention
In a state when a chap easily turns nasty
Eric - social class A threat for Eva - she is vulnerable - her class
I didn’t install her there so I could make love to her. I made her go to Morgan terrace because I was sorry for her
Gerald - gender , social class
Install - object
Made her - controlling , dominance ~ women were subservient to men ~ women’s rights
I was sorry for her - pity ~ made her his mistress actions not that honourable
Everything’s alright now Shiela … what about this ring ?
Gerald-
Thinks everything is fine - back to start
Expects her to accept it
Contrast - doesn’t really care for Sheila’s opinion
She needed not only money, but advice , sympathy, friendliness
Inspector Mrs Birling - could've given her these things as they're free shows how cold hearted the upper class can be
She was here alone , Friendliness, almost penniless, desperate
Inspector -
Making them feel guilty
Things mrs Birling has experienced
We are members of one body
Inspector -
Socialist view - equality
Fire and blood and anguish
Inspector - responsibility
Religious quotations describes hell which suggests the inspector is threatening them if they do not learn from their mistakes that is where they will end up, the inspector could be foreshadowing World War II
Responsibility
Older Birlings don’t take responsibility- immaturity & irresponsiblity
Younger generation- more accepting to their mistakes
A man has to make his own way - has to look after himself - his family too of course
Mr Birling - responsibility
Capitalist views- every man for himself
Their hopes and fears
Inspector- social class juxtaposition the gap between hopes and fears shows the difference in classes
Jovially
Mr Birling - shows he felt guilty for a bit but went back to how he was at the start
Gender
The woman in the play do not have jobs all their lower class workers are not influential in society women used ( for sex ) man are dominant
I left ‘ em talking about clothes again
Eric - gender
When independent parents together husband
identity defined - doesn’t think that they think much else probably thinks women are not intelligent – society
to benefit themselves shows their lifestyle
stereotype of women all they love is clothes
She was young and pretty
Gerald - gender Only see Women for looks His fondness for Daisy Renton shows the superficial view of women if they didn't meet his standard of beauty he didn't like them immaturity of men
Generation gap
Priestley points out that the younger generation are more capable of change because they’re not set in their ways – hope for the future (what they did is more important)
Older – concerned with status, not learnt from their mistakes
It frightens me the way you talk, and I can’t listen to any more of it.
Sheila - (she has changed / matured) generation gap
Separates herself from her parent
She is disturbed that her parents can talk / act like how they are - they are unaffected by the events
Impressionable - younger generation more open minded, older generation stubborn
There are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city
Inspector - social class Many women are being exploited the lower class of being taken advantage of by the upper-class
Factories and warehouses wouldn’t know where to look for cheap labour
Inspector - social class Because they are lower socio seems as though they should only earn money depending on the social status not how hard they work
He’s a notorious womaniser
Gerald - social class
Everyone knows of his antics
expected to be moral because of his social status
Social class
The older Burlington have negative expectations and of assumptions about the lower classes The upper class get away with more socialism reducing class divides
Priestley context
He fought in ww1 lived through ww2
He was socialist
Influential in developing the idea of welfare state
Priestley believe that a further world wars could only be avoided through cooperation and mutual respect between countries
Set in 1912 (Edwardian era)
It was before World War I a time of peace and stability
it was a time when people are able to improve the wealth and social standing
the rights of workers Eva Smith were not taken too seriously by many employees – they didn’t have employment protection also health and safety laws
there were strong class divisions - social position was seen as a very important
woman were subservient to men and had fewer rights
For working-class women a job was crucial for survival no welfare state the poor often judged harshly by those in the upper-class
Play written in 1945 context
Just after World War II
The class divisions had been reduced for example soldiers of all backgrounds fighting together
Women’s rights increase due to role in the war women got the vote in 1918
There was a great desire for social change labour a more left-wing political part won the general election
All intertwined
Socialist views – equality
People need to respect each other to create an idyllic society religious connotations - love thy neighbour
[we hear a sharp ring of doorbel. Birling stops to listen ]
[telephone rings sharply]
Sharp - significant and unexpected cuts into their celebration
Gets his attention
Interrupts Birling makes us question and criticise mr Birling } doorbell
Sharply - Same as doorbell
Both disruptive symbolise something bad , what my Birling is saying is unimportant - contrast as he is very sure of himself
