An Inspector Calls Flashcards
Mr Birling: “And I’m talking as a hard-headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn’t a chance of war. The world’s developing so fast that it’ll make war impossible.”
He makes long speeches at dinner about things that the audience would know were incorrect. For example, he claims war will never happen and that the Titanic is unsinkable. Mr Birling is confident that there will not be a war, saying that ‘there isn’t a chance of war’ and then repeating this idea when he considers it ‘impossible’. His arrogance and complacency are made very clear. The audience, knowing that just two years after this speech, World War One will begin, see that Mr Birling is wrong on this point, and on many others, including his prediction that the Titanic is ‘unsinkable’. The audience loses trust in him as a character.
Mr Birling: “We were paying the usual rates and if they didn’t like those rates, they could go and work somewhere else.”
Mr Birling is dismissive of the several hundred women in his factory. Because Eva was a woman - in the days before women were valued by society and had not yet been awarded the right to vote - she was in an even worse position than a lower class man. For working class women, a job was crucial. There was no social security at that time, so without a job they had no money. There were very few options open to women in that situation: many saw no alternative but to turn to prostitution.
Mr Birling: “…we may look forward to the time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together - for lower costs and higher prices.”
Mr Birling is a businessman whose main concern is making money. This is what is most important to him and he comes across as being greedy. It is clear here that Mr Birling is driven by money, he is a capitalist. The fact that he sees his daughter’s engagement as a chance to push for ‘lower costs and higher prices’ shows just how greedy he is. He does not consider the impact ‘higher prices’ might have on anyone else, he just wants more money.
Mrs Birling: “She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position.”
Mrs Birling is very unsympathetic when describing Eva Smith’s position. Sybil assumes instantly that because Eva is pregnant and single she is a bad person. She assumes that just because Eva is unmarried and pregnant that she is unable to have ‘fine feelings’, a very cruel and cold opinion to have.
Mrs Birling: “No, of course not. He’s only a boy.” And later “(staggered) it isn’t true.”
When the Inspector suggests that Eric is used to drinking, Mrs Birling jumps quickly to Eric’s defence. She shows her ignorance in two ways, first by defending Eric ‘of course not’ when the Inspector suggests that he is used to drinking. Secondly by stating that Eric is only ‘a boy’. He is not a boy but a young man, Sybil refuses to see this. Her shock at this revelation ‘(staggered)’ is further evidence of this.
Mrs Birling: “What an expression, Sheila! Really, the things you girls pick up these days!”
Sybil shows that she is snobbish when she criticises members of her family for their behaviour. Sybil shouts at Sheila for using the word ‘squiffy’ - meaning drunk. Sybil has snobbish opinions that people should speak and behave ‘properly’, not doing so would make her look down upon them.
Sheila Birling: “I’m sorry Daddy actually I was listening.”
At the opening of the play, she appears to be a little immature and easily led. Her behaviour is childish and she very much does what her parents tell her. Sheila shows her naivety and lack of maturity in the way she reacts to her father. She is quick to apologise, it is clear that she is keen to behave well. She also refers to her father as ‘Daddy’, a childish term.
Sheila Birling: “I tell you - whoever that inspector was, it was anything but a joke.”
As the play progresses, Sheila’s character develops and she begins to stand up for herself. The change in Sheila here is clear. She has become more assertive, using phrases such as ‘I tell you’. The events of the evening have made her aware of the serious impact one’s actions can have.
Sheila Birling: “Yes, of course it is. That’s what I meant when I talked about building up a wall that’s sure to be knocked flat. It makes it all harder to bear.”
At a number of points, Sheila shows that she can see things that the other characters cannot. Sheila uses the metaphor of a wall that the Inspector will knock down to show her insightful understanding of his methods. She knows that if they try to keep anything from him, it will make things worse. The other characters don’t realise this as quickly as Sheila does.
Eric Birling: “I don’t know - really. Suddenly I felt I just had to laugh.”
At the start of the play, Eric is very unsure of himself. He tries to speak up but is often talked down by his father. His behaviour is awkward and stilted. The stage directions describe Eric as being ‘half shy, half assertive’ and this comes across in his dialogue. He is awkward and unsure of himself. Here he cannot explain his sudden laughter.
Eric Birling: “No, I mean about this girl - Eva Smith. Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages? We try for the highest possible prices. And I don’t see why she should have been sacked just because she’d a bit more spirit than the others.”
Like Sheila, he can be assertive as well. Even early on in the play, he tries to stand up to his father.At the start of the play, Eric shows that he can be assertive. Here he questions his father’s decision to sack Eva Smith. He backs up his point with a well-reasoned argument. His father quickly shouts him down though.
Eric Birling: “(bursting out) What’s the use of talking about behaving sensibly. You’re beginning to pretend now that nothing’s really happened at all. And I can’t see it like that. This girl’s still dead, isn’t she? Nobody’s brought her to life, have they?”
Eric’s experience with the Inspector causes him great emotional turmoil, unlike some of the other characters. Eric suddenly shows how he has been affected emotionally by Eva’s death. He asks the stark question ‘This girl’s still dead, isn’t she?’ He is clearly distressed and understands the gravity of the situation, he can’t understand why the others don’t.
Gerald Croft: “Sure to be, unless Eric’s been up to something.”
At the start of the play, he seems very comfortable - making himself at home and behaving like a member of the Birling family he even makes fun of Eric. Mr Birling suggests that he is in line for a knighthood so long as the family have behaved themselves. Gerald confidently makes a joke at Eric’s expense which is full of irony.
Gerald Croft: “All right. I knew her. Let’s leave it at that.”
At first, when the truth comes out about his affair with Eva Smith he tries to avoid the subject. This abrupt line of dialogue shows how initially Gerald is very evasive about his involvement with Eva Smith and wants to close down the topic as soon as possible.
Gerald Croft: “The girl saw me looking at her and then gave me a glance that was nothing less than a cry for help.”
Eventually, Gerald gains some respect from Sheila and the audience for being honest about his affair. Gerald honestly tells the story of how he met Eva. He was in the wrong to have an affair and then abandon Eva but, his use of emotive language ‘cry for help’ makes us realise that he genuinely felt sorry for her and wanted to help her.
