An Inspector calls: Characters Flashcards
What quotes will be used in Sheila’s character essay?
1st para
* ‘Really feel engaged’
* ‘Pretty?’
2nd para
* ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people’
* ‘Sheila gives a short hysterical laugh’
* ‘Oh - how horrible’
* ‘Mother, I think that was cruel and vile’
3rd para
* ‘It was my own fault’
*‘You don’t seem to have learnt anything’
Give a summary of what will be said in Sheila’s character essay in paragraph 1 / Immature, Naïve?
- Superficial engagement to please parents
—> Based on materialism & capitalism
—> Physical token of ring to ‘really feel engaged’ - Sheila’s grief was due to her looks - ‘pretty’
—> Demonstrates warped view of the world (value of someone’s life dependant on superficial characteristics)
—> Social classes @ the time
How does the quote ‘pretty’ demonstrate ‘social classes’ at the time in Sheila’s character essay?
Those who r rich can afford things to make someone look more ‘pretty’ - makeup & nice clothes
Lower class has less value than the upper
Give a summary of what will be said in Sheila’s character essay in paragraph 2 / Moral?
‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people’
—> Instantaneous recognition of the Inspector’s message - responds to father’s dehumanising capitalistic approach to business
‘hysteria’
Utilised as a means to control women
—> unfeminine traits were a symptom of hysteria
‘mother - I think that was cruel & vile’
She develops a moral compass and criticises her family whether she thinks their actions are right or wrong
What does the plural noun ‘girls’ demonstrate in the quote ‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people’ in Sheila’s character essay?
Sheila’s empathy as she can relate to the patriarchal oppression the women at the time face
How does the word ‘hysteria’ demonstrate ‘gender stereotypes’ at the time in Sheila’s character essay?
The word served as a method to force women to adhere to predefined gender roles
—> Prevented women from attaining positions of power
Sheila’s laugh symbolises her rejection for Mrs Birlings treatment of Eva
Give a summary of what will be said in Sheila’s character essay in paragraph 3 / Responsible?
She accepts responsibility
How will Sheila’s character essay be structured?
1st para: Immature/ Naïve/ Lacks independence
2nd para: Moral
3rd para: Responsible/ becomes like the inspector
What quotes will be used in Arthur Birling’s character essay?
1st para
* ‘Heavy looking’
* ‘She’ll make you happy’
* ‘Older and bigger’
* ‘Hard-headed businessman’
2nd para
* ‘Lord Mayor’
* ‘Very good chance of a knighthood’
* ‘provincial speech’
3rd para
* ‘provincial’
* ‘nonsense’
* ‘eagerly’ or ‘triumphantly’
Give a summary of what will be said in Arthur Birling’s character essay in paragraph 1 / Capitalist?
- He is the embodiment of the capitalist ideology
—> Physical clothes represent capitalism (quotes) - Mr Birling values Sheila’s capacity to further the family company - objectifies her as a bargaining chip
—> He values the prospect of increased profit over his daughter’s joy in engagement
Give a summary of what will be said in Arthur Birling’s character essay in paragraph 2 / Insecure about social status?
- Mr Birling comes from humble beginnings - ‘provincial in speech’
—> Constantly reminds people of his status in society. Uses (‘Lord…’ & ‘knighthood’) to remind Gerald of his social status - Relative uncouthness is preyed upon by Mrs Birling
What are Priestley’s intentions of introducing Mr Birling’s social insecurity in Mr Birling’s character essay?
It becomes synonymous with Mr Birling - he is a member of the nouveau riche
Looked down upon higher class men who come from an aristocratic background
—> Social divisions existed even in higher classes
—> Seen as an imposter by many above him in societal rankings
Critiques capitalism to reveal the cycle of oppression - caused by classism
Selfishness driven by determination to uphold his appearance of affluence
How does Priestley use Mr Birling’s insecurities to affect the audience?
By focusing on his insecurities & the middle-class he establishes a connection w/ middle class contemporary audience
—> By exploiting the genuine insecurities they faced
Give a summary of what will be said in Arthur Birling’s character essay in paragraph 3 / Irresponsible?
- Gerald’s theory of the inspector not being real is (quotes) accepted by Mr birling
—> Instant catharsis is felt by Arthur - doesn’t have to face a criminal conviction - Younger vs older generation
- He is a literary foil of the inspector
—> Inspector = social responsibility & Mr birling = avoids responsibility
How will Arthur Birling’s character essay be structured?
1st para: Capitalist
2nd para: Insecure about social status
3rd para: Irresponsible
What is catharsis?
Relief from strong emotions
What quotes will be used in Mrs Birling’s character essay?
1st para
* ‘leave you men’
2nd para
* ‘wretched business’
* ‘didn’t belong to [Eva’s] class’
* ‘with dignity’
* ‘deserving cases’
3rd para
* ‘cold woman’
* ‘I didn’t like her manner’
* ‘Eric, I’m absolutely ashamed of you’
* ‘Well, I don’t blame you’ - ‘I’m ashamed of you as well’
Give a summary of what will be said in Sybil’s character essay in paragraph 1 / upholding patriarchy?
Mrs Birling initiates their exit - announces it is time to ‘leave you men’
—> She maintains the patriarchal status quo = leads her to become complicit in her own oppression - inflicts this upon her & Sheila
What are Priestley’s intentions of Mrs Birling and Sheila going into the drawing room in Sybil Birling’s character essay?
He accurately depicts of domestic life in the early 20th century
—> It was the convention at the time for women to go to drawing room & men can discuss politics & news (not considered suitable topics for women)
What are Priestley’s intentions of Using Mrs Birling as a symbol of the upper class in Sybil Birling’s character essay?
Upper class who resisted the suffrage movement in 20th century
—> She views the suffrage movement as undermining traditional gender roles which will lead to domestic chaos (in her view)
—> Her privileges are at risk
Priestley uses her view to demonstrate how women should have moral & domestic roles AND exclude themselves from the political realm of men
Give a summary of what will be said in Sybil’s character essay in paragraph 2 / Hypocritical?
- She is a prominent member in a women’s charity
—> Priestly presents her as morally hypocritical - ‘deserving’ - Reveals her joy in playing god w/ women’s young lives - whether they receive aid or suffer
—> Also highlights how aid is given out at the discretion of the upper classes
Give a summary of what will be said in Sybil’s character essay in paragraph 3 / cold?
- ‘Cold woman’ - even to her children
—> concerned w/ how they behave instead of welfare - Mrs Birling expresses her disappointment in her son (quote)
—> She hasn’t accepted responsibility
—> Remains unsympathetic to Eric - despite refusing aid to her granddaughter to-be’s mother - Provides no comfort to Sheila when she feels insecure about her marriage
—> How marriage is somewhat like a transaction
How would the audience feel to Sybil being cold w/ her children in Sybil Birling’s character essay?
Shocked as parents are seen as a figure of comfort and love for their children
What could the lack of empathy to Sheila’s insecure marriage demonstrate about Mrs Birling in Sybil Birling’s character essay?
Could highlight her own insecurity in her own marriage & how Mr Birling may have potentially been unfaithful to her
