an inspector calls - guilt/blame Flashcards
“and i’ve told you - i was awfully busy at the works time” - gerald - act 1
geralds response to sheila asking him why he hadn”t been around .
perfer later in play how gerald is being decietful as in reality he had commited infedelity againt sheila with eva smith.
geralds uses a declaritive scentence and assertve and a quite passive agressive phrase “and i’ve told you”
which suggest how he has no issue in being duplitious and so doesnt feel guilty
this can further suggest if the characters are to feel guilt for their actions or not
“still, i can’t accept any responsibility” - mr birling - act 1
conveys how mr birling rejects any notion guilt regarding eva’s death.
this is immediately made evident by the negative verb contruction “can’t” which is the combination of the strong verb “can” and the negaitve “not”
then mr birling descrbibes how it is “awkward” to take responsibiltyfor others which highloights how much he rejection feeling any guilt towards eva ‘s death outright
“(agitated)i don’t believe it . i won’t believe it” - mrs birling - act 2
at this point mrs birling realises that the drunken man who had gotten eva smith pregnant was in fact Eric.
This links to when mrs birling had earlier insisted that the young man who had gotten eva pregant should be held responsible of eva’s death and so she shifts the guilt upon him for eva’s trgic passing
the fact that it is her son who has commited this act suggest how burdensome it is for her to comprehend and accept this discovery of truth.
Mrs birlings refusal to believe that the guilt lies somewhere within her family shows how deluded she is . As she seems to believe that is is impossible for her or her family to do any wrong. This can demonstrate the delusion of privilige.
furthermore the stage directions “agiated” suggest how uncomftable feels as the prospect of even considering that she or her family could possibly be guilty of anything
