An Inspector Calls- Mr Birling Flashcards
Act 1 - Part 1
’a heavy looking, rather portentous man’ ( stage directions )
Showing off to Gerald Croft ‘You ought to like this port, Gerald. As a matter of fact, Finchley told me it’s the same port your father gets from him.’
Capitalism, Selfish ‘Now you have brought us together, and perhaps we may look forward to a time when Crofts and Birlings are no longer competing but are working together – for lower costs and higher prices. ’
Naive, Capitalism ‘Fiddlesticks! The Germans don’t want war. Nobody wants war.’
Dramatic Irony ‘The titanic- she sails next week’-‘Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable’
Arrogance, Showing off ‘There’s a fair chance that I might find my way into the next Honours List.’
Act 1- Part 2
‘A man has to mind his own business and look after himself.’
Intimidation ‘I was an alderman for years – and Lord Mayor two years ago – and I’m still on the Bench – so I know the Brumley officers pretty well’
I’m not defending him. But you must understand that a lot of young men-‘ (justifying Gerald’s behaviour as acceptable.)
‘I can’t accept any responsibility. If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with, it would be very awkward’
‘If you don’t come down hard on these people they’d soon be asking for the earth.’
Patronising ‘Nothing to do with you, Sheila. Run along’
Act 2
Patronising ‘(to Mrs Birling) What’s the matter with that child?’
‘(angrily, to Inspector) Look here, I’m not going to have this, Inspector. You’ll apologise at once.’
‘(dubiously) I must say, Sybil, that when this comes out at the inquest, it isn’t going to do us much good. The Press might easily take it up-‘ ( only caring about his image )
Act 3
‘I’ve got to cover this up as soon as I can’ ( still selfish, hasn’t learnt a lesson )
‘(unhappily) Look, Inspector - I’d give thousands - yes, thousands -‘ ( believes money can fix any problem )
‘I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next Honours List’ ( Still upholds his arrogance )
Feels no guilt ‘There’ll be a public scandal’
‘This makes a difference, y’know. In fact, it makes all the difference’
‘Nonsense! You’ll have a good laugh over it yet! Look, you’d better ask Gerald for that ring you gave back to him, hadn’t you? Then you’ll feel better’ ( ignorant towards the lesson trying to be taught )
‘The famous younger generation who know it all. And they can’t even take a joke.’ ( views Eric & Sheila as being dramatic )
The final line: [As they stare guiltily and dumbfounded, the curtain falls.]
