An Inspector Calls - Quotations Flashcards
Mrs Birling is prejudiced about working-class women
‘As if girls of that sort would ever refuse money’
Sheila sees working-class women as individuals
‘These girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people!’
The Inspector shares his opinion on ‘public men’
‘Public men have responsibilities as well as privileges’
Mr Birling on the idea of social responsibility
‘Community and all that nonsense’
Mr Birling shows pride in his success
‘I speak as a hard headed business man’
Eric tells Mr Birling that he’s a bad father
‘Not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble’
The Inspectors metaphor for society
‘We are all members of one body. We are responsible for each other.’
The Inspector shows that the entire family are to blame
‘Each of you helped to kill her’
Sheila and her generation are capable of change
‘We aren’t the same people who sat down to dinner’
Sheila is interrupted (foreshadows blame)
‘You talk as if we were responsible-‘
Birling thinks everything can be solved with money
‘Look Inspector… I’d give thousands’ (When discussing what he’d do differently regarding the treatment of Eva)
Dramatic Irony towards the family’s actions as they’ve been far from well-behaved
‘You seem to be a nice, well-behaved family.’ - Gerald
‘We think we are’ - Mr Birling
