an inspector calls quotes

Question 1

“a heavy-looking, rather portentous man”

Answer 1

said by stage direction in act 1
pompous-male adjective.
-links to power,liking the sound of your own voice,authority, self-obsession.Heavy looking well fed, rich and powerful.
-this can link to the theme of male power and class system.
-technique”adjective”
links to context by male power/patriarchy/the class system.

Question 2

“you’re just the kind of son-in-law i always wanted… 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”

Answer 2

said by Mr Birling in act 1
speech starts off talking about love and ends up being about money. Birlings only focus.
-this can link to the theme of wealth and power.
-the link to context is that the Crofts need the cash; the Birlings the cachet. Female lack of agency. Marriage as a way to sustain.

Question 3

“i speak as a hard-headed business man” (predictions about war,the Titanic,increasing prosperity, etc).

Answer 3

said by Birling in act 1
-proud of making decisions which are emotionless and practical- ar the cost of his proletariat workers. makes him sound cold.
-dramatic irony: we know about the titanic and ww1 approaching-diminishes his power and authority in the eyes of the audience.
-this links to the theme of capitalism.
-this links the context of class differences-in terms of marxism,Priestly is looking at the proletariat and the bourgeoisie.
-technique “compund adjective; metaphor