An Inspector Calls - The importance of The Inspector

Question 1

Inspector - “But after all its better to ask for the earth than to take it”.

Answer 1

The Inspector juxtaposes Mr Birling by the way he talks and how he acts omniscient.

Question 2

Inspector - “And so you used the power you had, as a daughter of a good customer and also of a man well known in the business town”.

Answer 2

This quote emphasises the social power of the Birlings and how they misuse it.

Question 3

Inspector - “If there’s nothing else we’ll have to share our guilt”.

Answer 3

This is Priestley’s key message of the play, that he is trying to voice.

Question 4

Inspector - “We often do on the young ones, the’re more impressionable”.

Answer 4

This quote highlights hope for the younger generation in the future.

Question 5

Inspector - “Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibility as well as privileges”.

Answer 5

This is another key quote to show socialist views of how important responsibility is.

Question 6

Inspector - “One Eva Smith is gone - but there are millions and millions and millions of Eva Smith’s and john Smith’s”.

Answer 6

In this quote , the character of Eva Smith symbolises that she is one of many people to suffer because of other peoples actions, particularly the upper class and capitalists.

Question 7

Inspector - “We don’t live alone, we are members of the body. We are members of one body, we are responsible for each other”.

Answer 7

Key socialism quote to present responsibility.

Question 8

Inspector - “If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish, Good night”

Answer 8

This quote is a warning to the future society that they must learn from mistakes or life will become cyclical”.