An Inspector's Calls - Quotes Flashcards
Mr Birling:
‘ as if we were all mixed up together like bees……..’
’ in a hive - community and all that nonsense ‘
- doesn’t want to be responsible for anyone ‘every man for himself
- thinks community is a silly idea - community = socialism
- ‘bees in a hive’ - critical of people thinking we should work together
- thinks it will never happen
Mr Birling:
‘ if you don’t come down sharply on some of these…..’
’ people, they’d soon be asking for the earth’
- social class was very important
- thinks that the lower class ask for too much ~ no respect for them
- the Inspector has come down sharply on the Birlings and Gerald
Mr Birling:
‘ there’ll be a …..’
’ public scandal ‘
- Birling was very concerned about his reputation- had to work his way up the class system
- social class seeen as important
Mr Birling:
‘ and who here will suffer …….’
’ from that more than I will ? ‘
- Birling concerned about his reputation
- the audience questions Birling’s capitalist views
Mrs Birling:
‘ as if a girl …….’
’ of that sort would ever refuse money ! ‘
- no respect for people like Eva ~ looks down on her
- she thinks stereotypically of lower class people
- ‘as if’ - seems sure of herself like her husband
- small minded
Mrs Birling:
‘ unlike the other three, …….’
’ i did nothing I’m ashamed of ‘
- Mrs Birling doesn’t take responsibility for her actions
- uses her class to make her seem like she has more power
- blames the others to make herself feel better.
- doesn’t want to associate herself with her family because she doesn’t believe she did anything wrong
Mrs Birling:
‘ you have no power …….’
’ to make me change my mind ‘
- doesn’t want to take responsibility ~ goes against her view of morality
- thinks she has more power over the Inspector
Sheila:
‘ I felt rotten about it at the time and now I feel a lot worse. Did it ……’
’ make much difference to her ? ‘
- feels bad ~ accepts responsibility
- makes it about herself ‘I’ ~ selfish
- didn’t think about the consequences of her actions
- concerned about the consequences of her immoral actions towards Eva
Sheila:
‘ you began to ‘
’ learn something ‘
- older Birlings don’t accept responsibility
- younger Birlings accept responsibility
- Birling accepts responsibility at first but when he finds out Goole isn’t a real Inspector he goes back to how he felt in the beginning- not wanting to accept responsibility.
Sheila:
‘ you’re ready to go …….’
’ on in the same old way ‘
- older generation don’t accept responsibility when they find out that Goole isn’t a real inspector
Eric:
‘ why shouldn’t they ……’
’ try for higher wages ? ‘
Social Class and Generations
Eric:
‘ and I say the girl’s dead and we all …..’
’ helped to kill her - and that’s what matters ‘
Responsibility and Generations
Gerald:
‘ everything’s alright……’
’ now Sheila ‘
Generations and Gender
Gerald:
‘ she was young and ……’
’ warm-hearted - and intensely grateful ‘
Gender and Social Class
Gerald:
‘ I became at once the most …..’
’ important person in her life ‘
Gender and Social Class
