Conflict Flashcards
Overview
In An Inspector Calls, conflict emerges between the older and younger generations, with the former prioritising self-interest and the latter advocating for social responsibility. The Birlings’ capitalist beliefs clash with the socialist ideals of the Inspector, revealing societal divides. This conflict symbolises broader struggles over morality, social change, and equality.
Quotes
‘Pink and intimate to brighter and harder’ - Pg 1
“Please don’t contradict me like that” - Pg 30
‘I don’t like your tone nor the way your handling this inquiry’ - Pg 33
‘It’s alright saying that now’ - Pg 63
‘Pink and intimate to brighter and harder’
Point – The arrival of Inspector Goole sparks conflict by disrupting the Birlings’ complacency and forcing them to confront their actions.
Choice – The stage directions describe a shift in lighting from “pink and intimate” to “brighter and harder,” where the “pink and intimate” lighting represents the Birlings’ false sense of security and their self-serving world. The change to “brighter and harder” introduces a harsh, unyielding light, mirroring the Inspector’s challenge to their moral complacency.
Effect – This shift in lighting emphasizes the conflict between the Birlings’ comfortable ignorance and the Inspector’s demand for accountability. It reflects Priestley’s belief in the necessity of confronting uncomfortable truths, highlighting the personal and societal conflict between self-interest and social responsibility.
“Please don’t contradict me like that”
Point - Mrs Birling’s belief that her daughter shouldn’t have opposing views reflects her attitude that age and experience give her superiority, highlighting the conflict in the play.
Choice - Mrs. Birling dismisses Sheila’s emerging moral views, assuming her own age and experience make her judgments more valid. This belief is evident when she criticises Sheila for questioning her authority, saying, “Please don’t contradict me like that.” This demonstrates her tendency to see herself as the more knowledgeable and superior figure in their relationship, refusing to accept her daughter’s growing independence and moral awareness.
Effect - This emphasises the play’s theme of conflict, showing how older characters, like Mrs Birling, cling to outdated values and refuse to acknowledge the changing views of the younger generation. It highlights the divide between the older, conservative characters and the younger, more socially aware individuals, reinforcing Priestley’s call for social change.
‘I don’t like your tone nor the way your handling this inquiry’
Point – Mr. Birling’s response highlights the personal and ideological conflict between his self-serving attitude and the Inspector’s moral scrutiny.
Choice – Mr. Birling’s statement, “I don’t like your tone nor the way you’re handling this inquiry,” reveals his immediate conflict with the Inspector. His defensiveness and use of “I” focus on his own comfort and reputation, signaling a clash of values where personal pride is pitted against moral responsibility.
Effect – Priestley uses Birling’s reaction to emphasize the conflict between capitalist self-interest and social responsibility. Birling’s reluctance to accept the inquiry challenges his worldview, illustrating the tension between maintaining power and acknowledging societal flaws, encouraging the audience to recognise the need for change.
‘It’s alright saying that now’
Point - Sheila’s growing awareness of responsibility creates a conflict with her parents’ dismissive attitudes, exposing generational and moral divides.
Choice – Sheila’s remark, “It’s alright saying that now,” directly confronts her parents’ refusal to accept responsibility for their actions. The word “now” implies that her parents are only recognizing their mistakes when it is too late, exposing their hypocrisy. Sheila’s conflict with her parents intensifies as she begins to realize the weight of their actions, which they continue to downplay.
Effect – This moment underscores the generational conflict in the play, with Sheila embracing accountability and moral awareness, while her parents remain defensive and avoidant. Priestley uses this conflict to criticise the complacency of the older generation, suggesting that the younger generation holds the potential for moral and social change.
