English: An Inspector Calls Flashcards
“I’m speaking as a hard-headed, practical man of business. And I say there isn’t a chance of war.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mr Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Ignorance & Arrogance – Birling is overconfident in his views, speaking with certainty about something the audience knows is disastrously wrong.
- Dramatic Irony – The audience, watching after two world wars, knows Birling’s prediction is false—this undercuts his authority and credibility.
- Capitalist Complacency – Birling sees business and profit as more important than global conflict, reflecting a dangerous detachment from human suffering.
- Priestley’s Critique of Authority – By showing Birling as ignorant, Priestley questions the reliability of those in power and their so-called “expertise.”
✍️ Techniques:
- Repetition & Emphasis – “Hard-headed, practical man of business” reinforces how Birling prides himself on logic and self-interest over emotion or empathy. (Mr Birling repeats this multiple times)
- Tone – Confident and self-assured, but ironically misplaced. Priestley uses this to expose how out of touch the upper class is with real-world issues.
- Dramatic Irony – Intensifies the play’s tension and engages the audience’s judgement against Birling from the start.
- Characterisation – Sets up Birling as a symbol of capitalist arrogance and outdated views, establishing a contrast with the Inspector’s moral stance.
“Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mr Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Ignorance & Overconfidence – Birling’s unwavering belief in the Titanic’s invincibility mirrors his belief in his own social status and views.
- Dramatic Irony – The audience knows the Titanic sank, which immediately undermines Birling’s reliability and judgment.
- Symbol of Capitalist Hubris – The Titanic becomes a metaphor for the failure of capitalist arrogance and belief in unstoppable progress.
- Priestley’s Social Critique – Exposes how the upper class places blind faith in systems that ultimately fail, serving as a warning against unchecked pride.
✍️ Techniques:
- Repetition – “Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” highlights his determination and false confidence—Priestley uses this for emphasis.
- Dramatic Irony – Engages the audience by letting them in on the truth, creating tension and making Birling look foolish.
- Tone – Forceful and certain, but unintentionally comedic due to the audience’s knowledge—adds to the play’s satire.
- Characterisation – Strengthens Birling’s portrayal as arrogant and deluded, more concerned with appearances than reality.
“There is a fair chance I find myself into the next Honour’s list.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mr Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Class & Social Ambition – Birling’s desire for a knighthood reflects his obsession with status and upward mobility within the rigid class system.
- Self-Importance & Vanity – He sees personal recognition as a reward for business success, not moral character or social responsibility.
- Public Image vs. Private Reality – Priestley highlights how those in power often care more about appearances than ethics or justice.
- Critique of the Establishment – Suggests that titles and honours are handed to the wealthy and influential regardless of their actual worthiness.
✍️ Techniques:
- Foreshadowing – His hopes for a knighthood are later put at risk by the Inspector’s revelations, setting up dramatic tension.
- Tone – Boastful and smug, showing how Birling values reputation over substance.
- Irony – His pride in potentially receiving an honour is sharply contrasted by the moral failures that are soon exposed.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Birling’s ego and desire to climb the social ladder, even though he lacks the values Priestley wants society to prioritise.
“It’s my duty to keep labour costs down”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mr Birling
- Capitalism & Exploitation – Birling treats workers like tools for profit, not individuals with rights or needs. His “duty” is to shareholders, not to people.
- Responsibility – He takes no moral responsibility for his workers’ well-being, showing a narrow, selfish view of duty.
- Social Class Divide – Emphasises the power imbalance between the wealthy elite and the working class, with no room for compassion or fairness.
- Priestley’s Critique – Priestley exposes the dangers of unchecked capitalism and how profit-driven thinking leads to social injustice.
✍️ Techniques:
- Language of Duty – The word “duty” is usually noble, but Birling uses it to justify exploiting others, twisting morality into economics.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Birling as cold, pragmatic, and uninterested in the human cost of business decisions.
- Tone – Blunt and dismissive, revealing his lack of emotional connection to the consequences of his actions.
- Irony – Highlights the contrast between Birling’s idea of duty (to profit) and the Inspector’s (to people and society).
“If you don’t come down sharply on some of these people, they’d soon be asking for the earth.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mr Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Class Divide & Control – Birling shows his fear of the working class gaining power or having a voice, revealing how the upper class maintains dominance through oppression.
- Capitalism & Exploitation – He believes keeping workers “in their place” is necessary for business and societal order.
- Social Injustice – Priestley exposes the cruelty and injustice of this view, showing how those in power view fairness as a threat.
- Dehumanisation of the Working Class – Birling speaks of “these people” as a problem, distancing himself from them emotionally and morally.
✍️ Techniques:
- Hyperbole – “Asking for the earth” exaggerates the demands of the working class to make them seem unreasonable, when in reality they’re asking for basic rights.
- Tone – Dismissive and harsh, revealing his lack of empathy and fear of social change.
- Language of Authority – “Come down sharply” implies punishment and control, highlighting his authoritarian mindset.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Birling as a figure of oppression and elitism, someone who sees equality as a threat to his own status.
“As if a girl of that sort would ever refuse money!”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mrs Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Class Prejudice – Mrs Birling immediately assumes that lower-class girls are greedy and morally inferior, showing how deeply rooted her class bias is.
- Dehumanisation – “Girl of that sort” strips Eva of identity and dignity—she’s reduced to a stereotype based on her class.
- Lack of Empathy – Reveals Mrs Birling’s coldness and inability to imagine that someone poor could act with integrity.
- Moral Hypocrisy – She judges Eva while acting unjustly herself, denying help to someone genuinely in need.
✍️ Techniques:
- Dismissive Tone – “As if…” shows her complete disbelief and mockery, making her prejudice sound natural and justified.
- Euphemism & Vagueness – “That sort” avoids saying “poor” or “working class,” showing her desire to distance herself from uncomfortable truths.
- Irony – Eva did refuse stolen money, proving she had more morals than the Birlings—this makes Mrs Birling’s assumption look foolish and cruel.
- Characterisation – Highlights her as a symbol of upper-class arrogance and moral blindness, setting her up for Priestley’s critique.
“Go and look for the father of the child. It’s his responsibility.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mrs Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Deflection of Blame – Mrs Birling refuses to take any personal responsibility, pushing the burden onto someone else without hesitation.
- Moral Hypocrisy – She insists on punishment for the unnamed father—ironically demanding justice until she realises it’s her own son.
- Family & Reputation – Her judgment is harsh until her own family is implicated, exposing how her morality is conditional and self-serving.
- Dramatic Irony – The audience is likely beginning to suspect Eric is the father, so her comments build tension and highlight her ignorance.
✍️ Techniques:
- Authoritative Tone – The imperative “Go and look” makes her sound commanding and self-assured, reinforcing her belief in her own moral high ground.
- Irony – This quote becomes painfully ironic when the truth is revealed—her attempt to shift blame ends up condemning her own son.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Mrs Birling as cold, judgemental, and detached from the consequences of her actions—until they hit close to home.
- Short, Sharp Sentences – The clipped phrasing adds to her dismissiveness and lack of emotional engagement.
“Unlike the other three, I did nothing to be ashamed of.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mrs Birling
🔑 Key Themes:
- Denial & Lack of Responsibility – Mrs Birling refuses to acknowledge any wrongdoing, even after the Inspector’s investigation.
- Moral Superiority – She places herself above the rest of her family, reinforcing her belief that her actions were justified.
- Stubbornness & Resistance to Change – Shows her refusal to grow or learn from the events of the play—unlike Sheila or Eric.
- Priestley’s Social Critique – Highlights the danger of the older generation clinging to outdated, self-serving values.
✍️ Techniques:
- Contrast – “Unlike the other three” separates her from the group, showing her desire to disassociate from guilt or shame.
- Tone – Defensive and proud, emphasising her refusal to accept fault even when the truth is clear.
- Irony – The audience knows she played a significant role in Eva’s downfall, making her self-exoneration both hollow and revealing.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Mrs Birling as a symbol of the unrepentant upper class—blind to their own faults and immune to social change.
“She was claiming elaborate fine feelings and scruples that were simply absurd in a girl in her position”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mrs Birling
- Classism & Dehumanisation – Mrs Birling believes that working-class girls like Eva don’t have the right to emotions or moral standards.
- Moral Superiority – She assumes that people of lower status are incapable of acting with integrity or dignity.
- Social Injustice – Priestley exposes how the upper class strips the working class of complexity, empathy, and agency.
- Prejudice vs. Humanity – Eva is dismissed not because of what she did, but because of who she is—Priestley challenges this systemic cruelty.
✍️ Techniques:
- Loaded Language – “Elaborate fine feelings and scruples” implies pretentiousness, but ironically, it’s Mrs Birling who’s being pompous.
- Tone – Condescending and dismissive, suggesting that emotion and morality are a luxury only the wealthy deserve.
- Irony – Eva shows more moral strength than the Birlings—this comment backfires by revealing Mrs Birling’s blindness to that truth.
- Characterisation – Deepens her portrayal as cold, classist, and unable to see working-class people as fully human.
“I accept no blame at all”; “I blame the young man who was the father of the child”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Mrs Birling
- Denial & Deflection – Mrs Birling distances herself entirely from Eva’s death, refusing personal guilt and shifting the blame elsewhere.
- Hypocrisy – Her eagerness to blame the father (not knowing it’s Eric) reveals her double standards—she’s quick to judge others while claiming innocence herself.
- Family & Blindness – The dramatic irony builds as the audience realises the “young man” is her son, exposing how little she truly understands her own family.
- Responsibility & Generational Divide – Priestley contrasts the older generation’s defiance (Mrs Birling) with the younger generation’s eventual remorse (Eric, Sheila).
✍️ Techniques:
- Repetition of Absolutes – “No blame at all” and “I blame…” show Mrs Birling’s black-and-white thinking—she sees herself as entirely innocent.
- Tone – Cold and self-righteous in both lines, reflecting her arrogance and lack of empathy.
- Dramatic Irony – The audience already suspects Eric is the father, making her insistence painfully ironic and intensifying the tension.
- Characterisation – These quotes encapsulate Mrs Birling’s rigid worldview: judgemental, elitist, and blind to her own failures.
“These girls aren’t cheap labour. They’re people”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Sheila
🔑 Key Themes:
- Social Responsibility – Sheila begins to recognise the humanity of the working class and challenges the dehumanising capitalist mindset.
- Class & Equality – She rejects the view that class determines worth, directly opposing her father’s attitude.
- Change & Growth – Marks the start of Sheila’s transformation—she’s no longer blindly accepting her privileged position.
- Empathy & Morality – Unlike her parents, Sheila sees workers as individuals with feelings and rights, not just economic tools.
✍️ Techniques:
- Contrast – The line directly challenges Mr Birling’s capitalist views, setting up a moral clash between generations.
- Short, Emphatic Sentences – The simplicity and force of “They’re people” cuts through the economic language and makes the statement powerful.
- Tone – Assertive and emotional, showing genuine conviction and emotional growth.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Sheila as a morally conscious character and a mouthpiece for Priestley’s socialist ideals.
“You mustn’t try to build up a kind of wall between us and that girl.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Sheila
- Class Divide – Sheila critiques the way her family tries to separate themselves from the working class, reinforcing Priestley’s message about the danger of social barriers.
- Empathy & Understanding – She shows a growing awareness that Eva’s life is connected to theirs, breaking down class distinctions.
- Social Responsibility – Sheila is starting to see all people as equal, and warns against moral detachment.
- Change & Growth – This quote signals Sheila’s moral development and rejection of her family’s elitist mindset.
✍️ Techniques:
- Metaphor – “A kind of wall” symbolises emotional and social separation between classes.
- Tone – Urgent and sincere—Sheila is trying to make her parents understand the harm of their attitudes.
- Direct Address – “You mustn’t” adds immediacy and shows Sheila taking a stand.
- Characterisation – Establishes Sheila as a voice of compassion and progressive thinking, aligned with Priestley’s views.
“No, he’s giving us the rope – so that we’ll hang ourselves.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Sheila
🔑 Key Themes:
- Guilt & Responsibility – Sheila realises the Inspector isn’t forcing confessions—he’s letting them condemn themselves with their own actions.
- Truth & Consequences – This line shows how each character’s role in Eva’s downfall is being slowly revealed, building moral accountability.
- Inspector’s Power – Sheila recognises his clever, manipulative technique—he doesn’t accuse, he lets them reveal the truth.
- Change & Awareness – Sheila’s growing insight marks her shift from ignorance to moral clarity, contrasting her parents’ denial.
✍️ Techniques:
- Metaphor – “Giving us the rope… hang ourselves” suggests the Inspector’s method: he creates space for self-incrimination.
- Irony – The Birlings try to protect their image, but end up exposing their flaws—exactly what the Inspector wants.
- Tone – Sharp and aware—Sheila is beginning to grasp the bigger picture.
- Characterisation – Shows her emotional intelligence and rising sense of justice, aligning her more with the Inspector’s values.
“Mother, I think it was cruel and vile”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Sheila
🔑 Key Themes:
- Judgement & Morality – Sheila openly condemns her mother’s actions, showing a strong moral stance.
- Family Conflict & Generational Divide – Highlights the breakdown in respect between Sheila and her parents—she’s no longer blindly loyal.
- Empathy & Justice – Sheila’s reaction comes from genuine emotional engagement with Eva’s suffering, unlike her mother’s coldness.
- Change & Conscience – Shows Sheila developing her own values, separate from her upbringing.
✍️ Techniques:
- Strong Language – “Cruel and vile” are powerful moral terms, expressing disgust and making the judgement very clear.
- Direct Address – Calling her “Mother” adds weight—it’s formal, distancing, and emotionally charged.
- Tone – Sharp, passionate, and accusatory, underscoring Sheila’s shift from passive daughter to moral judge.
- Characterisation – This is a key moment in Sheila’s transformation—she’s moved from complicity to accountability.
“I suppose we’re all nice people now.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Sheila
🔑 Key Themes:
- Sarcasm & Moral Awareness – Sheila uses irony to call out her family’s false relief after they believe the Inspector might not be real.
- Guilt & Accountability – She reminds them that their actions still happened, regardless of whether there are legal consequences.
- Denial vs. Conscience – Contrasts Sheila’s integrity with her parents’ eagerness to forget and move on—she understands that guilt isn’t erased by technicalities.
- Generational Divide – Reinforces how Sheila, like Eric, has internalised the Inspector’s message, while the older generation has not.
✍️ Techniques:
- Irony – The statement is the opposite of what she truly means, used to criticise her family’s hypocrisy.
- Tone – Bitter, sharp, and disillusioned—showing Sheila’s frustration at how little her parents have learned.
- Characterisation – Marks her full transformation into a morally conscious character, acting as Priestley’s voice of reason.
“He could have kept her on instead of throwing her out. I call it tough luck.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Eric
- Social Responsibility – Eric is already starting to question his father’s lack of compassion, hinting at his eventual moral awakening.
- Class & Inequality – Highlights how casually the working class can be discarded by those in power—Eva’s livelihood is treated as unimportant.
- Generational Divide – Eric’s disapproval sets him apart from Mr Birling’s cold capitalism and foreshadows his growth later in the play.
- Moral Conscience – Even early on, Eric shows flashes of guilt and emotional sensitivity, unlike his father’s unapologetic stance.
✍️ Techniques:
- Blunt Language – “Throwing her out” is harsh and visual, making Mr Birling’s action seem even more callous.
- Colloquial Phrase – “Tough luck” is loaded with sarcasm—Eric is criticising the heartlessness behind that kind of thinking.
- Tone – Disapproving and critical, setting up tension between Eric and his parents.
- Characterisation – This moment begins to separate Eric from the older generation and aligns him more with Priestley’s message of social empathy.
“Well, I was in that state when a chap easily turns nasty.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Eric
🔑 Key Themes:
- Guilt & Responsibility – Eric admits to acting out of control, reflecting deep shame over how he treated Eva.
- Gender & Power – The quote reveals the darker side of male privilege—Eric’s drunken behaviour turns aggressive, suggesting possible coercion or violence.
- Youth & Consequence – Shows Eric as a product of a system that enables young men like him to abuse their power without facing consequences—until now.
- Truth & Confession – Eric’s honesty contrasts sharply with his earlier secrecy, marking a turning point in his character.
✍️ Techniques:
- Euphemism – “Turns nasty” is deliberately vague, which makes it more disturbing—the audience imagines the worst.
- Colloquial Tone – “A chap” and “in that state” reflect Eric’s attempt to talk around his guilt, but it also highlights the casual way such behaviour is treated.
- Tone – Defensive yet ashamed—Eric is clearly disturbed by his own actions.
- Characterisation – Deepens our understanding of Eric’s internal conflict—he’s not a villain, but he’s not innocent either. Priestley uses this complexity to drive home the need for change and accountability.
“Well, I don’t blame you. But don’t forget I’m ashamed of you as well – yes both of you.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Eric
🔑 Key Themes:
- Family Breakdown – Eric directly confronts his parents, showing how far he’s moved from their values and authority.
- Guilt vs. Denial – Unlike Mr and Mrs Birling, Eric accepts blame and now holds others accountable too—Priestley shows real moral growth here.
- Responsibility – He acknowledges shared guilt and emphasises that everyone played a role in Eva’s death.
- Generational Divide – This moment crystalises the rift between Eric and his parents—he no longer respects or defends them.
✍️ Techniques:
- Direct Address – “Both of you” makes the accusation personal and forceful.
- Contrast – “I don’t blame you” followed by “I’m ashamed of you” creates a sharp reversal, adding emotional weight.
- Tone – Disappointed and angry—Eric is no longer hiding how he feels.
- Characterisation – Highlights Eric’s maturity and moral clarity by the end of the play, contrasting the stubborn denial of the older generation.
“I don’t even remember – that’s the hellish thing.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Eric
🔑 Key Themes:
- Guilt & Regret – Eric is horrified not just by what he did, but by the fact that he was too drunk to fully remember—his remorse is deep and sincere.
- Alcohol & Accountability – Priestley critiques how privilege and substance abuse can lead to moral failures that are then conveniently blurred or ignored.
- Loss of Control – Eric’s lack of memory highlights how disconnected he was from the consequences of his actions, making the impact even more tragic.
- Emotional Trauma – The phrase “hellish thing” shows how much Eric is haunted by his own behaviour.
✍️ Techniques:
- Colloquial Speech – “That’s the hellish thing” captures a raw, unfiltered emotional response—Eric isn’t dressing things up.
- Fragmentation – The broken structure reflects Eric’s confusion, guilt, and inner chaos.
- Tone – Anguished and self-loathing—he’s not trying to excuse himself, he’s horrified by himself.
- Characterisation – Priestley uses this line to show just how emotionally wrecked Eric is by what happened, helping the audience see him as flawed but human.
“She was a good sport.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Eric
🔑 Key Themes:
- Gender & Objectification – Eric casually refers to Eva using language that strips her of dignity, showing how men like him viewed working-class women as entertainment.
- Class Divide – “Sport” implies that Eva’s pain or vulnerability was part of a game—Priestley exposes how people in power can dehumanise those below them.
- Guilt & Reflection – Though Eric is trying to recall events, the quote shows how unaware he was at the time—only later does he truly understand the harm he caused.
- Masculinity & Privilege – The language reflects the entitled, careless culture that enables men like Eric to exploit women without thinking of the consequences.
✍️ Techniques:
- Euphemism – “Good sport” glosses over the seriousness of what happened, using a casual phrase to refer to a disturbing situation.
- Colloquialism – Reinforces Eric’s immaturity and how detached he was from the reality of Eva’s suffering.
- Tone – Flippant and careless in the moment, but when looked at in hindsight, deeply uncomfortable—Priestley uses this to make the audience judge the behaviour.
- Characterisation – Shows Eric before his moral transformation—thoughtless, entitled, and emotionally disconnected.
“After all, you know, we’re respectable citizens and not criminals.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Gerald
🔑 Key Themes:
- Class & Morality – Gerald assumes that social status = moral superiority, reflecting the arrogance of the upper class.
- Appearance vs. Reality – Priestley flips this line on its head—each character is guilty of wrongdoing, despite their “respectability.”
- Denial & Self-Deception – Gerald distances himself from blame, believing that wealth and social position protect him from moral judgement.
- Social Hypocrisy – Priestley critiques how the upper classes hide behind reputation instead of taking real responsibility.
✍️ Techniques:
- Irony – Dramatic irony is huge here: the audience already knows these “respectable” people have done awful things.
- Juxtaposition – “Respectable” vs. “criminals” presents a false binary—Priestley challenges this exact mindset.
- Tone – Smug and dismissive, reinforcing Gerald’s sense of entitlement early in the play.
- Characterisation – Shows Gerald’s initial refusal to engage with the Inspector’s moral challenge—he sees himself as above reproach.
“I don’t come into this suicide business.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Gerald
🔑 Key Themes:
- Responsibility & Evasion – Gerald tries to distance himself from Eva’s death, refusing to acknowledge any moral connection.
- Class & Detachment – The word “business” makes the tragedy sound impersonal—like it’s beneath him or not worth emotional investment.
- Emotional Disconnection – His cold tone reflects the upper-class tendency to avoid emotional or social accountability.
- Denial & Self-Protection – This moment highlights Gerald’s initial desire to preserve his reputation rather than confront the consequences of his actions.
✍️ Techniques:
- Dismissive Language – “Suicide business” trivialises Eva’s death, making it sound transactional or routine.
- Short, Blunt Sentence – The brevity mirrors Gerald’s desire to shut down the conversation—he doesn’t want to engage.
- Tone – Detached, defensive, and slightly arrogant—he’s protecting himself, not showing empathy.
- Characterisation – Shows Gerald before his admission—polished, self-assured, and unwilling to see his role in the tragedy.
“So – for God’s sake – don’t say anything to the Inspector.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Gerald
🔑 Key Themes:
- Guilt & Concealment – Gerald knows he’s done something shameful and tries to keep it hidden, showing his instinct to protect himself over doing what’s right.
- Reputation & Hypocrisy – He’s more concerned about being exposed than about what happened to Eva—Priestley critiques how the upper class values image over morality.
- Tension & Conflict – This moment creates dramatic tension as the truth threatens to unravel. It also shows how the Inspector’s presence forces characters to confront what they’d rather keep secret.
- Moral Cowardice – Gerald isn’t ready to take responsibility yet—his immediate reaction is fear, not reflection.
✍️ Techniques:
- Imperative Command – “Don’t say anything” shows how desperately he wants to control the situation.
- Exclamation & Interruption – The dashes break the flow, showing Gerald’s panic and emotional instability.
- Religious Language – “For God’s sake” adds urgency, but also irony—he’s invoking a moral appeal while trying to cover up the truth.
- Tone – Pleading and fearful, revealing cracks in Gerald’s polished exterior.
- Characterisation – Exposes the gap between how Gerald presents himself and who he really is when pressured.
“It’s a favourite haunt of women of the town-“
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Gerald
🔑 Key Themes:
- Sexual Exploitation & Power – Gerald’s euphemistic reference to “women of the town” (a polite term for sex workers) reveals the casual exploitation of vulnerable women by wealthy men.
- Class & Morality – He acknowledges the location’s reputation but still uses it, reflecting the double standards of upper-class men—who judge working-class women while using them.
- Denial & Euphemism – By using vague, indirect language, Gerald tries to soften the reality of his actions and protect his image.
- Misuse of Power – This line hints at the imbalance in his relationship with Daisy—he meets her in a place associated with desperation, not romance.
✍️ Techniques:
- Euphemism – “Women of the town” downplays the truth, showing how language is used to mask exploitation.
- Formal Diction – Gerald adopts a more refined, detached tone—perhaps to distance himself from guilt.
- Tone – Defensive and calculated, suggesting he’s trying to justify his behaviour as acceptable.
- Characterisation – Reveals Gerald’s entitlement and how he initially sees Daisy/Eva as one of many poor women he can “help”—or use—without consequences.
“Everything’s all right now, Sheila. What about this ring?”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Gerald
🔑 Key Themes:
- Denial & Superficiality – Gerald completely misses the emotional and moral depth of what’s just happened. He believes that because the Inspector might not have been real, the consequences no longer matter.
- Gender Roles & Expectations – Gerald assumes Sheila will return to her role as a dutiful fiancée, revealing how little he respects her emotional growth or independence.
- Lack of Responsibility – Gerald’s attitude shows he hasn’t changed—he’s quick to forget and move on, in contrast to Sheila’s deeper understanding of what the evening exposed.
- Generational Divide – Like Mr and Mrs Birling, Gerald clings to appearances and social order, while the younger generation recognises the need for change.
✍️ Techniques:
- Irony – The audience knows things aren’t all right, especially for Sheila—Gerald’s tone of casual reassurance is completely out of sync with the emotional weight of the play.
- Symbolism – The ring symbolises not just marriage, but ownership, control, and the return to old norms—Sheila’s rejection of it earlier was symbolic of her independence.
- Tone – Smooth, almost cheerful—his attempt to reset everything shows emotional immaturity or wilful ignorance.
- Characterisation – Reinforces Gerald’s inability to change—he still sees the evening as an inconvenience rather than a moral awakening.
“A chain of events.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Inspector Goole
🔑 Key Themes:
- Responsibility & Consequence – The Inspector emphasises how one action led to another, showing that everyone played a part in Eva’s downfall. Priestley is highlighting the interconnectedness of society.
- Collective Guilt – No single person is solely to blame—it’s the combination of selfish choices that led to tragedy.
- Morality vs. Legality – The Inspector isn’t just interested in what’s legal, but what’s right—he asks characters to look at the broader moral consequences of their actions.
- Social Responsibility – The phrase pushes the idea that we’re all part of a wider community—Priestley’s key socialist message.
✍️ Techniques:
- Metaphor – “Chain” suggests cause and effect, but also the idea of being bound—each link is connected and dependent on the others.
- Simple, Declarative Sentence – Straightforward language adds weight and clarity. The brevity makes it more memorable and impactful.
- Symbolism – The chain could also symbolise the inescapable link between privilege and oppression—actions of the wealthy tighten the chain on the poor.
- Tone – Calm but firm—the Inspector uses this to guide the audience and characters toward a moral awakening.
“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibilities as well as privileges”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Inspector Goole
🔑 Key Themes:
- Social Responsibility – The Inspector directly challenges Birling’s capitalist belief that success and status exempt people from moral duty.
- Power & Accountability – Priestley reminds us that those in influential positions must use their power ethically—not just to benefit themselves.
- Class Critique – Birling sees privilege as earned and responsibility as optional—this line shuts that down. It’s a direct critique of upper-class complacency.
- Moral Authority – The Inspector acts as Priestley’s voice here, promoting a socialist view that positions of power should serve the many, not just the few.
✍️ Techniques:
- Juxtaposition – “Responsibilities” vs. “privileges” creates a moral contrast, exposing Birling’s selfish worldview.
- Direct Address – The Inspector names Birling, making the criticism personal and impossible to ignore.
- Formal, Assertive Tone – Commands respect and underlines the seriousness of the Inspector’s moral lesson.
- Antithesis – The pairing of opposites highlights the imbalance in how the upper class often view their roles—privilege without duty.
“We often do on the young ones. They’re more impressionable.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Inspector Goole
🔑 Key Themes:
- Generational Divide – Priestley contrasts the openness of the younger generation (like Sheila and Eric) with the stubbornness of the older (Birling and Mrs Birling).
- Hope & Change – This quote reflects Priestley’s belief that the future lies in educating and inspiring younger people to build a more just society.
- Responsibility & Growth – Sheila and Eric do change, proving the Inspector’s point—suggesting moral development is still possible for them.
- Resistance to Authority – The older generation resents this idea, showing their fear of losing control or influence over younger voices.
✍️ Techniques:
- Generalisation – “We often do” implies a broader pattern of change—suggests this is not just about one family, but society at large.
- Comparative Language – “More impressionable” contrasts with the older characters’ rigidity, setting up a clear ideological divide.
- Calm, Reasoned Tone – Makes the Inspector sound wise and composed—Priestley positions him as the rational moral compass of the play.
- Characterisation – Reinforces the Inspector as someone who understands people deeply and sees potential in the younger generation.
“He’s a young man. And some young men drink far too much.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Inspector Goole
🔑 Key Themes:
- Social Awareness – The Inspector subtly points to Eric’s behaviour without revealing it outright, showing he knows more than he’s letting on.
- Generational Issues – Highlights problems often hidden or excused within upper-class families, like heavy drinking, especially among privileged young men.
- Responsibility & Hypocrisy – The line invites the audience to question how much the Birlings actually know—or choose to ignore—about their own family.
- Foreshadowing – Builds suspense around Eric’s involvement before his confession, making the eventual revelation more powerful.
✍️ Techniques:
- Understatement – “Some young men” keeps it vague, allowing the Inspector to speak truths indirectly without naming Eric—yet the implication is strong.
- Foreshadowing – Prepares the audience for Eric’s deeper involvement while keeping the tension simmering.
- Calm, Measured Tone – The Inspector remains composed, but there’s a quiet firmness that hints he’s building a case piece by piece.
- Dramatic Irony – The audience begins to suspect Eric’s guilt before it’s fully revealed, increasing tension and engagement.
“If men will not learn that lesson, then they will be taught it in fire and blood and anguish.”
Who said this? Key themes? Analysis?
Inspector Goole
🔑 Key Themes:
- Social Responsibility – The “lesson” is clear: we are all responsible for one another. If people refuse to care, the consequences will be brutal.
- Warning & Consequence – The Inspector gives a chilling prediction of what awaits a society that ignores justice and morality.
- Post-War Context – Priestley is referencing the horrors of WWI and WWII—”fire and blood and anguish” evoke the violence and suffering caused by greed, nationalism, and selfishness.
- Collective Morality – The line isn’t just for the Birlings—it’s aimed at the audience, urging them to learn and change.
✍️ Techniques:
- Tricolon – “Fire and blood and anguish” is a powerful trio that creates a sense of apocalyptic doom and finality.
- Biblical/Prophetic Tone – The Inspector speaks like a prophet or moral guide, warning of judgment—Priestley gives him an almost supernatural authority.
- Conditional Sentence – “If… then…” structure gives a cause-and-effect logic, stressing that action (or inaction) has consequences.
- Emotive Language – Strong, violent imagery forces the audience to confront the real-world impact of ignoring inequality and injustice.
