God - Act 1 Key Quotations

Question 1

God’s initial description in the stage directions, presenting him as dominating, imposing, and powerful from his appearance:

Answer 1

“an impression of massiveness, solidity and purposefulness”

Question 2

God is prepared to interrupt the Birlings, showing that he does not treat them any different just because of their higher class; portrays him as intensely focused on his work and exposes the flaws of the social class system:

Answer 2

“(cutting through, massively)”

Question 3

God refers to the interrelationship between different factors affecting the life of another, in this case, how each of Eva’s interactions with the Birlings drove her to suicide:

Answer 3

“a chain of events”
(Priestley uses the Inspector as a mouthpiece for his socialist views, to encourage the 1945 audience to become more socially responsible for the betterment of society.)

Question 4

God exposes Arthur Birling’s capitalist, selfish methods of business, in relation to asking for the earth:

Answer 4

“it’s better to ask for the earth than to take it”

Question 5

God reveals the reality of proletariat women similar to Eva, more importantly to Sheila, depicting Priestley’s support for women empowerment - he saw them as equally involved and able as men (also encourages social awareness; shows that the upper class Birlings live in a sheltered world, oblivious to the suffering they cause the proletariat classes):

Answer 5

“there are a lot of young women living that sort of existence in every city”

Question 6

God speaks back to Birling about his comment about him having made a “nasty mess” of the celebration:

Answer 6

“a nice little promising life there, I thought, and a nasty mess somebody’s made of it”
- Inspector refuses to treat Birlings any differently, exemplifying the flaws of society and the fact that everyone should be seen as equals regardless of class.
- The domination of the Inspector over Birlings perhaps reflects Priestley’s hope for socialism to dominate capitalism in order for a better society in the future.

Question 7

God is to the point, concise, and efficient in his interrogations:

Answer 7

“You can settle that between you afterwards.”