guilt Flashcards
Guilt quote 1
‘Enter Sheila, who looks as if she’s been crying’,
suggests an emotional reaction, reinforcing her sensitivity and capacity for guilt, reinforced with the adverb “miserably” conveys her deep remorse.
Guilt quote 2
“No. I’ll just go out – walk about- for a while, if you don’t mind. I’ll come back.
The fragmented structure, marked by the use of dashes and short clauses, reflects Gerald’s emotional disarray and inner turmoil. The hesitations suggest that he is momentarily overwhelmed by guilt and shame, implying a brief moment of moral reckoning. However, despite this apparent vulnerability, Gerald’s decision to leave rather than confront his actions signals his emotional detachment and inability to fully accept responsibility. Gerald remains stagnant, clinging to Edwardian ideals of male authority and avoidance of blame.
Guilt quote 3
“ I did nothing I am ashamed of” Mrs Birling-
reveals her moral blindness—zooming into “nothing” shows her complete denial of any wrongdoing, while “ashamed” reflects her concern with reputation rather than morality. Priestley uses this unrepentant attitude to criticise the upper class’s lack of empathy and reinforce the generational divide within the play.
Guilt quote 4
“You killed them both – damn you, damn you.”
Eric’s outburst, “You killed them both – damn you, damn you,” reveals his overwhelming guilt and self-loathing—zooming into the repetition of “damn you” shows his emotional breakdown, while the violent tone reflects his inner torment and desperation to assign blame. Priestley uses this to illustrate Eric’s moral awakening and the emotional cost of ignoring social responsibility.
Guilt quote 5
“Each of you helped to kill her.” – Inspector
emphasises the idea of collective responsibility—zooming into “each” highlights how no one is exempt from blame, while the directness of “killed” shocks the characters into confronting their moral failures. Priestley uses this to challenge individual denial and promote social accountability.
