Inspector Flashcards
(Birling) I’m talking as a … practical man of…
hard-headed, business
- Sees his opinion as more important because he owns a business
- Immediately establishes difference in society between classes
- Shows how much he cares about his status
(Birling) A man has to make his … … - has to look after himself - and his family too, of course
own way
- Demonstrates that Birling prioritises himself and his own success over even his own family
(Birling) as if we were all mixed up like … in a … - community and all that …
bees, hive, nonsense
- Birling obviously rejects social responsibility
- Describes it as nonsense and compares it to animals, making it seem outdated, when in fact his own ideas are outdated, as shown by how he treats his family and wrongly predicts the Titanic and war
(Birling) I know the Brumley … … pretty well
police officers
- Attempts to intimidate the inspector with his position of authority in society as he has connections with some powerful people
(Birling) It is my duty to keep … costs down
labour
- Believes it is his job to keep them low
- Only cares about maximising profit, does not care about livelihood of his workers
(Inspector) Public men have … as well as …
responsibilities, privileges
- Emphasis on responsibility to suggest that while Birling has been enjoying the advantages of his status, he has ignored the responsibility
- Inspector acts as a vehicle to tell the Birlings to accept responsibility
(Birling) If you’d had any sense of …
loyalty
- Shows childish behaviour by mocking those who report people’s wrongdoings
- Portrays his ideology as childish and irresponsible
(Birling) Gave the firm’s … and then kept the …
receipts, money
- Suggests that Birling only cares about the fact that Eric stole money from him, not that a girl killed herself
- Either demonstrates his greed or shows he only cares if something is illegal rather than immoral, even if the illegal action had a much smaller consequence
(Birling) But I care. I was almost certain for a … in the next … list
knighthood, honours
- Once again only cares about social status, shows he has learned nothing from the inspector
- He thinks he knows what is happening as he says ‘but I care’, when in fact he cares about the completely wrong thing
(Birling) There’ll be a public …
scandal
- Once again only cares about his social status rather than the situation with Eva Smith
(Birling) it’s exactly the same … your … gets
port, father
- Tries to impress with material objects
- Tries to impersonate those even richer than him by living a similar lifestyle, perhaps presenting him as insecure over his current social status
(Birling) When Crofts and Birlings are no longer …
competing
- Reveals actual intentions behind marriage
- Portrays Birling as outdated, which also reflects how Priestley believes capitalism is outdated
(Sheila) I’m … , Daddy
sorry
- Portrays her as childish through the use of daddy
- Portrays her as obedient
- Opens up for character development when she eventually becomes more independent
(Sheila) Oh - how …!
horrible
- The hesitation shows that it is raw emotion
- Sheila actually shows sympathy towards Eva unlike her father
(Sheila) I’ve been so … tonight (…) Quite …?
happy, young
- At the beginning of the play Sheila is still quite materialistic, supported by how she reacted to the ring
- Similarly to her father, shows concern about mostly herself, as she claims that she regrets hearing about what happened to Eva as she was happy before that
(Sheila) But these girls aren’t … …, they’re people
cheap labour
- First sign of the inspector having an impact on Sheila and Sheila’s character changing
- Goes against her father for the first time
(Sheila) So i’m … responsible?
really
- Very quickly accepts responsibility
- Even takes a lot more of it than she should as her father started this whole thing
(Sheila) I know i’m to …
blame
- Once again we see just how much res ponsibility she is taking for her actions
- Use of ‘know’ suggests that the inspector doesn’t need to tell her about it anymore as she is already aware
(Sheila) Between us we … her
killed
- Accepts responsibility
- In a way aims to assist the Inspector as she also wants everyone else to realise they also played a part in this
(Sheila) At least it’s …
honest
- Appreciates honesty even if the truth is a large wrongdoing
- Further explains why she accepts social responsibility
(Sheila) I had her … out of her job. I … it.
turned, started
- Accepts social responsibility
- Puts more blame on herself than she should, as she also blames herself for starting it
(Sheila) You’re beginning to … nothing has …
pretend, nothing
- Opposes opinion of her parents
- Has clearly taken on the inspector’s message even if it does turn out the inspector was not an actual inspector
(Sheila) I suppose we’re all … people now
nice
- Once again shows her opposing her parents
- Use of sarcasm shows frustration, developing the conflict between generations
(Inspecor) Perhaps she’d had … of it
enough
- Begins to pin blame on Birling, tries to make him realise that his actions have consequences
(Inspector) Public men (…) have … as well as …
responsibilities, privileges
- Emphasis on responsibility by putting it first
- Acknowledges both perspectives, but in the end wants Birling to realise that there are drawbacks to being in a high social status
(Inspector) And was it the girl’s …?
fault
- Gets Sheila to start thinking about social responsibility by making her think about Eva’s perspective and how her actions have affected Eva
(Inspector) we’ll have to … our …
share, guilt
- Shows that Sheila isn’t the only one to blame and it is expected that everyone takes blame
- Uses ‘have’ to show that they must take responsibility
(Inspector) We often do on the young ones, they’re more …
impressionable
- The Inspector is having an impact on the younger generation
- Suggests that current views in society are outdated as the young generation is becoming eager to change them
(Inspector) It was you who … the girl out
turned
- Inspector has to reiterate multiple times that Birling started all of this
- Tries but is unsuccessful in making him accept responsibility
(Inspector) Remember what you …
did
- The repetition of this phrase demonstrates how the Inspector hopes everyone has learned something from him, solidifying him as Priestley’s mouthpiece
(Inspector) millions and millions and millions (…) all … with our lives
intertwined
- Repetition of millions for Birlings to understand how large of an impact they have
- The working class is the large majority of people
- Their actions have effects on those around them
(Gerald - Act One) I think my … would … to that
father, agree
- Supports the marriage being a financial connection between the two families
- Sides with Mr Birling, showing how rich men tended to look out for one another
(Gerald - Act One) perhaps this will … to … it
help, stop
- Attempts to control Sheila using the ring when her suspicions arise
- Thinks money can be used for anything, even for love
(Gerald - Act One) Its what … to her since she left Mr Birling’s work that is …
happened, important
- Shows him supporting Birling’s views
- Could reflect how he sees his parents in him due to class and status, so a threat at Birling is a threat at his own family
(Gerald - Act One) we’re … citizens, not …
respectable, criminal
- Points it out as if it’s an obvious thing
- Believes that his class makes him unable to be viewed as a criminal
(Gerald - Act One) don’t say … to the …
anything, Inspector
- Gerald contradicts himself
- First he says he can’t do any wrong due to his class and now he wants to lie to the Inspector
(Gerald - Act Two) I think Miss Birling … to be …
ought, excused
- Attempts to control Sheila
- Tries to make the situation better for himself
(Gerald - Act Two) a favourite … of .. of the town
haunt, women
- Objectifies women as he only goes there to meet women
- Establishes expectations of gender
(Gerald - Act Two) Nearly any … would have done
man
- Admits to his wrongdoings but immediately tries to excuse them
- Suggests he is only apologetic because he got caught
(Gerald - Act Three) That man wasn’t a
… …
police officer
- Similarly to Birling, Gerald doesn’t actually care about the events, but rather about how it affects him
- Shows lack of sympathy towards the rest of the family too, as he immediately comes in and talks about the Inspector
(Gerald - Act Three) [To …] What do you make of this … now?
Birling, business
- Looks to Birling for guidance
- Shows a lot of respect due to class
- Once again supports that he sees similarities between his father and Birling
- Use of ‘business’ further reinforces this by using capitalist ideas
(Gerald - Act Three) What about this …?
ring
- Even after admitting he cheated on Sheila he still tries to control her using the ring
(Mrs Birling - Act One) That was … of you …
clever, Gerald
- Knows what Gerald did with the ring
- Doesn’t mind, can be interpreted as her being desperate for the connection with Crofts or adhering to expectations of society
(Mrs Birling - Act One) The things you … pick up these …
girls
- Acts to show a split in gender roles as well as generation
- She mocks younger girls for words like ‘squiffy’
- Generalises as only Sheila said it
(Mrs Birling - Act One) - you’ll realise … with … work sometimes have to
/ You’ll get used to that, just like I had to
men, important
- Adheres to social expectations
- Essentially says that Sheila won’t change it so she has to deal with it, summarises her traditional views
(Mrs Birling - Act Two) … of that …
Girls, class
- Generalisation
- Attempts to belittle women of the working class to keep herself at the top
(Mrs Birling - Act Two) the .. herself (…) the … of the child
girl, father
- Shows she acknowledges responsibility exists
- Pins it onto others to avoid consequences
- Shows lack of responsibility from rich capitalists
(Mrs Birling - Act Two) I won’t … it
believe
- Uses believe even though it is a fact
- More disregard of blame and responsibility
(Mrs Birling - Act Three) Eric, I’m absolutely… of you
ashamed
- Does not care about his rape or the fact that he abandoned a child
- Only cares that she lost money
- Only blames others if it benefits her or if something happened to her
Birling Act One 1st quote
I’m talking as a hard-headed man of business
Birling Act One 2nd Quote
A man has to make his own way
Birling Act One 3rd Quote
as if we were all mixed up, like bees in a hive
Birling Act Two First Quote
It is my duty to keep labour costs low
Birling Act Two 2nd Quote
if you’d had any sense of loyalty
Birling Act Three 1st quote
Gave the firm’s cheques and then kept the money
Birling Act Three 3rd quote
But I care. I was almost certain for a knighthood in the next honours list
Eric Act One First quote
It’s as if a girl hadn’t had any clothes before she gets married
Eric Act One 2nd Quote
Women are potty about them
Eric Act One 3rd quote
Why shouldn’t they try for higher wages
Eric Act Three 1st Quote
You haven’t made it any easier for me mother, have you?
Eric Act Three 2nd quote
You’re not the kind of father a chap goes to when he’s in trouble
