Inspector Call 10 Key Quotes Flashcards
’ A man has to mind his own business and look after himself and his own’- Mr Birling act 1
Buisness is ambiguous (work/ and what you keep to yourself) .This is ironic as all of B family business gets exposed by the Inspector since they all play a significant role on Eva (reprsentative of lower class)
Additionally, the order of ‘buisness’, ‘himself’ and then ‘own [family] suggests the idea of capitalism is prevalent in the play and the individualistic society which is created as people focus on buisness and themselves over others unlike (socialism).
This is seen through Mr B sacking Eva after striking for a pay rise - Sheila manages to get Eva fired after feeling insulted by her - Mrs B feels disrespected as Eva is impersonating her (working class comparing themselves to an aristocratic member)
‘But these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people’- Sheila act 1
Mr B treats Eva smith as a worker and Gerald uses Eva for happiness (capitalist views on people [labour]) - shows how capitalism has dehumanised people. This is also reinforced by the fact that Mr B dismisses Geralds affair with Eva and tells Sheila to accept it. Priestley reflects the idea of the dehumanising aspect of capitalism shown by Mr B views Sheila engagement as a commodity for his rise in status ‘knighthood’ and wealth ‘Crofts and Birlings … working together’
’ If we were all responsible for everything that happened to everybody we’d had anything to do with , it would be very awkward, wouldn’t it’- Mr B act1
Ironic what come back and causes the Birling family trouble.
The B family wipes their hand off all notion of responsibility shown by their view of lack of responsibility thus they treat others as object (Eric’s rape for personal pleasure or Mr B view of Eva as labour) therefore by the end of act 2 everything becomes ‘awkward’ Sheila becomes distressed , Gerald leaves, Mrs B pins blame on others ,Eric reveals his secrets and Mr B offers his money.
Priestley is emphasising personal responsibility and the idea that others should be responsible for other (socialist view)
‘First , the girl herself … Secondly, I blame the young man who was the father of the child … He should be made an example of’- Mrs B act 3
Dramatic irony- Mrs B condems the perspn who impregnated Eva however realises later that Eric raped Eva and panics if she ‘only knew’- conveying the idea of morality of Mrs B (good and bad is dependent on the person).
Priestley suggests that the upper class have no fixed morality and emphasises to take on a socialist view like Sheila who differentiates between right wrong
‘I wasn’t in love with her or anything - but I liked her - she was pretty and a good sport’ act 3 Eric
Both Gerald and Eric use Eva for their own pleasure highlighting the clear patriarchy and the objectification of women.
Eric is shown to not ‘love’ Eva and found her to be ‘pretty ‘ and a ‘ good sport’ - colloquial language ‘good sport used to show how Eric publicly displays his actions of what he did. This demonstartes the clear injustice in the patriarchy as rich powerful men could do whatever they pleased with women without any consequence.
Pristley criticises the clear injustice in society through the Inspector shown by how he sheds light and forces the B family to realise their actions showing the audience of consequences which can happen if this behaviour continue
‘We are members ir one body and we are responsible for each other’- Inspector act 3
Highlights the idea of social responsibility (socialism) and goes against the idealogies of the B family ‘a man has to make his own way’ (capitalism)
This quote demonstrates how society should be interconnected and people shoukd take responsibility for not only themselves but for others. When one suffers , the entire community suffers.
‘The point is, you don’t seem to have learnt anyhing’- Sheila Birling act 3
Sheila B is shown to mature and take social responsibility- through this quote Priestley displays the power of socialism and the transforming effects upon Sheila.
Sheila begins to display similar qualities to Eva- becomes the voice of women by upholding patriarchy , working class and injustice.
‘One Eva Smith has gone … but there are millions .. of Eva Smith … all intertwined with our lives … if men will not learn that lesson , then they will be taught in fire , blood and anguish’- Inspector act 3
Birling family commits moral crimes, Inspector points out how the ruling system won’t condem them of these crimes however he shows that their consequences will result in their suffering (hellfire or WW1)
Additionally, Inspector points out the idea of society being ‘intertwined’ similarly to ‘members of one body’ and how we should all look out for each other and take social responsibility
Lastly Inspector points out the universality of this problem of the disregard of lower class society as there are ‘million’ of people like ‘Eva Smith’
‘When you’re married , you’ll realise that men with important work to do sometimes spend all their time energy on their buisness.’- Mrs B act 1
Upholds the patriarchy of 1912 England shown by how she raises her daughter to this view and is a subordinate to Mr B despite being someone who comes from an aristocratic family (old money) a level higher then Mr B. Priestley shows the roles of gender present in society.
‘Clothes mean something quite different to women’- Mr Birling act 1
Highlights the view of gender in society. Men were powerful and were judged on their wealth as it was seen to be masculine whereas women were judged on their looks (clothing) .This view puts a condition on the treatment of others for example how Gerald or Eric managed to spot Sheila and use her of their own pleasure
