Inspector Calls

Question 1

Inspector Goole

Answer 1

Inspector- Supernatural, sounds like ‘ghoul’ or ghost bring to a key point at the end if the Inspector was really there and present. Priestley’s mouthpiece and represents his ideas. He is a very big socialist who fights for community responsibility and get the Birling to face up to what they have done. (“Public men, Mr Birling, have responsibility as well as privilege’s”)

Question 2

Mr Birling

Answer 2

Arrogant and Capitalistic. He is a businessman who hates social equality and loves money. He treats people below him horribly and sacks Eva from his factory when she asks for equal pay for women and strikes (“hard headed man of business”).

Question 3

Mrs Birling

Answer 3

Snobbish and cold- hearted who is also a capitalist who believes everyone is responsible for themselves. Doesn’t help Eva when she seeks her charity’s help. She is very distant from her own children. (“her husband’s social superior”) (“ I did nothing I’m ashamed of”)

Question 4

Sheila

Answer 4

The daughter of the Birling family. Gets Eva sacked from the shops for smirking at her. Starts off as a spoilt rich girl but quickly changes her view and feels sorry for Eva Smith and starts to become a Socials as the play progresses and eventually becomes ashamed of her parents at the end. Priestley show her as hopes in the younger generation improving society. (“it frightens me the way you talk”), (“but they are not just cheap labor they are people)

Question 5

Eric

Answer 5

The son of the Birling Family and a typical young man who always drinks too much and has a one night stand with Eva. Ends up getting her pregnant and steals from his dad to give Eva money. Regrets his actions and changes his ways and also is ashamed of his parents at the end and becomes more mature. Priestley show her as hopes in the younger generation improving society. (“its still the same rotten story”)

Question 6

Gerald

Answer 6

Sheila’s fiancé and is a businessman who has capitalist’s ideas and is similar to Mr Birling politically. Yet he shows some regret for his affair with Eva, but happy to act like nothing happened when it suits him. He is materialistic agreements with Sheila when he gives her an engagement ring. (“ you seems like a nice well behaved family”) (“what about this ring?”)

Question 7

Capitalism

Answer 7

An economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.

Question 8

Socialism

Answer 8

A theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution and exchanged should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole

Question 9

Generation

Answer 9

Hopes in the younger generation in society later on as Priestley shows how the younger character change their views of inequality unlike the older generation.

Question 10

Responsibility

Answer 10

Priestley explores social responsibility in different characters through:
- the treatment of Eva Smith
- how each character does or doesn’t take responsibility for their behavior
- the Inspector’s lessons