Inspector Calls Flashcards
“Belonging to a prosperous manufacturer” (Act one)
shows how he’s wealthy and he owns the house
But not cosy and homelike
The use juxtaposition shows how the Billing family is trading comfortability for wealth.
Port
Port is a expensive Portuguese wine that shows his wealth
“Rather Portentous man in his middle fifties”
Indicating something bad for thet future, overly self important, and a pompous nature.
“Husband social superior”
Mr Birling is a social climber.
“Lighting should be pink and intimate until the inspector arrivises then it should be brighter and harder”
The change in light depicts the seriousness in the inspector and shows that is presence is ominous.
“Very pleased with life”
She’s presented as innocent and oblivious to society’s problems.
“We’ll bred young men about town”
He’s attractive to other women, not just Shiela.
“Half shy, half assertive”
Eric lacks confidence and the adjective “shy” connotes apprehension and nervousness whistle he’s also “assertive” so the audience is not able to comprehend who or what Eric is at first
“Giving us the port Edna”
Here we see that Edna works for them and does as she is told.
“I’d hate you know all about port”
Here Shiela has her own opinions and here we see that she separates from society.
“Mummy”
We see she is innocent and has childish qualities.
“Of course she does”
We see that mrs Birling answers for Shiela and we see that she doesn’t trust Shiela as she believes that she will say something wrong.
“I’ve told you I was awfully busy at the works all that time”
We see that Gerald is being vague in his answers and could indicate that he’s is trying to hide something.
“You’ll have to get used to that just as I had “
Mrs Birling is following societal norms and shows that she trusts her husband and does not question his actions we see the difference between the ideologies of the older and younger generation.
“Oh- I will…”
When Shiela tells Gerald to be “careful” Gerald responds with “I will”. The use of the dash connotes that Gerald is aware that Shiela is suspicious of him and realises that he must be careful.
“Eric suddenly guffaws “
The use of stage directions connotes that Eric has childish like qualities and is unable to take things seriously.
“The thing you girls pick up these days “
Here we see more of that difference between the older and younger generations.
“Arthur what about this famous toast of yours”
Here Mrs Birling diverts the conversation back to Mr Birling showing that she is following societal norms.
“Engagement… means a tremendous lot to me”
We see that Mr Birling is looking forward to this engagement as it allows the both the buisnees to partner and thus allows Mr Birling to not only profit from this but to climb within the ranks of society.
“For lower costs and higher prices”
I see that Mr Birling takes on a buisnees like tone to reveal his capitalistic behaviour and his true intentions of this marriage so that he may benefit from it.
“And I think my father would agree to that”
Here we see that Gerald’s father is also a capitalist like Mr Birling.
“This once anyhow”
Here when Mr Birling says that Gerald is a “fortunate young man” Gerald replied with “this once anyhow”. Maybe Priestly does this to foreshadow that maybe Gerald was not lucky in the past with relationships.
“When do I drink”
Here Shiela seems to be following the expectations of society by asking permission to drink and so has similar qualities in which Mrs Birling has.
