inspector calls Flashcards
what are the 5 context points
- priestley was a socialist - crititsed the capitalist edwardian society
- women’s lack of rghts
- deep class divide
- undeserving poor - rich thought poor didn’t deserve anything
- set before ww1, written after ww2
what are the 5 themes
generational divide
social responsibility
gender - feminist theory to have women and men treated equally
class - marxist theory to get rid of hierachy divide
guilt
socialism vs capitalism
mr birling
act 1, act 1, act 3
themes:2nd one class, generational divide
act 1 “titanic… unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable” dramatic irony, repetition demonstrates his poor judgement
act 1 “these people they’d sooner be asking for the earth” hyperbole explaining why he rejected eva’s pay rise. however the hyperbole is so absurd it reflects how absurd it is for him to refuse the request. “it’s better to ask… than take” symbolising captialists coruption and greed
act 3 “famous younger generation .. can’t take a joke” iorny since this is just before the phone call. he’s deminishing eva’s suffering to a “joke”
sheila birling
act 1, act 1, act 3
themes: 2nd one social responsibility, generational divide
act 1 “these girls aren’t cheap labour - they’re people”
act 1 “i felt rotten about it at the time” “rotten” informal adjective but shows sheila’s guilt of misusing her class and power by getting an innocent person fired. the inspector’s “it’s too late. she’s dead.” somberly reminds sheila she is powerless now
act 3 “i suppose we’re all nice people now” irony shows sheila’s frustration at her parent’s and gerald’s lack of remorse over eva’s death
gerald croft
act 1, act 2 , act 2
themes:
act 1 stage directions “young man about town” shows he’s sociable but had foreshadowing connotations of him going about town into the palace bar
act 2 “notrious womaniser” showing hes conscious of the cruelty in the upper class yet still partakes in it himself precieves himself as knight in shining armour saving Eva from that man
act 2 “ didn’t install her there” objectiying eva comparing her to just an object, very sexist
mrs birling
act 1, act 2, act 2
themes:
act 2 “i accept no blame” denies her role in the chain of event that led to suicide, doesn’t believe class inequalities led to her death its eva’s own fault. Sheila’s “i know I’m to blame” antithesis to her mother
act 2 “girls of that sort” her prejudice against people determiner “that” shows contempt for working class - dehumanisation of lower classes
act 2 “i wasnt satistfied with the girls claim” possibly she was equating one’s claim with their wealth, discriminating against her for being poor
“cold woman” contrary to the image of women at that time
eric birling
act 1, act 2, act 3
themes: class
act 1 “why shouldn’t they try for better wages” disagrees with exploiting labourers and has capacity for empathy. a moral form of capitalism
act 2 “(involuntarily) my god” in reaction to hearing about eva. shows his innate moral nature
act 3 “when a chap easily turns nasty” third person when erics describing it allowing him to dissociate the atrocious action. colloquial language softens the action
inspector goole
act 1, act 1, act 3
themes:
act 1 stage directions “speaks carefully, weightily” very purposeful with his words (this is a morality play) they leave a resonating and strong impact on the person if they truly understood
act 1 “no thank you … im on duty” he refuses alcohol from mr b it has connoation to immoral behaviour symbolises him being resistant to corruption.
act 3”we are members of one body…” talking to audience too, marxist (no heirachy) idea, simple sentence with biblical references echoing Gods words on his behalf”…good night” no room for arguments
what are priestley’s intentions with the theme of generation divide
priestley offers optimism to the audience through the younger gen depicting them with more empathy than the older gen suggesting they will not avoid their social responsibilities
what are priestley’s intentions with the theme of social reponsibility
that taking reponsibility and accountability needs to be spread beyond the confines of a family unit and spread to society as a whole
what are priestley’s intentions with the theme of gender
he highlights the suppresion of womens rights and how women are subordinate to their male counterparts since they had a lack of bodily autonomy over themselves
what are priestley’s intentions with the theme of class
priestley shows the fixation the upper class have on their status rather than focusing on their own basic morals
what are priestley’s intentions with the theme of guilt
priestley suggests guilt be felt at a collective and personal level for it to have impactual change on people’s behaviours
what are Priestley’s intentions with the theme of capitalism vs socialism
that capitalism prevents social justice and equality and a socialist economic system would be fairer for all
how does priestley use the inspector
a vehicle to catalyst change in the birlings an omnisicient character
